August 21, 2020



THE GLADSTONE THEATRE ACTION PLAN



We have been listening to the community. There is much more listening to do.



Our board has decided the following steps must be put in place as quickly as possible to become a stronger organization, to be a better resource for the community, and to build stronger relationships and expand our networks and expertise.

Update our anti-harassment and safe space policies

Resource review (organizations, individuals, best practices, etc.)

Attend community workshops and events, beginning with PACT’s Maintaining Respectful Workplaces

Revise existing anti-harassment and safe spaces policy in consultation with community experts such as the Ottawa Arts Network, Ontario Arts Council, and HR consultants

Solicit community feedback (mechanism TBD)

Periodic reviews of the policies

Mandatory training of new staff and Board members and regular re-training of all staff and Board members

Review our Governance

The Board will determine criteria for review E.g. Conflicts of interest; roles of resident companies, board, and staff; The Gladstone Theatre (TGT) membership; gaps in policies.

Create a Task Force on Gladstone Governance that will make recommendations to TGT Board

The task force will include voices that represent the community, governance expertise, the resident companies, and those who identify as BIPOC

A Board Member will sit on the Committee and act as a board and TGT resource liaison

Diversity at The Gladstone

Strike a new Board Committee to help us make changes

Invite BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ persons and community reps to help recruit participants at the volunteer, committee and board levels

Seek out new producers and partnerships as we review our operational model

Continue supporting the current configuration of The Gladstone’s leadership, as with recent board and staff departures we have become a predominantly woman-led institution

Look into other ways to make space and add voices

We are currently a very small board of volunteers and the work ahead of us is overwhelming, but needed. We ask for your patience as we continue the work of making The Gladstone an institution our entire community can be proud of.

While we undergo these major exercises, we ask for help from anyone who can share some time and energy to ensure the work is informed by the community.

For instance, you can become a Member today by volunteering on one of our Committees. Let us know if any of the following is of interest to you, or if you have skills in another area that would be valuable.

Diversity

Anti-Harassment and safe spaces

Governance

Finance

Marketing and Communications

Fundraising and Donor Relations

If you can’t volunteer for a Committee right now but are still interested in Membership, let us know and we will contact those interested as new routes to membership are discussed as a result of these exercises.

Get in touch at info@thegladstone.ca

To see the statements issued August 12 and 13, 2020 from The Gladstone Board of Directors, click here.

The theatre’s existing harassment policy is available here.