1 Preliminary Research Brief Release
2 Virtual Listening Parties.
3 Opportunities To Share Your Stories Towards Recovery.
September 27th | October 27th | June 29th
National BITOC Coalition/Commons, housed at the Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) announce the release of survey research on the Impact of COVID-19 Closures on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Theatre Practitioners (BIPOC) and Black, Indigenous, and Theatres of Color (BITOC). The surveys were formulated and distributed as the pandemic shut down theatres and canceled theatre-maker jobs as the country experienced eruptions naming racism, anti-Blackness, and other discriminations against BIPOC (and/or People of the Global Majority, terms that overlap but are not interchangeable).
“One of the most pressing concerns during the pandemic was health care… None of the respondents reported coverage from their theatre work”.
"Enormous gratitude to Associate Professor L MSP Burns, UCLA Asian American Studies Center and Leilani Chan, Artistic Director, TeAda Productions, for bringing this project to the National BITOC Coalition/Commons. Designing a survey by, for, with our BIPOC Theater Practitioners/BITOCs, People of the Global Majority, was critical in garnering authentic responses, the truths of what is meant by 'disproportionately impacted' pre- and on-going Covid. These survey results will support our advocacy for the resources and funding our BIPOC Theater Practitioners/BITOCs so desperately need and justly deserve."
— Leslie Ishii, Board President of CAATA
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UP NEXT:
2 Listening Survey Parties
One survey was designed to understand and widely report the immediate and projected long-term impact of the pandemic on BIPOC theatre practitioners
The other focused on the impact of COVID-19 on BIPOC-identified theatre organizations.
This is why our second and third events are focused specifically on each of those communities.
Survey Party #3: BIPOC Theatres (BITOC) Listening Session
Listening Session 2 of 2
JUNE 29th 2PM PDT | ON ZOOM
Featured Speakers: Tammy Haili’Ôpua Baker, Virgina Grise, David Lozano, & Kristina Wong
The Survey Team invites BIPOC Theatre Organizations (BITOC) to discuss their thoughts on the current “reopening phase” of the ongoing pandemic. Attendees will reflect on the report findings and discuss the ongoing and long-term impacts of the pandemic on theatres of color, and share their vision of a changed future.
Survey Party #2: Listening Session for Individual BIPOC Artists
Listening Session 1 of 2
October 27, 2021 | ON ZOOM
11:00 a.m. HST/12:00pm AK/1:00 p.m. PDT/2:00pm MT/3:00pm CT/4:00 p.m. EDT
Featured Speakers: Shá Cage, theater and film actress, director, and playwright & LT Gourzog, Technical Director, American Repertory Theater
The Survey Team invites BIPOC theatre practitioners to discuss their thoughts on the current “reopening phase” of the ongoing pandemic. Attendees will reflect on the report findings and discuss the ongoing and long-term impacts of the pandemic on theatres of color, and share their vision of a changed future.
Preliminary Research Brief Recommends The Following Strategies To Support Independent BIPOC Artists and Theatre Organizations of Color:
Independent BIPOC Artists
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Strategy One
A deeper examination of healthcare coverage quality and accessibility for individual BIPOC.
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Strategy Two
Subsidized, fee-free skills training opportunities in online technologies.
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Strategy Three
Accounting practices that accurately record an individual’s labor contributions including volunteer labor.
Theatre Organizations Of Color (BITOC)
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Strategy One
Diverse and culturally informed funding streams be established to support the unique infrastructures of BITOC.
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Strategy Two
Current and future metrics of funding eligibility be reviewed to account for budget-size bias.
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Strategy Three
Support organizational infrastructure development for long-term sustainability.
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One-page overview of
Phase One Research Brief
Meet The Survey Team
These surveys, designed by a US-based coalition of members of the National BIPOC/BITOC Coalition/Commons theatre practitioners and scholars, gather information on the impact of COVID-19 closures on Black, Indigenous Theatre Practitioners of Color. The purpose of this survey is to understand and widely report the immediate and projected long-term impact of the pandemic on BIPOC theatre practitioners.
This project is partially supported by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, recipient of funding awarded by the California Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and the State of California.
Previously
Miss the first event where we presented the initial recommendations and findings of phase 1 of this survey project? Don’t worry, you can still watch the stream.
Monday
September 27th, 2021
11 am HST | 12 pm AKDT | 1pm PT | 3pm CT | 4 pm ET