About

TITLE: Technical Director

STATUS: Full-Time Exempt

SALARY: $53,000

REPORTS TO: Artistic Director

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  September 18, 2022

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Technical Director is chiefly responsible for the execution and supervision of all scenic, sound, electrical, lighting and special effects elements used in the theater productions, through their own work and the organization and management of both paid and volunteer crews. They work with the Production Manager to ensure that builds and technical rehearsals come in on budget and in a timely fashion.  They are responsible for the procurement and inventory of production materials and supervising or executing the rental and driving of moving trucks. Other responsibilities include overseeing facility & equipment rentals, supervising/assisting with Gallery installs/de-installs, supporting leadership in reviewing production calendars and budgets, and serving as chief safety officer.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

Theatre Production

• Acts as liaison with scenic, lighting, and sound designers, in consultation with the Production Manager and Artistic Director, in determining the technical and budgetary feasibility of design elements, suggesting design changes where appropriate.  Supplies technical information, construction drawings and budget estimates for seasonal projections as requested.
• Determines construction methods, schedules, materials, and mechanics for the scenic, lighting, and sound design of all productions and ancillary events, providing accurate estimates to leadership.
• With the Production Manager, ensures budgetary control of materials and labor for all productions and assigned projects.
• Supervises and executes, acting as shop foreman and master carpenter, the build, maintenance and strike of each set adhering to an outlined schedule. Insures proper functioning and safety of all design elements. Acts as liaison between the scenic charge artist and designer, ensuring adherence to the design.
• Supports the rehearsal process by ensuring a safe/clean space, taping out the ground plan, facilitating rehearsal props and furniture, and responding to rehearsal notes.  Attends all production meetings.
• During technical rehearsals is responsible for ensuring all production equipment and design elements are ready by the top of tech, that the space is clean and safe.  With the Production Manager, supervises timely response to designer and director scenic, lighting, prop and sound notes and implements adjustments during technical rehearsals and previews.  Attends all tech huddles.
• Supervises safety and maintenance of the scene shop, stage, and all shop and stage equipment, including lighting and sound.

Facilities

• Assists the visual artists with the Gallery exhibitions by maintaining lighting and clean wall preparation, and by scheduling and assisting with installation and de-installation.
• Performs building maintenance on an as needed basis, including but is not limited to: roof inspections/gutter cleaning, inspecting the building for sump pump or water leakage, maintaining clean and organized storage of lighting and sound inventory, clean, detritus-free hallways, lighting in the public and production spaces, and ensuring the safety of door alarms and locks.
• Maintains a clean and well-organized shop and assists the Production Manager in ensuring all production spaces are kept clean and organized.
• Supports Marketing by hanging banners, adjusting exterior lighting, organizing the staff holiday decorating, etc.
• With the Relationship Manager and Volunteer Coordinator, organizes and oversees volunteer work parties to assist in the clean-up of public, admin and production spaces in the building.
• Operates and maintains an organized, clean and safe offsite furniture storage location.

Safety

• With the assistance of the Managing Director, maintains and instructs on safety and emergency plans including fire, active-shooter, earthquake, and others.
• Oversees the maintenance of First Aid kits, emergency lighting, and ensures testing of fire extinguishers and other building mandated requirements.

SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND/OR KNOWLEDGE PREFERRED

• At least four years experience in theatrical construction or its equivalent.
• At least two years of technical supervisory experience.
• Demonstrated ability in a majority of the following skills: carpenter, welder, draftsman, lighting, audio and video theater technician, working knowledge of rigging, pneumatics, mechanical leverage, circuit mapping and limitations, basic wiring.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a collaborative and respectful team member and maintain a positive outlook under tight deadlines and challenging situations.
• Leadership skills in directing both paid and volunteer crews to keep the flow of work moving forward with efficiency and productivity.
• Experience preparing build/project calendars and executing designs on time and within the financial parameters set.
• Detail-oriented with excellent project management and problem solving skills.
• Ability to lift, push, or pull objects up to 70 pounds using appropriate tools.
• A valid WA state driver’s license.

