Commitment to Anti-Racism

WE BELIEVE GREAT THEATRE, AND THEREFORE OUR COMMUNITY, ARE MADE STRONGER BY OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO ANTI-RACISM AND CREATING A CULTURE OF EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS.

Confronting racism requires ongoing work that begins within each of us individually. We recognize racism runs deep within GREAT Theatre and that we have been complicit in its thriving. We know we can do better.

We are committed to ongoing and consistent action, moving with urgency while identifying both immediate and long-term strategic actions, including but not limited to:

• examining our programming, practices, policies, and procedures that are perpetuating white supremacy within our own structures of creating art. 
• listening, learning, and supporting substantive change to mobilize our art and organization to better live our Mission.
• providing a space for open dialogue, continued learning, and telling the stories of our community. 
• collaborating with and gathering input from stakeholders in our community to find ways to produce more culturally/racially diverse art.
• intentionally seeking and building relationships with people who are committed to anti-racist work.

To the BIPOC members of our community: We see you, we hear you, we grieve with you, and we will fight beside you. 

We encourage our community to engage in the individual work of unlearning and learning and to hold us accountable. Below are resources we’ve found helpful and arts organizations in Minnesota who are leading race equity work through theatre. 

We believe in the transformative power of the arts. 

Resources

• Anti-Racism Resources for White People
• Compiled Resources from Theatre Communications Group from “Anti-Racism Working Session for White Folx in Theatre”
• Anti-Racism for Kids 101
• Talking About Race
• Anna Deavere Smith’s play Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 

Books by local authors:

• Somalia to Snow: How Minnesota Became Home to Somalis and children’s book What Color is my Hijab? written by Hudda Ibrahim
  
• Slavery’s Reach: Southern Slaveholders in the North Star State written by Chris Lehman

Support

We encourage our community to join us in financially supporting Minnesota arts organizations in the Twin Cities who are leading race equity work through theatre: Penumbra Theatre and Mixed Blood Theatre and Pillsbury House Theatre.