Long Table Remix

How theaters of color are redefining abundance

Tuesday, October 23, 2:00pm – 4:30pm

Organized by Sharon DeMark, program officer, The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations.

Moderated by Justin Laing, principal, Hillombo. Presented by Sarah Bellamy, artistic director, Penumbra Theatre Company; Randy Reyes, artistic director, Theater Mu; Arleta Little, program officer and director of Artist Fellowships, McKnight Foundation; Sharon DeMark, program officer, The Saint Paul & Minnesota Community Foundations; Alberto Justiniano, artistic director, Teatro del Pueblo; and Kristen Marx, program administrator, McKnight Foundation.

Given historical inequities in funding between arts organizations led by people of color and larger Eurocentric institutions, how do theaters of color thrive? What are the barriers? Opportunities? How can we assure that the diversification of predominantly white institutions doesn’t come at the expense of theaters of color? In this session we explore the unique contributions that theaters of color make and how they have joined forces to create strong and diverse points of view in their communities. Representatives from the Twin Cities Theatres of Color Coalition and the Racial Equity Funders Collaborative will share how they have been collaborating to transform philanthropy and sustain theaters of color in Minnesota. Session participants can then participate in a Long Table conversation. The Long Table is artist Lois Weaver’s non-hierarchical public engagement format designed to facilitate participatory conversation. First presented at GIA in Houston (2014), the Long Table Remix will be an opportunity to reflect on abundance and scarcity funding mindsets, to discuss what/who the barriers are to the work of theaters of color, and to explore effective actions and strategies by funders and others.