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BELONGING

Since FTC’s founding, we have been deeply invested in being an Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible company (IDEA).

Anti-Racism Work

Since FTC’s founding, we have been deeply invested in being an Inclusive, Diverse, Equitable, and Accessible company (IDEA). We have expanded that work to become actively Anti-Racist.

Community Partnerships

We are proud to partner with the community to bring exciting, engaging, and challenging theater experiences to an ever increasing audience.

Adopt a School project

We are proud to support the La Follette High School drama program with audition workshops, professional mentoring in stage management and design, marketing assistance, and so much more!

Accessibility

Forward Theater strives to make its performances available to all members of the community.

Visit our accessibility page >

Highlights from FTC’s IDEA/Anti-racism Plan

The plan below is a living document. It will be continually reexamined and adjusted, as being an inclusive and anti-racist company is a life-long effort, not a box to be checked off. We share our plan publicly because we know this work is as important to our community as it is to us. And we know this plan will be better and more successful if you help us to make it so. So we invite (and encourage!) you to share your feedback and ideas with us at any time.

Ongoing

  • Continue to seek out opportunities to support, mentor, and nurture diverse artists and arts groups in our region, investing resources as needed to do so.
  • Continue efforts to make our post-show talkbacks a space for productive and respectful conversation, as well as an opportunity for reflection and growth.
  • Continue our use of Land Acknowledgements in our playbills and at first rehearsals.
  • Create a succinct document (contract rider) for all freelance artists and crew that outlines our IDEA/Anti-Racism policies, as well as protected pathways to report issues. (This has been in place since 2021.)
  • Maintain the presence of a specific line item in our budget for IDEA/anti-racism work.
  • Have a line item for cultural consultants in each production’s budget worksheet. This prompts an evaluation of any specific needs for each play.
  • Invest advertising dollars with local media outlets focused on diverse populations.
  • The Finance Committee will continue to conduct an annual audit of FTC’s vendors to encourage investment in diverse businesses.
  • Share FTC’s annual operating budget on our website and in our playbills (budgets are the most explicit statement of an organization’s values).
  • Learning opportunities in IDEA/Anti-Racism are incorporated as a major component of each year’s full-day retreat with our staff, Board, and AC members.
  • Continue our ongoing efforts to diversify membership of our Board, AC and staff.
  • Continue our 360-degree annual reviews of executive leadership.
  • Continue our commitment to investing our financial reserves in Socially Conscious funds.
  • Include language in all job postings that past participation in IDEA/Anti-Racism training is a plus.
  • Continue our existing practice of transparent hiring processes, including clear communication of salary ranges.
  • Continue our practice of offering compensation to all artists who assist with development efforts.
  • Continue to seek out opportunities to nurture emerging diverse theater technicians and designers.
  • Continue our development of intervention and disruption protocols for harmful audience interactions.
  • Work with Overture Center and the other resident companies to continue to research and implement changes to make lobbies and other theater spaces more welcoming to diverse communities.
  • Periodically, reach out to local journalism schools and publications, offering to partner with them on training programs for diverse critics.
  • Work with Overture Center and the other resident companies to research and develop changes that can be made to make lobbies and other theater spaces more welcoming to diverse communities.
  • Frequently investigate accessibility offerings at other arts organizations to identify new opportunities to support patrons with access needs. Work with Overture Center as needed to implement these options in the Playhouse.

Longer-term

  • Create plan for increased staff capacity to focus on community engagement.
  • Expand our La Follette High School partnership.