Values and Approach
Racial Justice and Equity.
We believe arts education is a tool for personal empowerment and academic success, which can lead to social and economic agency. In order to reach students who might not otherwise receive arts education due to economic barriers, documentation status, language, or other systemic disinvestments, we prioritize working with schools with limited access to arts resources. We also regularly educate our staff about the importance, care, and sensitivity of these topics in an effort to make each workshop a culturally affirming space for each student.
A Culture of Learning.
Our focus on facilitating youth development is supported by an organization-wide commitment towards consistent learning and growth for teaching artists and administrative staff. Learning and growth opportunities delve into topics such as anti-racism, creative problem solving, and intersectionality.
Intersectionality Statement
At Performing Arts Workshop, we recognize that intersecting structural systems and external forces, including but not limited to, racism and socio-economic status, exponentially impact People of Color. These forces impact our students, staff, and volunteers.
As such, we strive to consider all the identities and communities of our students, employees, board members, and volunteers. In our efforts to respect and recognize peoples’ full identities, we continuously work to make our programming and spaces equitable and accessible.
We actively encourage constructive dialogue, open communication, and disruption of discriminatory behaviors and actions of oppression in our organization.
The Workshop lives into its values by:
Making art accessible to students of varied backgrounds and abilities by creating multiple points of entry to curriculums and in class facilitation for students.
Questioning assumptions about what students are capable of and not accepting false limitations.
Providing space for students to share the stories they live, experience, witness, or create through original compositions in their art form
Annual Student Showcase
Annual Anthologies
Youth Artist Committee
Youth led Mixers
Focusing on an evolving anti-racist framework in teaching artist learning and growth.
Committing to organizational and personal growth and accountability with support from the anti racism committee and external facilitators with expertise in the field.
Constructing hiring protocols with an emphasis on equity and a valuing of expertise in anti racist practices.
Accepting job references in multiple languages.
Providing transparency about values and salaries in job posting and on-boarding processes.
Soliciting information from partners and actively listening to and supporting their needs.
Inviting all gender identities and focusing training on expanding organizational understanding of the gender spectrum.
Trans Non-Binary Two-Spirited and Gender-Expansive Staff Support Resource
Practicing shared leadership amongst staff and in the classroom.
Resourcing teaching artists to rotate the facilitation of learning and growth sessions.
Providing paid opportunities for administrative staff and teaching artists to facilitate and engage in anti racism focused trainings and retreats.
Maintaining a culture of learning about the nuances of deconstructing systemic racist practices, intersectionality, and equity through:
Anti-racism Committee
Community Care Collective
Supporting staff, students, and partners to report acts of racism to the anti-racism committee
Applying and continuously adapting our accountability protocol that seeks to minimize racism and repair harm
Working with outside expert consultants
And more!
Statement in Defense of Black Lives from the
Anti-Racism Committee
The Anti-Racism Committee is a group of Performing Arts Workshop staff and Artist Mentors dedicated to developing and implementing anti-racist practices in the classroom, including specifically pro-Black practices, and pushing the Workshop to establish and practice anti-racism.
To view the statement in full detail, please click here.
Educators Calling for a Permanent Ceasefire
An open letter from Performing Arts Workshop’s Anti Racism Committee.
To view the letter in full detail, please click here.