Diversity & Equity – Page 6

What The Oscars, Contracts, And The Orchestra Field Have In Common

Tuesday, March 6th, 2018Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 by Drew McManus

Two items that came out of last Sunday’s Academy Awards caught my attention in how they intersect with the orchestra field: equal pay for equal work and inclusion riders. Equal Pay and Equal Representation The pay discrepancy between Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Williams for reshoots on the film “All the Money in the World” made headlines when it became public that Wahlberg was paid $1.5 million while Williams only earned an $80 …

When It Comes To Engaging A Diverse Audience, Orchestras Have Nowhere To Go But Up

Tuesday, February 27th, 2018Tuesday, February 27th, 2018 by Drew McManus

With the increasing diversity of the overall population, failing to get ahead of the curve for non-white patron engagement is a sure-fire strategy for retrenchment. For more than a decade, the field has rung its hands over the graying of its audience (spoiler: it’s not that bad) when that time would have been better spent becoming more inclusive. Fortunately, the entire performing arts sector is doing a better job at taking …

How Would You Define Diverse Programming?

Tuesday, February 20th, 2018 by Drew McManus

Pop quiz! Which of the following items is not an example of diverse artistic programming: Operas written by women. Operas written by minorities. Operas written by living composers. Operas written by dead white guys. Over the weekend, a friend’s Facebook post caught my attention when it pointed out some 2018/19 season announcement marketing copy from the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s website (emphasis is found in the original copy): We pride ourselves …

We Live In Angry Times. Here’s Something Positive You Can Do About It.

Thursday, June 15th, 2017 by Drew McManus

Here in Chicago, it’s difficult to miss the sharp uptick in the number of motorists laying on the horn; at times, it feels like being in New York City. For a genuine metropolis, Chicago has a remarkably relaxed populace and the lack of car horn deluge is one of those extra special perks. But times are changing and that benefit may be the latest destined for the memory scrapheap. In a …

What Every Conductor Still Needs To Know About Working With Marketers

Thursday, May 18th, 2017 by Drew McManus

Last year, I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in a marketing panel for the Chicago Sinfonietta’s (CS) Project Inclusion Freeman Conducting Fellowship program. Although my schedule precluded participating in this year’s session, I suggested they invite someone outside the group of marketing professionals that took part during the 2016 session. Specifically, a musician who has successfully moved through the career stage where fellows are now and become adept at working with all of …