Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Statement

CalArts School of Theater

The CalArts School of Theater celebrates all members of our community and is committed to advancing and fostering Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion across all aspects of its work. This commitment is reflected in our curriculum, production process, faculty and student recruitment practices, and the School of Theater’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee, which is composed of faculty and student representatives. 

CalArts School of Theater Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee Mission Statement

The CalArts School of Theater Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee fosters awareness, open dialogue, and thoughtful engagement around the diverse experiences that shape our community—including race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, language, nationality, physical ability, religion, and more.

We cultivate a culture of civil discourse and active engagement with EDI issues across all areas of our distinctive theater training environment—including productions, classrooms, rehearsals, and administrative practices. As artists, we believe there is a deep kinship between diversity and aesthetics, and that the ability to participate in EDI-related dialogue and self-reflection is essential to our creative and professional growth.

Our committee is composed of faculty and student representatives from the Performance and Experience Design & Production Programs. Together, we serve and connect the three primary facets of our community: students, faculty/staff, and administration. We act as a visible, accessible support system for the School of Theater, working in collaboration with a wide range of campus resources, including the Institute Diversity Officer, the Office of Student Experience, the Institute Equity and Diversity Committee, mentors, program heads, and others.

For students, we offer resources and guidance to support their understanding of EDI within the context of their roles and performance practices. We help develop tools for civil discourse and provide opportunities to build skills for meaningful engagement with EDI topics.

For faculty, we offer support in raising awareness of EDI-related concerns and navigating challenges that may arise while working with students.

For the School of Theater administration, we serve primarily as an advisory group to the Executive Committee, providing recommendations on how to more effectively address EDI issues within our training environment.

This statement reflects who we are today, while recognizing that our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion is a continual process of growth, education, and reflection. We are dedicated to working with Eva Graham, the Institute Diversity Officer (egraham@calarts.edu), and encourage anyone with EDI concerns to reach out to her directly.

Students, staff, and faculty may also report concerns or incidents through our ongoing collaboration with Dionne Simmons, Director of Community Rights and Responsibilities and Title IX Coordinator (dsimmons@calarts.edu). Anyone wishing to file a report or share a concern may do so here.

We invite input and participation from all members of the School of Theater community. Please feel free to contact the committee at theateredi@calarts.edu.