IndigenousX article on Blak arts admin

Below is an exerpt of the article I wrote for indigenousX in June 2022… you can see the pretty version here.

…As a proud Wailwan arts administrator & producer, it gives me such joy to see mob front and centre representing and excelling in performing arts! But I’m also often thinking about the responsibility we have to model best practice behind the scenes, about the additional cultural load mob are expected to take on when working with white arts institutions, and worrying whether those of working in non-blak spaces are being taken properly care of. 

So, I want to share with you some simple phrases I use almost every day to incorporate blak ways of doing and being into arts administration, HR, and finances. I share these not as a criticism of non-Blak arts orgs nor as a manual for how to follow cultural protocol, but as prompts for all of us working in the arts to think deeply about the care and consideration we should give to each other both on stage and off. 

SIT IN A CIRCLE

Our office is arranged in a circle. Our board meetings are held in a circle. Our production meeting, table reads, and directors notes are all held (you guessed it) in a circle. How we arrange ourselves physically in a space when we come together to do business is symbolic of how that business will be played out. If I walk into a meeting with a group of people that want to partner with us and I see a wall of people sitting on one side of a table, it immediately tells me that there’s an “us vs them” mentality. Sitting in a circle breaks down that power structure, ensures that everyone can see each other, and is one small way of honouring ceremony, lore, and the old ways of learning in daily practice.  

FIRST PEOPLES FIRST

First Peoples First is not just an arts policy promise, it’s how we do business. It’s how we approach hiring, training, and procurement. When hiring, we prioritise First Peoples practitioners in EVERY role – not just visibly on stage but as producers, designers, technicians, marketers, and administrators. When we can’t find mob with the right mix of skills for the job we look to First Peoples of other continents next, then anglo-colonial settlers, and make a condition of hiring them a responsibility to train Blakfullas up in paid roles with a sunset clause for how long they are employed in the role. Allyship in the arts is only useful if there is an active exit strategy for the allies in Blak spaces.

In procurement, we are always looking for First People creatives or businesses to partner with or purchase from. For design & costuming we incorporate blak fashion designers or clothing brands, our COVID safe hand sanitizer is Blak made, and our event catering is done by Blak caterers (e.g. our rehearsal snacks are The Unexpected Guest, our opening night catering is by Kallico Catering) and we order flowers as gifts from The Floral Decorator…