HOURS AND COMPENSATION

The Technical Director is an exempt, full-time position that is compensated at $53,000 annually.  ArtsWest offers a 100% employer covered medical/dental/vision package; 2 weeks of vacation per year moving to 3 weeks by year two; 4 days of personal time per year; and follows all City of Seattle and State employment laws regarding sick leave, FMLA leave, etc.

For the work done during daytime hours has flexibility on start and end times each day.  Some evening hours on-site are required for the duration of technical rehearsals, and the Technical Director should flex their hours in the following weeks to allow for time off and self-care.  Other special evening and weekend events will be known in advance. The majority of the Technical Director’s work will need to be done at ArtsWest, but allowances can be made for some limited remote work.

APPLICATION DETAILS AND DEADLINE

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter in PDF format, that outlines how your related experience and skills qualify you for the position, to resumes@artswest.org. Applications will be accepted through September 18, 2022.  Applications will be reviewed after the posting closes. Interviews will be scheduled in late September with an estimated start date the week of October 3, 2022.

TITLE: Production Manager

STATUS: Hourly- 30-35 hours per week

SALARY RANGE: $24-$28 an hour

REPORTS TO: Artistic Director

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  September 18, 2022

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Production Manager fills a critical role in the planning, execution, and production of artistic programming at ArtsWest. This includes contracting artists, helping to manage schedules and project deadlines (including special events), keeping creative teams and artists informed and engaged, and managing production spaces.  The Production Manager works closely with the creative teams, the Artistic and Managing Directors, the Technical Director and interfaces with other departments.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• In conjunction with the Artistic Director and Technical Director, help identify and hire creative teams, run crew, and any further technical assistants for each production.
• Make offers to designers, crew, musicians, and over-hires, adhering to ArtsWest’s policies, theatre needs and legal defensibility requirements. Ensure that contracts and hiring materials are executed properly.
• Develop, communicate, and maintain production schedules and calendars for the creative teams as well as ArtsWest leadership and staff. Ensure that deadlines and milestones are adhered to, that each project is moving towards completion in an efficient manner, and that lines of communication are in place across departments.
• Ensure that production projects come in on or under budget by accurately tracking budgets and receipts and by facilitating and maintaining close communication across departments and with the Company Administrator.
• Coordinate and lead production meetings and First Rehearsals.
• Track rehearsal and performance reports for production projects and ensure that departmental notes get executed in a timely manner.
• In conjunction with the Artistic Director and Relationship Manager, help schedule and oversee auditions and callbacks as needed.
• Serve as a mentor as needed to new stage managers.
• Serve as a key ambassador to technical artists working for ArtsWest: provide a welcome, inviting and clean home through great communication, effective scheduling, and management and upkeep of all production spaces.
• Communicate, coordinate and support accessibility needs for production artists, including building access, internet access, and physical, mental, and emotional access needs.
• Coordinate production elements and production logistics of audience engagement and ancillary events including: talkbacks, panels, special workshops, pre and post-show events, industry nights, and season opening events.

SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND/OR KNOWLEDGE PREFERRED

• Experience working with mixed teams of creatives with varying needs, skillsets, and working styles.
• Proven ability to organize and execute events.
• The ability to follow through on transforming ideas and potential into results.
• Demonstrated ability to independently organize and prioritize workload; manage multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Excellent computer skills. Experience with Excel is a must.
• Ability to work in a team environment, remaining calm with multiple demands, with a sense of humor and energy.
• A desire to work at ArtsWest as a contributing and collaborative team player.
• Stage management or technical experience a plus!

HOURS AND COMPENSATION

The Production Manager is an hourly position working on average 30 hours a week at $24-$28 an hour with 2 weeks of vacation per year and 100% employer covered medical/dental/vision package. ArtsWest follows all City of Seattle and State employment laws regarding sick leave, FMLA leave, etc.

