EDIA at Quest
Quest Theatre’s Inclusivity Statement
“A lot of different flowers make a bouquet.”- Muslim Origin
Quest encourages all artists to explore theatre for young audiences as part of their ongoing practice. We appreciate and want to collaborate with any artist who is passionate about sharing their love of theatre with young people. In order to create meaningful and relevant work, it is important that we expose young people to diverse artists, cultural view points, and a myriad of human perspectives. We want you just the way you are, because somewhere out there, is a young person just like you! You are an important piece in our job to develop and share theatrical stories that promote a happy, healthy and inclusive society for all young people.
35//50 Pledge
The 35//50 Initiative began as a letter asking Alberta theatre institutions to commit to equitable employment of 35% Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour and 50% gender-variant folx or women by 2025.
2022-2023 Season
BIPOC and Gender Stats
30//64*
Board: 31//77
Staff: 38//100
Play Development: 31//50
Production: 27//33
Arts Education & Community Engagement: 28//69
*With equal weight in all categories, across various lengths of commitments, Quest engaged 30% Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and 64% gender-variant folx or women from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023.
2021-2022 Season
BIPOC and Gender Stats
23//57*
Board: 17//67
Staff: 43//100
Play Development: 41//41
Production: 0//36
Arts Education & Community Engagement: 21//58
*With equal weight in all categories, across various lengths of commitments, Quest engaged 23% Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour and 57% gender-variant folx or women from September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022.
2020-2021 Season
BIPOC and Gender Stats
10//65*
Board: 8//67
Staff: 20//90
Play Development: 25//50
Production: 0//25
Arts Education & Community Engagement: 9//67
*With equal weight in all categories, across various lengths of commitments, Quest engaged 10% Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour and 65% gender-variant folx or women from June 2020 to May 2021, and including our stub year, May 2021 to August 2021.
Quest’s Racial Caucus
Timeline
· Quest’s New Strategic Plan 2021-2024 completed
· Anti-Racism for Organizational Change Training from Community Wise – March 2021
· Racial Caucus – Feb 2022
· Recommendations to Staff and Board – June 2022
· All Together Now Event to report to the community – Jan 2023
High Level Summary of All Together Now Report to the Community
Quest Theatre Commitments to the Community
Creating A Culture Where People Can Thrive
Attracting more diverse team members with:
Active searches for racialized team members
Inclusive language
Outwardly racially diverse marketing imagery
Fair pay for staff and contractors, guided by industry standards and living wage calculations
Flexible work conditions wherever we can, and health benefits for staff
Creating a welcoming and safe/brave workplace by:
Training/onboarding that includes cultural competency and anti-racism
Creating policies for how we work including anti-discrimination and anti-harassment
Creating a code of conduct for young creators to be used in schools and camps
Establishing Feedback mechanisms for reporting mistreatment, missteps, comments, and suggestions
Tracking our accountability by:
Measuring results in order to track our progress
Sharing our 35//50 stats publicly on an annual basis
Continuing conversations with racial caucus members
Strengthening relationships with racialized communities by:
Breaking down barriers to participation of racialized young people
Making the Quest experience for racialized young people amazing AND inclusive
Increasing our awareness of and sensitivity to unique needs
Supporting and activating diverse play creation by and/or with racialized creators
Protecting and respecting the land and Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Continuing to grow our circle by cultivating new relationships and partnerships