MPAC Arts Community Survey - SR

Members of the Memphis Performing Arts Community

The intention of this survey is to generate greater clarity on who is out there making the Memphis performing arts sector work, and what they need to make it work better. This includes not only the commonly associated roles of theatres, venues, and actors but also: directors, technical staff, musicians, music directors, college students, choreographers, dancers, and educators/teaching artists in the performing arts. We want to get this survey to the big theatres and the small studios, the liturgical theatres and educational spaces.

We need and value suggestions from everyone on how can we work towards safer spaces as well as creating more equitable and inclusive practices. The survey will help us assess community needs and determine where to direct our efforts for our upcoming community-wide weekend of action facilitated by Kaisha Johnson from Women of Color in The Arts. Everyone's input and participation will be welcome at this event.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. We appreciate your input and value your contributions to the cultural vitality of Memphis.

We would like to publicly thank the following collective of volunteers that made this survey possible by providing help and feedback with content creation, editing and tech support: Louisa Koeppel, Neile Tubergen, Rebecca Edwards, Dorian Spears, Emily Marks, Tracey Zerwig Ford, Dr. Joy Brooke Fairfield, Sarah Rushakoff, Lar’Juanette Williams and Julia Hinson

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* 1. How many years have you worked in the Memphis performing arts community?

0-3

4-9

10-15

15-20

20-25

25+years

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* 2. Which of these best describes your work during a typical year? Choose as many as you like.

I administrate a performing arts institution with a budget of less than $50k.

I administrate a performing arts institution with a budget of $50k-300k.

I administrate a performing arts institution with a budget over $300k.

I work for an arts institution as a paid staff employee.

I work in arts for an educational institution as a paid staff employee.

I work at more than one institution as an independent contractor in one role.

I work at more than one institution as an independent contractor in multiple roles.

I work at more than one institution as an unpaid volunteer in one role.

I work at more than one institution as an unpaid volunteer in multiple roles.

I am a student at a university, solely working on university productions.

I work at one educational institution as an unpaid volunteer in one role.

I work at more than one educational institution as an unpaid volunteer in multiple roles.

I work exclusively in the performing arts.

I work most of the time in the performing arts.

I work sometimes in the performing arts.

Other (please specify)

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* 3. How do you make your living in the performing arts?

I work outside the performing arts sector and practice artmaking as I can and occasionally am paid for services.

I work for multiple arts entities getting paid as an independent artist.

I work for one company/non-profit/educational institution

I work for one company/non-profit/educational institution and participate in creating performance outside of my job

I am exclusively a volunteer in the performing arts.

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Please select a pay range of what you make per year in Memphis's performing arts sector.

I donate my time and services.

$0-$1000

$1000-5000

$5000-10,000

$10,000-20,000

$20,000-30,000

$30,000-50,000

Over $50,000 per year

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* 5. Do you see yourself continuing to make work in Memphis for next 5 years?

Yes

Don’t Know

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* 6. 10 years?

Yes

Don’t know

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* 7. Why or why not? Please include specific factors that influence your outlook.

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* 8. If you are considering leaving the city or the performing arts sector, what could keep you here?

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* 9. What Memphis Area performance venues and companies have you worked with this past year? Please include other locations such as Desoto County, Collierville, Bartlett, West Memphis, Germantown, Arlington, Frayser, Whitehaven, South Memphis and elsewhere in Shelby County.

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* 10. How many performing arts shows do you work on per year on average, in any role?

0-3

4-6

7-10

11-13

14-16

17-20

20+

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* 11. How many hours in an average week do you devote to your craft in the performing arts?

0-10

11-19

20-25

26-30

30+

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* 12. In your experience, what is a significant strength of the Memphis performing arts community?

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* 13. What is a significant weakness?

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* 14. What is an opportunity?

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* 15. What do you see as a threat or danger in our arts community?

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* 16. Brainstorm one or two sentences about what the most equitable performing arts community would look like in Memphis.

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* 17. What is one significant practice or policy that would make you and your performing arts colleagues feel supported and protected?

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* 18. What are 3 principles you would like to see in a community-wide code of ethics for performing arts in Memphis?
Example: "I’d like to see a commitment to open auditions and color conscious casting" or "I’d like a fair and just process for performers to report harassment without repercussions."

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* 19. What policies and/or practices addressing equity and safety have been communicated to you by performing arts organizations you have worked with?

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* 20. How did the organization inform you that these practices were in place and at your disposal? Please feel free to explain in the space provided.

Written letter

Phone call

One-on-one meeting

Company-wide meeting

Policies placed in performance contracts

No safety/equity policies have ever been communicated to me at a place I have worked

Other

Optional additional explanation

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* 21. What tools would you use if local organizations provided them?

Anti-oppression/bias Equity training

Training on consent and boundaries

Intimacy Choreography training

Legal counseling

HR support

Contract negotiation guidance to help artists advocate for a fair wage

Counseling for individual artists

Support group for artists

Funding classes to help find support to pay artists a living wage

Other (please specify)

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* 22. What type of institution do you work for?

Presenting/Venue

Education

Dance Company

Theatre Company

Music

After School Arts/Youth Development

Other (please specify)

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* 23. What other advocacy or support would you like to see implemented in the Memphis Performing Arts Community?

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* 24. I am a/n… (Please check all that apply)

Producer

Playwright

Director

Stage Manager

Company Manager

Actor

Musician

Vocalist

Dancer

Dramaturg

Choreographer

Scenic Designer

Lighting Designer

Sound Designer

Sound Engineer

Costume Designer

Prop Master

Technical Theatre Crew Member

Dept Chair at a University

Arts Administrator

Theatre Teacher/Teaching Artist

Theatre/Dance/Performing Arts Professor

Poet/Solo Performer

Intern

Venue Renter

Venue Manager

Venue Programmer

Venue Staff Member

Board Member

Other (please specify)

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* 25. Did you choose any of the following above? Producer, Dept Chair, Arts Administrator, Venue Manager, Stage Manager, Director, Board Member

Yes

No, but I am responsible for creating and/or maintaining the general company atmosphere.