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WHAT DOES ACCOUNTABILITY LOOK LIKE?

MNTAC is made up of volunteers from all areas of the theater performance and education. By taking a stand and saying that you are no longer willing to work and learn in unsafe environments, or employ people who don't adhere to safe practices, you are a leader in this effort simply by using your voice.

We asked our community and ourselves these questions:

  • What does accountability look like?

  • What would it look like if people moved towards accountability instead of away from it?

 

The answer:

Systems don't change just because there is a desire for change, they change with action. They change when people own how they participate, acknowledge impact, and don't try and blame others or run away from being accountable.

 

Here are some ways you can help us to create a community that leans into accountability:​

  • Sign on and endorse The Foundational Standards

  • Come to a community meeting and share your ideas and concerns

  • Help spread the word, share our website, and bring a friend to a meeting

  • Volunteer for committee work

  • Talk to Arts Administrators about supporting MNTAC, The Foundational Standards and The Educational Standards

  • Use the Foundational Standards Toolkit and other resources like it.

  • If you have a skill that would be useful to the effort, let us know!

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To help us as a community run effort, sign up to serve as a member of an Accountability Group. Please join us because your voice matters! Click on the link below to sign up for areas you are interested in working on.

WHAT DOES OVERSIGHT LOOK LIKE?

This is one of the most difficult questions to answer. How does an industry filled with transient workers effectively track and address the impact of harm, particularly when the practice within arts organizations is to "keep a lid on" the problems that arise. This policy protects those that perpetrate harm, allowing them to move between theaters and educational institutions without the awareness of transgressions being accessible to administrators, and even worse, potential victims of harm.

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Historically, theater makers have endured unsafe working conditions and toxic work environments simply because we need the work. "Company" jobs are few and far between, so we accept unacceptable behavior because we need to make a living. 

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Calling people out on their actions, or inactions as the case may be, is uncomfortable and in some cases dangerous. Accusations can lead to denial, victim blaming and making whistle blowers look like they are the problem. Cancel culture isn't the answer. So what do we do?

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We wish there was a simple answer. The short answer is, "We don't know, but we are committed to figuring it out." The long answer is this:

We need to stay engaged in the conversation and work together as a community to address the impact of harm in our industry and help those who transgress to lean in and learn to do better, instead of deny and avoid accountability. MNTAC will continue to create opportunities to investigate these questions together as a community. 

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