The majority of this work is done during day-time hours, with flexibility on start and end times each day.  The Production Manager will need to be on-site for First Day and a portion of technical rehearsals, flexing their hours in the following weeks to allow for time off and self-care.  Other special evening and weekend events will be known in advance. A significant portion of the Production Manager’s work will need to be done at ArtsWest, but some remote work is possible.

APPLICATION DETAILS AND DEADLINE

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter in PDF format, that outlines how your related experience and skills qualify you for the position, to resumes@artswest.org. Applications will be accepted through September 18, 2022.  Applications will be reviewed after the posting closes. Interviews will be scheduled in late September with an estimated start the week of October 3, 2022.

TITLE: Marketing and Digital Content Manager

STATUS: Full-Time Exempt

SALARY: $53,000

REPORTS TO: Managing Director

APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 21, 2022

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Marketing Manager fills a critical role, as this position is the primary voice for drawing in audiences by connecting them to ArtsWest’s story in exciting and creative ways.  This includes the development and execution of a marketing strategy for each individual production, the season as a whole, as well as ancillary programming. The Marketing Manager provides key support not only to the Managing and Artistic Directors but to all departments, ensuring that a consistent vision, voice, and mission is clearly articulated in all marketing materials.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing strategy, ensuring consistency with the theater’s vision and voice, and remaining within the established budget.
• Develop and share timely, compelling, and relevant copy for all marketing materials, which may include postcards, posters, brochures, e-blasts, etc.
• Work closely with graphic design vendors to ensure the production of excellent and timely larger footprint materials. Supplement much of this work with own design skills in making posters, postcards and other print collateral.
• Arrange and direct photo shoots in coordination with the Artistic Director.
• Prepare press releases and coordinate press requests.
• Work with the Managing Director to negotiate ad placements.
• Communicate with Marketing Vendors to provide the correct material on schedule.
• Develop video and other digital content to support the programming and development efforts of the organization.
• Update and maintain the organization’s website.
• Maintain a strong and constant soc­ial media presence that goes beyond the obvious sales pitch.
• Implement and track evaluation metrics for marketing and audience engagement.
• Update patron lists and utilize mail programs efficiently.
• Ensure the archiving of marketing materials following established protocols.
• Communicate closely with the Box Office and Patron Services Consultant to create messaging that ensures seamless ticket purchasing experiences for our patrons.
• Participate as an integral and enthusiastic team-player.

SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND/OR KNOWLEDGE PREFERRED

• Formal education in marketing and/or communications or equivalent; three to five years of relevant experience, arts organizations preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently organize and prioritize workload; manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines.  The pace of this job is rapid.
• Excellent written and verbal skills with a writing style that reflects the voice of ArtsWest – relevant, compelling, and contemporary.
• Versed in the production of promotional videos, graphic manipulation and photography support.
• Excellent software skills.  Proficiency with managing websites, Constant Contact, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, and Premiere Pro, and video platforms will be necessary; experience with Patron Manager a plus, but not essential.
• Ability to work in a team environment, remaining calm with multiple demands, with a sense of humor, energy, drive, and passion.
• A desire to work at ArtsWest as a generative creator and collaborative team player.
• Graphic design skills a big plus!

HOURS AND COMPENSATION

The Marketing and Digital Content Manager is an exempt, full-time position that is compensated at $53,000 annually.  ArtsWest offers a 100% employer covered medical/dental/vision package; 2 weeks of vacation per year moving to 3 weeks by year two; 4 days of personal time per year; and follows all City of Seattle and State employment laws regarding sick leave, FMLA leave, etc.

The majority of this work is done during day time hours, with flexibility on start and end times each day.  Occasional evenings or weekend may be necessary as all ArtsWest Staff attend first rehearsals, Opening Nights, and our Annual GALA fundraiser—which are evening events. All evening and weekend events will be known in advance. A large portion of the Marketing and Digital Content Manager’s work needs to be done at ArtsWest, but some remote work is possible.

