Inclusive Stages
In This SectionInclusive Stages is a major national initiative to increase the racial diversity of musicians in American orchestras. The program includes four primary areas of work. League member orchestras may participate in any or all of these opportunities, and all are free of charge (Inclusion Index is free for the first 150 orchestras):
- The building of a new and historic National Coalition aligned around change
- Inclusion Index, a new tool to allow orchestras to assess and benchmark their organizational cultures
- Audition Applicant Demographics Survey, which will provide data on a national basis about the musician applicant pool, both now and on an ongoing basis
- Audition and Tenure Practices Survey, to enable the field to better understand current processes and how they can be improved
Learn more about the program in the fact sheets for orchestras (PDF) and individuals (PDF).
Inclusive Stages is made possible by a generous grant from the Sakana Foundation.
Information Session
This session took place on August 22, 2023
National Coalition
Sign ups for joining the coalition have closed.
The League is gathering a group of member orchestras that are poised to take action and want to work collectively and collaboratively. The coalition will include two virtual facilitated meetings and one in-person facilitated meeting for musicians, music directors, executive directors, board chairs, other orchestra staff, union representatives and other key stakeholders. Group 5-8 orchestra administrators and musicians of all group sizes may apply for travel support. There is no fee for participation in the coalition.
Learn more about the National Coalition in the fact sheets for orchestras (PDF) and individuals (PDF).
Not yet a League member? Learn more about orchestra membership and join today.
Inclusion Index
Sign ups for joining the Index have closed.
Offered through a partnership with Accordant Advisors, the Inclusion Index surveys will offer League member orchestras insight into their own organizational culture in relation to the rest of the field.
Participation is at no cost for up to 150 orchestras, and the survey will run from October 6-20.
Our partner, Accordant Advisors has now offered orchestras, at an additional cost, an exciting opportunity: orchestras may include customized questions at the end of the survey, helping to evaluate existing programs, for example, or seek input on proposed initiatives.
To order a customized survey, reach out to amerkle@accordantadvisors.com.
Learn more about the Inclusion Index in the overview provided by Accordant Advisors (PDF), which includes sample questions, and in the Inclusive Stages fact sheet for orchestras (PDF).
Not yet a League member? Learn more about orchestra membership and join today.
Audition Applicant Demographics Survey
Offered through a partnership with Acceptd and the National Alliance for Audition Support, the Audition Applicant Demographics Survey is an electronic voluntary self-identification form that will provide demographic data about the current musician applicant pool. Watch an instructional video from Acceptd.
Audition and Tenure Practices Survey
More information coming soon about this survey to enable the field to better understand current processes and how they can be improved.
Further Resources
Questions?
Please contact the Inclusive Stages team at inclusivestages@americanorchestras.org.
Inclusive Stages is made possible by a generous grant from the Sakana Foundation.
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