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Harassment in the Performing Arts: A Benchmark

Benchmarking the New England Performing Arts Community re Harassment

StageSource, the Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, Impact Boston and other partners are working on initiatives to address issues around harassment in the performing arts community. In order to move forward, and to inform the training and programs we are developing, we are asking members of the community to answer a brief survey. The purpose of this survey is to mobilize the strength of the community in order to develop practices and standards which will help to make us all safer. The goal is not to litigate the past, but rather to help drive a culture shift for the future.

Note that this survey is COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL. Your name and contact information will not be captured or used in any way. We ask that you be as candid as you can. 

Thank you in advance, and please feel free to forward it to other folks.
1.How long have you been active in the NE performing arts community?(Required.)
2.How old are you?(Required.)
3.How do you identify?
4.What is your role in the community? Check all that apply
5.The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) describes sexual harassment this way: 'Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual's employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual's work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment.' Examples include:
  • frequent comments or behaviors of a sexual or suggestive nature
  • expectations someone may set up that they will give you something you want in exchange for your giving them sexual favors (or that they will NOT give you something if you do NOT give them sexual favors)
  • sexual/suggestive conduct, conversation, artifacts, etc. that create an uncomfortable or offensive work environment
  • unwanted touching

These are only examples, and not a definitive list.

Have you had any of these situations happen to you while auditioning, working on a production, or on staff at a theater? Check all that apply.
6.Considering the examples above, do you feel that you have ever engaged in action which you believe was inappropriate? REMINDER: this survey is COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL. Candid responses to this and other questions will be used for the sole purpose of informing future work on this initiative. 
7.Have you been a witness to sexual harassment in the New England performing arts community?
8.Were you aware that it was sexual harassment at the time, or in hindsight?
9.Did you report the sexual harassment?
10.If you reported harassment either against you or another person, to whom did you report? Check all that apply.
11.What is the best description of what happened as a result of your report?
12.Have you ever witnessed an incident of sexual harassment, misconduct or abuse that you did not report? We hope you will answer this question honestly. We are looking to identify systemic barriers to reporting. This is not a reflection on you or anyone else as a person.
13.If so, what made it difficult to report? Check all that apply.
14.StageSource is collaborating with other organizations to create community standards for addressing situations of sexual misconduct, harassment, and abuse. What ideas do you have for what these standards should involve?
15.What do you see as the biggest barriers to preventing sexual harassment, misconduct, or abuse in the New England performing arts community?
16.Most artists and technicians work with multiple companies throughout their careers. Thinking about the varied experiences you have had, do any companies stand out for you as being especially effective at creating a safe work environment that is free of sexual harassment, misconduct or abuse?
17.If yes, what do you think makes those companies so effective?
Current Progress,
0 of 17 answered