Who We Are: ArtsWest is a theatre and gallery that produces artistic events that provoke conversation, incite the imagination and use live theater as a powerful agent of change. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive atmosphere of openness, transparency, honesty and respect. ArtsWest is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization and recognize that it an active and on-going process.

General Responsibilities: Sets up, manages and closes the lobby bar during performances and special events. This position is responsible for selling snacks and selling and serving drinks to patrons. This position coordinates with the House Manager in training and managing Volunteer Ushers before and during performances, and acts as a greeter and liaison with the public when the House Manager is elsewhere.

Hours: Part-time, evenings and some weekend matinees with shifts ranging from 2-4 hours depending on the length of the production run. Shifts are on a sign up, first-reply first scheduled basis. This position is seasonal – November thru August as dictated by our theater season calendar.

Supervision: This position reports to the Box Office Manager & Volunteer Coordinator.

Salary: $17.60/hr or Seattle City minimum wage.

Basic Responsibilities:

● Opening, managing and closing the Bar for performances, special events and rentals.

● Maintain a clean, professional and inviting bar area for all Patrons

● Act as an agent of ArtsWest for the public by engaging with them courteously and promptly plus set a professional tone for all, whether patrons or volunteers

● Creating the ideal conditions for their enjoyment of ArtsWest’s programs

● Work with House Manager to avoid late starts and seat latecomers

● Monitor and report on bar and concessions inventory with House Manager

● Count/reconcile cash tills with House Manager

● Work with House Manager to manage emergency situations involving audience members and the public

● Work with House Manager to train / orient the Volunteer Ushers for each performance

● Complete intersectional anti-racism training as a part of the on-boarding process

● Bartenders may be asked to cross-train in house managing and box office.

Qualifications:

● A smiling team player with the ability to work with minimal supervision and to remain calm under pressure.

● Successful applicant must possess excellent customer service skills and attention to details and meet

Washington State Patrol criminal background check prior to employment.

● Practical experience in hospitality, bar services and experience as a volunteer are a plus

● First aid training is helpful.

Note: Washington MAST license, liquor and food handling training and certification are required – the fee and time spent in class are paid for by ArtsWest. Employees must be fully vaccinated.

The application will remain open until the position is filled. Please send a cover letter and resume to resumes@artswest.org

Who We Are: ArtsWest is a theatre and gallery that produces artistic events that provoke conversation, incite the imagination and use live theater as a powerful agent of change. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive atmosphere of openness, transparency, honesty and respect. ArtsWest is committed to becoming an anti-racist organization and recognize that it an active and on-going process.

General Responsibilities: Provides supervision of the front of house during performances and special events. This position is responsible for audience seating, customer service, hospitality and maintaining audience and volunteer safety at all times. This position coordinates with the Production Stage Manager during performances and acts as shift supervisor for all front of house paid staff and volunteers.

Hours: Part-time, evenings and some weekend matinees with shifts ranging from 2-4 hours depending on the length of the production run. Shifts are on a sign up, first-reply first scheduled basis. This position is seasonal – November thru August as dictated by our theater season calendar.

Supervision: This position reports to the Box Office Manager & Volunteer Coordinator.

Salary: $17.60/hr or Seattle City minimum wage.

Specific Responsibilities:

● Opening and closing the theater for performances, special events and rentals.

● Maintaining the safety and comfort of the public at all times.

● Creating the ideal conditions for their enjoyment of ArtsWest’s programs

● Assist the public with special needs (including early seating for injured or disabled persons) and train ushers in matters of audience safety and emergency evacuation.

● Act as liaison between ArtsWest and the public in addressing their concerns courteously and promptly plus set a professional tone for all publics, whether patrons or volunteers

● Count/reconcile cash tills to concession reports

● Work with Box Office to seat latecomers

● Provide lobby security during performances and other events

● Manage emergency situations involving audience members and the public

● Works in consultation with Production Stage Management to hand over a seated audience ready for the performance.

● Complete intersectional anti-racism training as a part of the on-boarding process

House Managers may be asked to cross-train in box office and bartending.

