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Wednesday, August 31, 2022
CAA and Black Theatre Coalition Collaborate on New Fellowship
AMERICAN THEATRE: Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the Black Theatre Coalition (BTC) have partnered on a new talent representation fellowship aimed at increasing employment opportunities for Black theatre professionals.
Although this fellowship is definitely going to shape the theater industry in new ways, I feel as though there is a stronger and more meaningful way to solve this problem than affirmative action. Obviously creating opportunities for marginalized groups in the theater industry is important to bring more diversity. But, this isn’t a long term solution. Waiting until people have gone to school, been in the field, and then giving them the opportunity to be a part of the main industry is not going to fix the root of the problem. The root of the problem is the marginalized education system. Putting money towards fixing broken school districts, getting minority children the education they need, and even a program that would focus on minority college students in the theater field would better solve this problem. Once the education is fixed, then you can make sure they are equivalently hired into the industry itself. You have to sew up the wound before you can put a bandaid on it. Putting a bandaid on an open wound won’t stop the bleeding, only soak up a portion of it. That is the same with this solution to unequal opportunities in the theater industry.
Firstly, less than one percent of executives in the theatrical industry are black! I continuously believe that when I hear such cases like this I won't be in shock, yet I have been proven wrong. I find this method of recruiting black individuals into the theatrical industry a great idea! Their is a need for spaces that are dedicated towards marginalized individuals due to the extreme divide and unlikelyhood of being employed within the industry. It is a shame that such spaces and organizations must be formed, however I find this essential to introducing more black talent representatives into the theatrical world. When their aren't any black representatives for talent searching in performers and technical production it causes a divide and less of a diverse eye when selecting people for projects. It is through collaborations and mentorship efforts such as that of the CAA and Black Theatre Coalition that more individuals who would otherwise be unable to engage in such training opportunities. Are given the ability to at least have a chance to be apart of the theatrical community!
2 comments:
Although this fellowship is definitely going to shape the theater industry in new ways, I feel as though there is a stronger and more meaningful way to solve this problem than affirmative action. Obviously creating opportunities for marginalized groups in the theater industry is important to bring more diversity. But, this isn’t a long term solution. Waiting until people have gone to school, been in the field, and then giving them the opportunity to be a part of the main industry is not going to fix the root of the problem. The root of the problem is the marginalized education system. Putting money towards fixing broken school districts, getting minority children the education they need, and even a program that would focus on minority college students in the theater field would better solve this problem. Once the education is fixed, then you can make sure they are equivalently hired into the industry itself. You have to sew up the wound before you can put a bandaid on it. Putting a bandaid on an open wound won’t stop the bleeding, only soak up a portion of it. That is the same with this solution to unequal opportunities in the theater industry.
Firstly, less than one percent of executives in the theatrical industry are black! I continuously believe that when I hear such cases like this I won't be in shock, yet I have been proven wrong. I find this method of recruiting black individuals into the theatrical industry a great idea! Their is a need for spaces that are dedicated towards marginalized individuals due to the extreme divide and unlikelyhood of being employed within the industry. It is a shame that such spaces and organizations must be formed, however I find this essential to introducing more black talent representatives into the theatrical world. When their aren't any black representatives for talent searching in performers and technical production it causes a divide and less of a diverse eye when selecting people for projects. It is through collaborations and mentorship efforts such as that of the CAA and Black Theatre Coalition that more individuals who would otherwise be unable to engage in such training opportunities. Are given the ability to at least have a chance to be apart of the theatrical community!
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