Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

DEI at ZACH

ZACH is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”). Diverse voices are essential to create theatre that speaks to the complexity of our world. Theatre is a place where all liberties are possible for all people. For the dialogue to truly be inclusive, it means that ZACH’s staff, Board of Trustees, artists, students, teachers, donors, volunteers, and audience must also grow in diversity. ZACH will consistently strive to reflect the Austin community, cultivate equity through the organization, and identify ways to create a more inclusive culture.

ZACH’s current Strategic Plan expressly commits to DEI in all pillars of the organization. Our Mission, Vision, and Core Values are imbued with a commitment to including diverse perspectives and voices. ZACH Theatre is currently looking for a DEI consultant to help us with the next leg of this important journey. If you are interested in being considered, please refer to the below RFP

The Ongoing Work

  • In 2019, ZACH partnered with a DEI consultant (Kardia Advisory Group) to assess staff, board, and community DEI experiences at ZACH; and identify ways that ZACH can improve.

  • In 2021, Kardia Advisory Group distributed a confidential survey to ZACH staff, artists, teachers, board members, and other members of our community asking them to tell us more about their experiences.

    • One-on-one interviews and group discussions were held to dive deeper into survey responses and gain a full understanding of the feedback.
  • All of this information was analyzed by Kardia and was presented to staff, board members, and external stakeholders. The feedback from the assessment informed the specifics of a training plan for ZACH.
  • Staff and board members participated in Understanding Cultural Bias and Racial Equity workshops to improve our DEI knowledge and were provided tools to improve.
  • Searching for a consultant to help us inform goals that will continue to move the organization forward.
  • ZACH is committed to sharing updates on this page as this work continues.

We still have a lot of work to do but are excited about taking these first steps, and are committed to this work. If you have any feedback or recommendations, please let us know here: DEI Feedback