Qualifications:

● A smiling team player with the ability to work with minimal supervision and to remain calm under pressure.

● Successful applicant must possess excellent customer service skills and attention to details and meet

Washington State Patrol criminal background check prior to employment.

● Practical experience in hospitality, audience services and experience as a volunteer are a plus

● Basic proficiency in Microsoft Office – word, excel; experience with ticketing systems a plus

● First aid training is helpful.

Note: Washington liquor and food handling training and certification are required – the fee and time spent in class are paid for by ArtsWest. Employees must be fully vaccinated.

The application will remain open until the position is filled. Please send a cover letter and resume to resumes@artswest.org

ArtsWest’s mission is to produce theater that provokes conversation, incites the imagination and uses live theater as a powerful agent of change.  Fulfilling this mission often leads us to produce disruptive work that responds to what’s happening in our world and challenges the status quo.  For the past several years, ArtsWest mainstage seasons have been comprised of at least 50% BIPOC playwrights and stories.  In 2021 and beyond, we have instituted a series of practices to further support the artists telling these stories and the audiences who experience them. 

In 2021, we began programming our seasons collaboratively with a collective of ArtsWest Associate Artists.  The group was created as a new power-sharing method of season curation.  Rather than limiting the minds and voices involved to those of ArtsWest leadership, the group adds new interdisciplinary, majority BIPOC theater artists into the conversation each year.  In collaboration with ArtsWest leadership, the Associate Artists source, discuss, debate and program as a collective the material for our mainstage season. 

Each season at ArtsWest is programmed around a “theme,” though the season seeks to go much deeper than the word implies.  Each season has at its heart a deep and pressing question that arises from the world the season finds itself in.  This question is explored through six widely different lenses over the course of a year-long season of theater and visual art exhibits, placing the theater we make in solid conversation with the world around it. 

ArtsWest seeks to create a nourishing home for artists where they can show up as their authentic selves and find the support necessary to create visionary work. The following policies and practices have been created with two goals in mind – to open our doors, inviting artists who have never worked at ArtsWest before to join us for the first time; and to continue to develop ongoing and long-term creative relationships with artists who find an artistic home at ArtsWest.  Since 2017, at least 40% of artists employed by ArtsWest each year have been BIPOC, and at least 50% of the plays produced each year have been written by BIPOC playwrights.  In 2021 and forward, at least 50% of the artists we work with will be BIPOC and plays by BIPOC playwrights will continue to constitute at least 50% of our work.  However, BIPOC artists are valued not just for one aspect of their identity, but as artists full stop.  For that reason BIPOC artists work on shows throughout the season, not just on BIPOC plays.

Beginning in 2021, each year we will hold an open submission process to get to know stage managers, crew members, designers, and other creatives who have never worked at ArtsWest before.  Interested artists are invited to submit work samples on a rolling basis, and to come in for an annual day of conversations with a committee consisting of ArtsWest’s Artistic Director and fellow community artists.  Below are more details specific to each discipline.

New non-union stage managers and assistant stage managers are invited to submit resumes, work samples, or simply letters of interest at any time, which we will receive and collect throughout the year. Each year, we schedule a day of 10-minute appointments for interested stage managers to meet with a committee consisting of ArtsWest’s Artistic Director, a fellow stage manager, and an actor from the community.

Each season we employ six Production Stage Managers. At least one will be new to ArtsWest, with two positions reserved for pre-existing partnerships with directors, and three reserved to continue fostering ongoing creative relationships with ArtsWest. 

Our crew consists of non-union run crew, wardrobe, board ops, master electricians, carpenters, and/or scenic charge artists, depending on the needs of each production.  Each year, at least 40% of these positions will be reserved for those new to ArtsWest. 

Each year, we schedule a day of 10-minute appointments for interested technical crew members to meet with a committee consisting of ArtsWest’s Artistic Director, Technical Director, and a designer or two from the community.

