Representation, Equity, & Diversity Student Leadership
The RED team is looking for 1-3 students representing historically marginalized, oppressed, and underrepresented minority identities who are interested in participating in a leadership role to further support Region 1’s work toward more equitable, diverse representation and accessibility for our Festival conference.
The RED Student Board is a celebration of the transformation that is taking place in the American Theatre—demographically, technologically, environmentally, and artistically. A Student Board acknowledges that this rapid change requires student representation to maintain artistic integrity within the larger KCACTF leadership.
Each year, the RED faculty will engage with the student board by making art, engaging in deep conversation, and being in community. With the RED Student Board we hope to cultivate an emerging artistic community that challenges dominant paradigms and amplifies those whose experiences are not often heard.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Like the Student Advisory Board, members of the RED Student Board will act as representatives of the students who participate in KCACTF and help to serve as liaisons between the students and the Region 1 faculty leadership.
The responsibilities of the RED Student Board members include:
- Attending monthly meetings (via Zoom) where students meet with each other and members of the KCACTF Region 1 RED Team to discuss craft, aesthetics, and artistic development within Region 1 from multiple perspectives.
- Meetings may be more frequent leading up to the Festival week in Region 1.
- Participate in the planning of RED activities for the next conference, including (but not limited to) hosting and facilitating Affinity Spaces, providing feedback on student perspectives, helping to set up and maintain the Sanctuary Space and any other RED assigned spaces.
- Alerting the faculty members of the RED team to any emerging issues or concerns during Festival Week, and working with us to find resolutions or to prevent problematic developments.
- Engaging in communication with students from across the region to understand their needs and sharing that information with the faculty leadership to see what can be done to meet or accommodate those needs in future (or immediately, if possible).
- Communicate new RED initiatives and activities to fellow students to get them involved and invested.
Criteria for Application:
Applicants should be
- Students in good standing, or have graduated within the last year
- Committed to improving equity, diversity, representation, and accessibility for all students and faculty at KCACTF Region 1 conference
- A member of an historically underrepresented identity group at KCACTF Region 1 conference, based on gender, ability, race/ethnicity, sexuality, etc.
- The RED Student Board will endeavor to select student representatives who come from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and identities to ensure that many different perspectives and voices can be heard within the practical limitations of the size of the Board.
- Available and prepared for the emotional and intellectual labor that is required for DEI/RED work
- Active in theatre arts in any discipline, with at least 2-3 years of experience in theatre practice
- Already expecting to attend the Region 1 KCACTF Conference week in 2025
Application Process:
Students wishing to apply will submit the following documents by December 13, 2024:
- A resume highlighting their experience in DEI/RED work
- 2 letters of recommendation from professors or members of your community who can speak to your experience in DEI/RED work
- A cover letter explaining your interest as well as the perspectives and experience you would bring as an individual and as a member of your community to the RED Student Board
- A 750-word RED Team Plan of how the student plans to add to the mission and values of the RED Team, i.e. training they hope students/faculty can experience, onboarding processes, communication protocol, marketing/branding/advertising, accountability, etc.
Candidates who are selected to be interviewed will be notified by January 2, 2025