OSF to Launch National artEquity Facilitator Training Program

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is proud to announce the launch of artEquity, a facilitator training initiative for theatre companies nationwide. Supported by a $145,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, artEquity will provide facilitation skills and capacity building in the areas of diversity, inclusion and equity.

artEquity is hosted by OSF and directed and founded by Carmen Morgan, a national consultant to theatres on inclusion and equity issues. Nijeul Xaviere Porter serves as artEquity's Program Manager and Morgan will act as lead facilitator. They are joined by a diverse team of co-facilitators: Ty Defoe (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Fellow for Theatre Communications Group); Lydia G. Garcia (Resident Dramaturg at OSF); Leslie Ishii (Stage Director and Arts Educator); and Michael Robertson (Managing Director of The Lark).

"My experience is that when given the opportunity, people will usually seek out justice-every time," Morgan said. "And that's in part what this training is about. Our goal is to give participants tools and resources to explore where they have personal agency and how they can continue to use art to transform and confront structural and systemic barriers. Being at OSF is an important component of the training because OSF is committed to using theatre to challenge and expand community. As a theatre, that's what OSF does every day."

artEquity will annually bring together a national cohort of approximately 25-35 diverse stakeholders from the field of theatre. The cohort will participate in intensive skills-based and analysis-building workshops, in addition to individual and team learning assignments. The skills-based sessions will explore core competencies needed to facilitate diversity and inclusion issues on an interpersonal, group and organizational level. The analysis-building sessions will address issues of identity, privilege, structural power and ally-building, as well as best practices for organizational change.

In order to maximize participants' experiences, the training will take place over two intensive retreats in Ashland, Oregon, on the OSF campus. The first intensive retreat the will take place September 3-6, 2015. The second intensive is scheduled to take place October 15-17, 2015. The trainings are set at least a month apart to allow participants time to reflect on the themes presented and to practice facilitation competencies. Participants will be expected to attend both retreats.

Another key component of the artEquity training will be immersion in the OSF theatre experience. The cohort will have an opportunity to experience plays and seminars that connect theory with practice, addressing issues such as color-conscious casting, gender diversity, accessibility, audience engagement and other topics that inform equity-based theatre making. Participants will explore firsthand the challenges and successes of addressing issues of diversity, inclusion and equity within an arts institution.

"I am so proud to have OSF host artEquity's inaugural sessions," said OSF Artistic Director Bill Rauch. "As a field, we must be better equipped to have the difficult, necessary and joyful conversations that are part of a commitment to true equity. Carmen Morgan is a daily inspiration to me personally and to our entire organization, and we are grateful for her national leadership."

Carmen Morgan has served as a facilitator, consultant, leadership and organizational development coach to staff, executives, and boards for more than 100 non-profit organizations. For the past eight years, she has served as the Diversity and Inclusion Consultant for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where she addresses structural and organizational issues of inclusion and equity. With her guidance, OSF has implemented innovative programming, policies, and has created new organizational structures to support ongoing diversity and inclusion efforts.

Nijeul Xaviere Porter-a Los Angeles-based cultural organizer, educator, and producer with the wholehearted belief that art is at the tipping point for social change-is always excited about opportunities to facilitate the intersections of art and community. He most recently has served as Community Outreach and Programs Manager for the highly acclaimed "Manifest: Justice," an art exhibition, public awareness campaign and community convening, organizing more than 60 national, state and local community partners and managing the education programs offered.

For more information about the program and registration details, please contact Nijeul Porter at nxporter@artEquity.org or call 213.986.5792.