New directors, designers, and other creatives are invited to submit resumes, work samples, or simply letters of interest at any time, which we will receive and collect throughout the year. Each year, we will schedule a day of 10-minute appointments for interested artists to meet with a committee consisting of ArtsWest’s Artistic Director, a director with an ongoing relationship to ArtsWest, and a designer from the community.  

Each season, at least 30% of the designers and other creatives will be new to ArtsWest, with 30% reserved for pre-existing partnerships with directors, and 40% reserved to continue fostering ongoing creative relationships with ArtsWest.  A minimum of one director new to ArtsWest will be brought onboard each season.

At this time, ArtsWest has no new works program.  Typically our seasons are programmed from published plays with prior productions that are licensable through licensing houses or the playwrights themselves.  Occasionally we will produce the first production of plays that have been fully workshopped and are not in need of any additional development process.  Playwrights interested in pitching such plays are invited to submit them year-round via this form (coming soon).  We will not be able to respond to every inquiry, but you can rest assured that your work will be seen by ArtsWest staff.

Each season ArtsWest produces at least 50% plays by BIPOC playwrights.  With very few exceptions, these plays are directed by BIPOC directors, and BIPOC casting associates are present in all casting rooms regardless of the identity of the playwright.  ArtsWest also employs BIPOC actors throughout the season, including in plays by white playwrights and so-called “canonical” material.   

In all of the above cases, ArtsWest has operated under a philosophy of “color-conscious” casting as opposed to “colorblind” casting.  This has been far from a perfect practice, but in the best cases it has meant that racialized narratives created by casting choices are thoroughly discussed by the director, casting associates, and creative team, and developed in collaboration with the actors involved.  This work is supported by cultural and/or racial equity consultants on each show.  This also means being specific in regard to races called for by the script.  

The emerging idea of “identity-conscious” casting has further galvanized our desire to ensure that the practices above show up in all cases, not just in the best cases. You can read more about identity conscious casting here. Identity conscious casting doesn’t just end in the casting room, but becomes a fundamental aspect of design and rehearsal processes, as well as performance runs. 

While there are constraints and limitations in all producing settings, ArtsWest works to give as much agency and support as possible to artists to create work that is authentic to them, especially when it comes to centering BIPOC artists in the telling of their own stories.  Solutions to producing challenges are found through creative collaboration and a people-first approach, rather than through organizational overrides, and we will always be prepared to support and defend the artistic choices of the creative team to the public. 

As the team is assembled, we ensure competent, proficient and accessible walkthroughs of inventory and spatial configurations for all new and returning designers and creative team members. In 2021, we will begin a practice of disclosing who else is on the project when offers are made, and keeping the team updated as additional members are brought on. 

Also beginning in 2021, identity conscious casting and storytelling will become a central part of the discussion in early creative and production meetings, and be returned to throughout the design process, adding into the mix any racial equity or cultural consultants involved with the project.  In all cases, the ways in which race and other forms of oppression manifest in the narrative will be named and discussed from the early stages of the process onward. 

Specific needs of each project will be anticipated and attended to early on.  An example of this practice is BIPOC hair and makeup design, especially in regard to Black hair styling, which is to be designed in collaboration with the actor, in consultation with properly trained designers, and budgeted for by the organization.  These specific needs will also have impact in such areas as lighting and costume design, and will be anticipated and accounted for early on.

SCHEDULES 

Rehearsal schedules at ArtsWest are malleable and developed on a per-project basis to suit the needs of the project and the people working on it.  This can look like a mix of daytimes, evenings, and/or weekends, all constructed based on the needs and schedules of the humans involved.  The majority of rehearsals outside of tech are no more than six hours long.  Rehearsal processes are generally 4-5 weeks long, including tech.  Beginning in 2021, ArtsWest has eliminated 10/12s, opting for 8-hour days over a longer timeframe.   

FIRST REHEARSAL 

A substantial portion of time on first rehearsal is dedicated to introducing the cast and creatives to each other, the staff of ArtsWest, and acclimating all to the space which will become their home over the next several weeks. 

