StageSource Announces 2018 Town Hall

At this event, which will be free and open to the public, StageSource will update the community on the progress being made on the Statement of Purpose work which began at the 2017 Conference. Topics will include the A11Y Initiative which seeks to increase access and opportunity for Deaf artists and audiences; The Gender Parity Task Force; and the launch of the new Gender Explosion Initiative which aims to make our community a welcoming and supportive one for people of all gender identities in addition to updates on arts journalism and equity and inclusion initiatives in the community. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live streamed at www.howlround.com/tv.

Announcing the event, StageSource Executive Director Julie Hennrikus said, "In many ways, New England can be a model for the national theater community. Our Town Hall will look at a variety of topics and highlight both the progress we've made and the work that is still to be done."

StageSource will also dedicate a portion of the evening to a discussion of the beginning of the Line Drawn Initiative to address the issue of sexual harassment in the performing arts sector. The organization is currently conducting a sector-wide survey to better understand the scope of the issue. In partnership with other community organizations, next steps in the Initiative will include work to develop resources and training which are specific to the performing arts community as well as resources for mediation, investigation, and restorative justice.

Hennrikus adds, "Our goal is to spotlight best practices which are already being implemented and to develop community-wide standards which can be made to artists and organizations of any size and scope."

StageSource programs are made possible in part through the generous support of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Boston Cultural Council, and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, whose partnership helps to support economic mobility by addressing community development needs.