Equity, Access & Inclusion
Equity, access, and inclusion (EAI) are core values at The Lark. We believe in the power of theater, in the empathy that results from hearing a new story, and the better world that emerges after a shared experience. It is central to our mission that The Lark champions diverse stories and extraordinary writers. The Lark prioritizes voices and perspectives that have been historically misrepresented and under-resourced by the theater field by providing development opportunities, resources, and connections to our growing community. We recognize that differences in identity including age, background, class, gender, language, nationality, disability, race, sexual orientation, and thinking style bring vibrancy to our organization and that such differences help us better connect with the stories that reflect our world. Our goal is to create and maintain a welcoming and inclusive organization that is continually working towards equity.
The Lark would like to give thanks and acknowledgement to the many individuals and groups who have inspired and help shape the evolution of our Equity, Access, and Inclusion work among them: artEquity, TCG’s Diversity and Inclusion Institute Resource Collection, Everyday Democracy, LEAD, AAPAC, Tema Okun, Adrienne Maree Brown, Donna Walker-Kuhne, past Lark staff and apprentices, and many more.
Activities
The Lark’s values of access and inclusion are vital to every part of the organization. Below are a few examples of activities launched as part of our work towards equity.
Community Guidelines
The Lark created this list of guidelines with the goal of ensuring everyone who enters out space can feel heard and whole as we collectively work towards to goal of supporting the playwrights' process.
Weekly EAI Meetings
A dedicated time and space for all team members to gather and address topics of access and inclusion. These meetings may take the form of affinity spaces, wellness breaks, or discussions on how to deepen or course-correct in our work towards equity. Read the Discussion Guidelines used at The Lark.
Free Public Programming
We strive to sustain programs that make it more economically viable to make and attend theater. We are committed to increasing the socio-economic diversity of our community by ensuring all programs are free to artists and all tickets are free to the public.
Open Access Play Submissions
We have an open submission process that allows any and all writers to apply to our Playwrights' Week program free of charge. (on hiatus due to COVID-19)
Portfolio of Fellowships
The Lark has a portfolio of fellowships designed to provide targeted, artistic and financial support to writers at various points in their careers, including the New Voices Fellowship, which provides support for early career playwrights of color, and the Apothetae and Lark Playwriting Fellowship, which provides support for a Disabled writer.
Apprentice Program
In 2012 The Lark made a strategic shift from a traditional internship program into a season-long apprentice program. This program was designed to deepen our commitment to emerging arts administrators by providing increased educational and financial support. (on hiatus due to COVID-19)
Skills Building
The Lark is committed to ongoing skills building with staff, apprentices, and Board members, aimed at expanding knowledge of different cultures and communities, and learning to be facilitators of hard conversation. Past workshop guest facilitators have included Donna Walker-Kuhne, Sarah Bellamy, Dafina MacMillan, and Ty Defoe.
Want to know more about our equity, access, and inclusion work? Have any suggestions about what we can do next or what we can do better? Contact The Lark's Communications Manager Jennifer Haley jennifer@larktheatre.org
