as a playwright, I feel a lot of big feelings about seeing organizations like the Playwrights Center and New Harmony - nonprofits which incubate, develop and support new plays and support living playwrights - bravely call out the NEA’s cowardice and defend diverse voices in the American theatre - ThreadSky

clairewillett.bsky.social • 7 days ago

as a playwright, I feel a lot of big feelings about seeing organizations like the Playwrights Center and New Harmony - nonprofits which incubate, develop and support new plays and support living playwrights - bravely call out the NEA’s cowardice and defend diverse voices in the American theatre

Reposted from Bring Me The News

Minneapolis theater group doubles down on DEI initiatives as federal funding is threatened

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foxfire50.bsky.social•7 days ago

DEI is NOT against any law that exists. Trump's administration made it up on the spot. There are no criminal charges they can bring or reasonable reason to cut funding. If more people stood their ground, they would have no choice but to back off or reveal they are a paper tiger.

stpolishook.bsky.social•7 days ago

Artists are always at the forefront of the resistance and of change. Makes my heart swell❤️

anassd--5.bsky.social•7 days ago

Hi Claire,
Can you please read my story and help with a small donation?
Sorry if I bothered you, please don’t block me 🙏
Just tell me if you want me to remove the message.

kitforkat.com•7 days ago

It’s a social contagion: the more we see others helping and standing up for others, the more we want to do that, too

devylinme.bsky.social•7 days ago

I think the NEA is trying to survive. If they don’t comply or reword their applications, they could be completely dismantled. As they are, they barely get much money tho it makes a diff to those who get it but last year was its highest around $207mil. We are also maintaining our mission & will give

devylinme.bsky.social•7 days ago

any fed money back if we have to. But we know many nonprofits can’t afford that. It’s not a ton of money from our budget. But we are lucky to have the non fed support we do & strong leadership who isn’t waivering.

clairewillett.bsky.social•7 days ago

did you see the statement from their spokesperson where all these changes were handwaved away as “efficiency measures”?

I have nothing but empathy for hardworking staffers who did not ask for this but I think we’re allowed to be angry at the demand that we all discard trans people for expedience

devylinme.bsky.social•7 days ago

I’m unable to find that specific response. It’s not on their website. But when u look for their statements against the EOs against DEI & schools w/specific classes, the responses are clear & they don’t agree w/ the EOs from both the chair & president. They’re simply protecting themselves.

devylinme.bsky.social•7 days ago

No. Can u link it? I’m assuming this is also wording straight from the White House. I was on the nea’s site yesterday including links from them, TCG and the National Council of Nonprofits for our board brief newsletter. We’re aware they’re changing grant applications & wording as per the EO.

kiki2021.bsky.social•7 days ago

Hello my friend Claire
I hope you are well
Please can you repost my pinned post 🙏🥺

ericleitzen.bsky.social•5 days ago

How are a bunch of theatre nerds braver than democratic leadership

*said as a theatre nerd*

lisadtrice.bsky.social•7 days ago

Me, too!

tulsalien.bsky.social•7 days ago

We will need this especially now

clairewillett.bsky.social•7 days ago

a lot of your favorite plays by writers who aren’t dead cishet white guys came out of places like this, because a marginalized writer who didn’t have endless resources and a Yale Drama School alumni network got the support they needed to bring their story to life and get it production-ready

clairewillett.bsky.social•7 days ago

it means something to me that they’re insisting we still need to hear what those writers have to say - maybe now more than ever - and I hope theatre companies follow suit instead of chickening out and refusing to produce any new play by a trans / Palestinian / immigrant / etc writer ever again

clairewillett.bsky.social•7 days ago

it won’t all be stuff that’s public and clear-cut. it won’t all be things you can protest against. a lot of it will be people in offices with a stack of scripts in front of them, quietly moving to the bottom of the pile anything that might piss off conservative funders. this already happens all over

clairewillett.bsky.social•7 days ago

it will be “we’re all still recovering from COVID-related revenue losses, it’s not the time to take a chance on something controversial”

it will be “trans actors might be scared to even audition in this climate, not choosing the trans play this season is really doing them a FAVOR, you see”

clairewillett.bsky.social•7 days ago

it will be a lot of people telling themselves a lot of stories about how they’re still on the side of the good guys, still posting hashtag resistance memes on Facebook and talking about freedom of speech, patting themselves on the back for protecting people’s jobs by preserving their funding intact

clairewillett.bsky.social•7 days ago

and we simply cannot let that shit slide one fucking inch without contesting it

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