Practices such as stating pronouns, inquiring about access needs, and forming community agreements are strongly encouraged in all rehearsal settings.  Beginning in 2021, a statement of values will be read and distributed at first rehearsal which addresses such things as: land acknowledgement, racism, sexism, and all other forms of oppression, and ends with a commitment to prioritizing the needs of and celebrating the work of those whose voices have been historically excluded in the curation, creation, and presentation of our work. 

ArtsWest’s grievance process will also be reviewed and distributed at first rehearsal.  The process includes multiple choices of who to speak with, and prioritizes the ability of each individual to express their concerns to someone they feel comfortable with.  Responsibility to then resolve these concerns fully lies with the leadership of the organization and not with the affected person. 

WORKING REHEARSALS 

The goal of working rehearsals is to create an environment that is transparent, open, safe and brave.  ArtsWest seeks to provide the maximum level of support to the rehearsal room through a variety of means.  Funding is provided in every production for a consultant or consultants to support exploration of the intersecting identities and issues in the play.  Past examples of this have included cultural consultants, gender consultants, racial equity consultants, and more. 

In addition, ArtsWest now has a reciprocal relationship with SOUND, a mental health organization, which will make available therapists to the cast and creative team when we are producing content that deals with racial and other forms of trauma. 

In the first working rehearsals, it is expected that the ways in which race and other forms of oppression manifest in the narrative will be named and discussed by the cast, creative team and consultants in a way that feels necessary and productive to each particular group’s process. 

Shows at ArtsWest are typically scheduled for a 3-5 week run, with performances Wednesday or Thursday through Saturday at 7:30pm and Sundays at 3pm. 

The goal during the run is to continue the level of support and responsiveness experienced from the creative process onward, adding the audience into this mix.  Shows with challenging themes are always presented with context for the audience through content in the lobby, content in the program, curtain speeches, and post-show or ancillary programming such as talk-backs and panels.  Beginning in 2021, a statement of inclusion for BIPOC audience cultural practices will be included in programs, displayed in the lobby, and covered in the onboarding and training of Front of House volunteers and staff. 

Beginning in 2021, ArtsWest will redouble efforts to support the audience for which BIPOC artistic work is intended.  Initial steps toward this goal include providing a welcoming space for BIPOC audiences, continuing to foster collective organizational cross-racial relationships, and investing in reciprocal relationships with BIPOC communities via our ArtsWest Voices program.   

The artists involved in the production are not called upon to be the facilitators of talkbacks or ancillary programming unless there’s a specific desire or reason to do so on their part.  In all cases we will ensure all artists are compensated for appearances at ancillary events, including talkbacks and donor events, and are never asked to volunteer their time.  Beginning in 2021, ArtsWest will ensure that all talkbacks and panels are moderated by culturally competent facilitators who are fluent in bystander intervention techniques. 

ArtsWest has developed a process for artist approval and compensation for use of their image in marketing and fundraising materials for any use after the season in which the production was presented.  This will appear in every contract beginning with the first production of the 2021-2022 season. 

All production processes end with the opportunity for all involved to share post-mortem learnings as we work to incorporate progress made and lessons learned into our processes moving forward.

ArtsWest is committed to equitable hiring practices that center the matching of skills, interests and learned experience over education requirements and previous employment.    

All job openings will be posted with a salary attached and an expected timeframe for the process.   

Our hiring is done by a committee of at least three individuals with global majority representation.  The committee will explore their own biases before the interview process so that this awareness can be factored in our hiring process.  The committee will establish the criteria for the position and create a rubric to mark candidates during the hiring process.  All candidates will be reviewed anonymously by the committee as decisions are made to move candidates to the interview portion of the process.    

During an interview, a candidate can expect a conversational, non-confrontational environment focused on questions that speak to experiences. We do not want any barriers to interviewing for our candidates and as such, interviews can be in person or over zoom, and at a time of day that works for the candidate. We will ask about and will meet accessibility needs.   Following an interview process, every candidate interviewed will receive a phone call to share the outcome.