April 2021 

Ten Thousand Things Theater is led by a diverse group of artists, staff and board members. Since its inception in 1990, TTT’s focus has been to create excellent theater, grounded in practices of inclusion, equity, service and accessibility. We believe how we show up matters. Together, we create a brave space where we reimagine all that theater can be.
 
This document is born out of a renewed urgency to examine and dismantle white supremacy, called to action again, with the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 and inspired by the demands of We See You, White American Theater (July 2020). At Ten Thousand Things, we have come together to identify and name our anti-racism practices. We acknowledge that every theater, including our own, has a duty to investigate and apply actionable ways to dismantle white supremacy structures and practices.
 
This is a living document and will change over time. Anti-racism is a PRACTICE.
 
TTT’s On Belonging Committee, made up of staff, board and Artist Core members will revisit, review, and revise this document. We will assess our actions and practices twice yearly. TTT’s Anti-racism practices are a commitment to all of our artists, staff, board members, volunteers, community partners, and audiences. Questions or comments about our practices and commitment can be made by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by leaving a voicemail at (612) 203-9502. 
 
We commit to continuing the following anti-racism practices: 

• Produce plays from a wide range of BIPOC perspectives
• Engage BIPOC artists: playwrights, composers, directors, choreographers, stage managers, designers, actors, etc
• Intentional and color conscious casting
• Focus on cultural competency in our process and through post-play discussions with audiences
• Develop strategies to engage more deeply with BIPOC audiences
• Build on the practice of intentional land acknowledgments
• Use and continue to develop TTT’s Workplace Behavior Policy that reflects and calls attention to TTT’s values of safety in the workplace, generosity, respect, and joy
• Increase the diversity on our board to best reflect the audiences we serve now and hope to serve in the future
• Engage in ongoing learning and apply Anti-Racism practices in all that we do
• Continue artist residencies with community partners serving predominantly BIPOC populations, specifically people who are incarcerated
• Centering input from BIPOC artists to shape the future of Ten Thousand Things

We commit to implementing the following anti-racism practices:

•  Anti-Racism training for board members, staff, and artists with goals toward:
  1. centering BIPOC experiences and histories
  2. healing
  3. creating a deeper understanding of racial and anti-black injustices and cultural indignities
  4. incorporating learning of historical, current work and the forced removal of the Dakota and Anishinaabe people: the original caregivers of what we now call Minnesota
• Update community and artist surveys with question(s) on how we are meeting our practices of anti-racism
• Share anti-racism resources with community partners, artists, and audiences
• Mentor BIPOC artists who are new to TTT
• Foster the next generation of BIPOC artists through paid internships and artistic positions
• Expand efforts to make our spaces (virtual or live) more inclusive, welcoming and accessible for all of our audiences

2021 Year-To-Date Anti-Racism Work

In 2021 we start our journey with quarterly focus on BIPOC perspectives through books/literature, seminars or events, podcasts, and music creating multiple points of access for learning, growth and joining the discussion. 

Our topics of focus are:

• Centering BIPOC Voices
• Healing
• Centering BIPOC History
• Rooting out White Privilege

In offering these “doses” to staff, Artists and board members we aim to ignite and expand Anti-Racism learning and growth individually and collectively to propel TTT towards an even deeper understanding and inclusive environment to work and experience great theater that is truly representational.