THE GOAL OF THE MEMBERSHIP EMPOWERMENT PROJECT IS TO EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY WITH THE SKILLS TO CREATE SAFER WORKPLACES AND REDUCE HARM IN THE ENGLISH THEATRE SECTOR IN QUEBEC.  THIS IS A MULTI-YEAR AND MULTI-PHASE PROJECT.

In order to create systems where artists are empowered to reduce and disclose harm, QDF needs to deepen its anti-colonial, anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-ableist practices, ensuring that the organization has the skills to elevate all artists’ voices. QDF serves some of the most vulnerable artists in the theatre sector: minority-language artists that are non-unionized. Many of these artists come from Equity-Priority groups and face further barriers in workplaces. After membership consultations, meetings with other organizations and discussions with consultants, QDF decided to lean on the expertise of professionals and community members to design strategies that go beyond written policies and build holistic pathways that are multi-faceted, focusing on community well being, education and restorative justice efforts.

Now in progress!

The first phase of MEP development: building a project foundation. MEP’s foundation will consist of:

A vision, mission and project plan

In order to build a foundation (Phase 1), the following steps are required:

    • Be a tool in learning more about the barriers faced by artists in the areas of accessibility, equity, diversity, social justice and decolonization

    • Be an opportunity to brainstorm solutions and share experiences as a community

    • Encourage artists to voice their needs

    • Offer artists and companies a channel in which to be heard and validated

    • Be an avenue to disseminate data and ideas to the community

    • Create opportunity to share findings and new knowledge with the community, post-consultation

    • Provide context and guidelines for Step 2: Industry Research

COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS ARE NOW UNDERWAY!

THE QDF TEAM UNDERSTANDS THAT TALKING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO FEEL SAFE AND HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN GROW MAY ALSO BRING UP EXPERIENCES OF HARM.
THESE SENTIMENTS CAN BE DIFFICULT TO ARTICULATE IN A CONSULTATION OR MAY FEEL TOO VULNERABLE TO SHARE IN SPACE.

If you are interested in contributing to this project but would like to remain anonymous, we have an Anonymous Consultation Survey available now. Take care of yourselves, and any thoughts on this project you are able to share are deeply appreciated by the whole QDF team.