CLICK HERE TO READ OUR ANTI-RACISM PLAN
 
Summer 2022
 
As many organizations and institutions are reexamining the impact of our nation’s history of racism, Actors’ Shakespeare Project is not immune. ASP has a long way to go to achieve racial equity and anti-racism in all areas of its business and artistic practices. We understand that in many ways we have been complicit in and the beneficiary of a culture of white supremacy in the American theatre. We also understand that many Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) have shouldered the harmful and destructive nature of racism through silencing, exclusion, and erasure.
 
Through hours of listening, self-learning, mentorship and consultation, ASP has developed this anti-racism action plan. A great deal of thanks goes out to our Anti-racism, Inclusion Diversity, and Equity Committee that worked to develop this document. As an organization we have long been allied philosophically with the basic tenets of anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion. However, we have not taken many of the practical steps, aside from hiring BIPOC artists, that are needed to align our mission and policies with our values. This document is the first step in our endeavor to synchronize what we believe with our actions. This document is organic and we expect there to be changes, upgrades and evolutions in the future.
 
This plan focuses on anti-racism as it applies to BIPOC, and is in no way meant to exclude other communities that are also faced with the ills of intolerance and non-equitable treatment that currently exist in our theatre community and society. We acknowledge that the challenges and conversations around race in the United States are complicated and that there are many factors of intersectionality that contribute to the inequality. We also stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ community, and the gender expansive community; we see you, we hear you and we acknowledge that the work is not yet finished.
 
ASP will make mistakes, and we will do all that is in our power to rectify those mistakes through leadership, listening, transparency, ally-ship and accountability. We are stronger together — all of us together.
 
 
With love, and humility,
 
 
Christopher V. Edwards
Artistic Director