Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Statement

As the professional theatre affiliated with Illinois State University, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival operates within the values of the University, the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, and the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film. Diversity and inclusion are core values at Illinois State, which aims to foster an inclusive environment characterized by cultural understanding, respect, and social justice. We recognize our responsibility to value diverse experiences and thoughtfully respond to the changing realities of our increasingly interconnected world.

The Festival leadership acknowledges that like most theatres across the country, we have work to do to ensure that we reach our goals for inclusion, diversity, equity, and access. Following the publication of “We See You White American Theatre,” the management team began to create an action plan mapped to those demands. Along with the School of Theatre, Dance, and Film, we work together to acknowledge and address established structures of inequity while holding ourselves accountable in order to remove barriers to success. We strive to transform our artistic community and promote a culture of compassion, mutual respect, and belonging.