Huntington Theatre Company Anti-Racism Update

• The Huntington Equity and Anti-Racism (HEAR) task force has completed interviews with four firms who specialize in EDIA work, in order to find a partner to provide training to staff and to guide our work as we examine policy and practices at our theatre with an equity lens. We anticipate announcing a partner soon.
• After careful consideration of how our front of house operations must change to align with our mission and values as a company, we have eliminated the position of security guard from the Huntington Theatre Company for both the Huntington Avenue Theatre and the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. This change has been in the works for the last six months and we look forward to reopening our spaces with systems in place to ensure they are welcoming, safe, and inclusive for all.

• We will be working to support our front of house staff with training, education, and additional positions to serve as greeters and ambassadors to the space. We want to ensure that our audience feels welcomed and not policed. We will be continuing the de-escalation training that was implemented in 2019, and we will be working with our consultant to create additional training opportunities.

• Department heads at the Huntington have begun weekly meetings to discuss potentially enacting policy changes adapted from the We See You White American Theatre list of demands and from the Ten Chimneys Anti-Racism Summit policy recommendations. Several proposals are currently being budgeted, and we anticipate announcing more policy changes in the coming weeks and months.

Published Tuesday, September 29, 2020