BIPOC exclusion from Milwaukee's professional theatre organizations: An inquiry into systemic change

Abstract

Arts organizations in the nonprofit sector often seek to create social change in their communities as a response to art rather than exclusively creating art for its entertainment value. As the United States continues to tackle and address racial inequities, the arts sector is not only responsible for evolving with society, but also crafting and depicting narratives many organizations hope will help positively impact society. In this sense, they should be leaders. This inquiry into racial representation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s nonprofit theatre sector hopes to identify the unique qualities of the Milwaukee arts community, inclusive actions currently taking place, and areas for improvement. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews were conducted with local arts leaders and stakeholders. Based on the literature reviewed and data collected, these findings were used to assess initiatives currently in place and to formulate recommendations for addressing racial representation and creating meaningful organizational change.