Members of the Advocacy Committee

Chair | Kareem Khubchandani, Tufts University
Lisa Biggs, Michigan State University
Katie Dawson, University of Texas at Austin
Kathy Ervin, CSU San Bernadino
Gad Guterman, Webster University
Patrick McKelvey, Brown University
Sidney Monroe, The Theatre Offensive (Boston)

Resources

Advocacy & Teaching

Position Papers

Art Advocacy

New Content

"Indigenous Theatre and Performance of the Americas, by Lilian Mengesha"

Lilian Mengesha
lilian_mengesha@brown.edu
PhD Candidate, Theater and Performance Studies
Brown University

This resource guide offers a primer for theater educators, instructors, and academics interested in indigenous theater and performance of North and Central America. The materials are largely culled from Native authors based in the United States and Canada, with some inclusion of indigenous artists in Central America. The term "performance" here ranges from embodied acts in museums, commemorative history projects, plays performed on and off stage, and public performances. The guide is divided into five modules: Indigenous histories and settler colonialism; Legacies of the Stage and Museum; Gender and Sexuality in Performance; Indigenous Theater; and Indigenous Dramaturgies. Keywords, readings, films and suggested exercises are also listed. Please consider adding your own resources on Native performance from your local area, college or art institution. Read More.

About the Advocacy Committee

The primary purpose of ATHE’s Advocacy Committee is, broadly conceived, to advocate for theater. ATHE is committed to participating in progressive national and international conversations about theatre and the arts’ importance to American culture. Through our committees and officers, we argue for the growth and expansion of the arts as a necessary component of the development of complete human beings and a society that values the human spirit. We value affiliations and partnerships with other organizations, forming coalitions that will assist us all in strengthening our national voice for arts advocacy. We value and are advocates for the promotion of arts education at all levels of education in theatre departments and in the academy.

The Advocacy Committee has six primary goals. Each goal is addressed through subcommittees or task forces.

1. National Advocacy: To monitor, participate in, and report to our membership regularly on issues of the arts’ place in American culture and higher education - Advocacy Watch Subcommittee

2. Affiliations: To create stronger coalitions with arts and education affiliate organizations so that there is a more united voice in advocating for concerns around arts education in the academy - Affiliations Subcommittee

3. Academic Advocacy: To advocate for theatre/arts education in the academy to decision makers on and off campus - Academic Advocacy Communications Task Force

4. Teacher Certification Reform, K-12: To develop strategies that advocate for national teacher certification in theatre education - Theatre Education Reform and Certification Subcommittee

5. Advocacy Information Bank: To establish a clearing-house for major documents, position papers, brochures, websites, and electronic discussion lists on theatre education and arts advocacy - Advocacy Information Bank Subcommittee

6. Interactive Theatre: To advocate for theatre by using interactive theatre techniques in many settings and for many diverse populations - Interactive Theatre Subcommittee

View additional Advocacy Committee reports here.

Through these subcommittees and task forces, ATHE's Advocacy Committee serves the ATHE Membership as well as our national arts community. We also strive to serve ATHE's members through excellent conference programming, and we invite all ATHE members to work with the Advocacy Committee either through a subcommittee or task force, or by volunteering to work on conference planning.

Advocacy Watch Subcommittee

It is the policy of Advocacy Watch that the issues of substantial concern to ATHE, as discussed below, will be transmitted over the moderated list serv to members. These will be transmitted with indications of a clear place and means by which members' voices can best be heard in the controversy. In most instances, particularly for the highest priority issues, an attempt will be made to provide the members with a sample letter that can serve as a member's basis for response. Advocacy Watch issues include the following: Censorship, Theater in the Academy, Arts Funding in Legislation, K-12 Arts Education, Historic Preservation, Indirect Impact (i.e. diversity casting issues, etc.). 

Affiliations Subcommittee

The Affiliations Subcommittee is dedicated to creating stronger coalitions with arts and education affiliate organizations so that there is a more united voice in advocating for concerns around arts education in the academy.

Academic Advocacy Communications Taskforce

The Advocacy Subcommittee advocates for theatre/arts education in the academy through direct contact with higher education administrators and professors.

Theatre Education Reform and Certification Subcommittee

This subcommittee is dedicated to developing strategies to advocate for national teacher certification in theatre education

Advocacy Information Bank Subcommittee

This subcommittee has established and maintains a clearing-house for major documents, position papers, brochures, websites, and electronic discussion lists on theatre education and arts advocacy

Interactive Theatre Subcommittee

This subcommittee explores and defines various theatre techniques in various settings as a tool for Advocacy for members of ATHE.

ATHE's Commitment to Advocacy

ATHE is committed to participating in progressive, national and international conversations about theatre and the importance of the arts to American culture. Through our committees and officers, we argue for the growth and expansion of the arts as a necessary component of the development of complete human beings and a society that values the human spirit. We value affiliations and partnerships with other organizations, forming coalitions that will assist us all in strengthening a diverse and collective national voice for arts advocacy. We value and advocate for the promotion of arts education across the campus and community.