We’ve requested contributors to contemplate 4 basic subjects: Enterprise fashions and collaboration, new or under-explored fashions for governance in addition to for cross-arts and cross-sector alliances; financial justice and labor, specializing in theatre employees and the means to make sure entry, fairness, and higher working situations for all; content material and type, with an emphasis on the runway for experimentation, risk-taking, and mentorship; and viewers and influence, exploring methods to take away obstacles, spend money on accessibility, and use expertise and journalism as bridges.
These questions are at all times price asking, however they’ve recent urgency now. The American theatre—and the nonprofit arts industrial advanced on the whole—stands at a crossroads. As the traditional, perennial artwork type the place all arts intersect, theatre has the potential to boldly cleared the path right into a hopeful future the place fairness is a actuality and never an aspiration; the place telling tales to, with, and about individuals from traditionally excluded communities isn’t a threat however a calling; and the place love for our frequent humanity leads our choices greater than particular person whims and ticket gross sales. This future might not be precedented, however it’s completely attainable.
We’ve learn (and written a few of) the seemingly limitless articles about theatre closures, abuses of energy, unsafe work situations, and dwindling audiences. That is vital work; info is energy. However elevating consciousness of an issue is just step one in fixing it. The following steps are a lot tougher, requiring forgiveness, investigation, interrogation, genuine group constructing, and the willingness to wade into unknown waters. In change, even when it’s for the higher, there may be at all times an preliminary loss.
However the reward on the opposite facet is far better than artwork as product or as mere mental gymnastics. It seems like many wholesome, sustainable pathways to a lifetime of which means and creativity. Simply think about that.
Kelundra Smith (she/her) is an Atlanta-based playwright, cultural critic, and the managing editor of American Theatre journal.
