BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Building the Future Together
Our Approach to Collaboration, Opportunity, and Growth
(Updated May 13, 2025)
At Deaf West, we believe in the power of theater to transform, to connect, and to open new doors for artists, audiences, and communities alike. Our practices have long embodied the values outlined below, and we remain committed to building on this foundation.
For more than three decades, this work has been central to our mission, and our track record reflects that. This page outlines how we are building on the foundation we have laid, creating new systems, and deepening the ways we support artists and communities.
Growth is rarely linear. It is built through relationships, lived experience, and a shared commitment to listening, learning, and creating boldly together. As we look ahead, we continue to welcome feedback and seek new ways to evolve in partnership with our community.
We also recognize that our ability to pursue this work depends on capacity. Many of the actions outlined below require dedicated funding and strong partnerships. Our commitment is to grow responsibly, scaling our efforts with care and collaboration.
1. Expanding Access for Artists
Action Items:
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Submission and Evaluation
Creating pathways for submissions from writers, performers, designers, directors to share work with our artistic team by June 30. In the meantime, they may reach out to us at info@deafwest.org. Submissions will be reviewed by our team.
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Flexible Development Support
Starting in Fall 2025, provide customized support for works-in-progress, including conversations, creative labs, workshops, and readings.
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Leadership & Mentorship
Building pathways into leadership through mentorships and opportunities for collaborative growth.
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Built-in Commitments
Embedding these values in production planning and partnership agreements. Submission does not guarantee production, but it ensures visibility and thoughtful consideration.
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Tracking Growth
Documenting our impact and celebrating artist milestones as well as community feedback to inform future work in the form of annual reports starting January 2026.
Why It Matters:
Increasing entry points creates a richer, more dynamic creative landscape. This allows more stories to be told.
2. Investing in Talent and Career Growth
Action Items:
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Offering training mentorships, apprenticeships, and hands-on learning in design, directing, producing, and dramaturgy. We are actively seeking funding for these opportunities, and the funding we receive will shape the size and scope of our offerings.
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Creating opportunities for early-career artists to observe, participate, and lead.
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Collaborating with professionals in theater, film, and television to expand access and share tools.
Why It Matters:
When creatives grow, the entire field benefits. Strong artists make a strong industry.
3. Creating Effective Working Environments
Action Items:
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Clarifying access processes and rehearsal support expectations across all productions by Fall 2025.
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Guidelines around practices and accessibility will be developed by December 2025. New collaborators will engage in training and grounding conversations before rehearsals begin.
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A confidential feedback tool will be available throughout the production process. Efforts may evolve depending on capacity.
Why It Matters:
Collaboration thrives when everyone feels respected and prepared. Clear communication builds creative momentum. A clear structure behind the scenes supports creative freedom on stage. When expectations are clear, people can focus on doing their best work.
4. Building a Volunteer Advisory Committee
Action Items:
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This committee will be composed of a diverse group of volunteer community members, arts professionals, and advocates who can offer insight, feedback, and guidance on our programming, outreach efforts, and resource development.
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The goal of this committee is to devise fundraising and other community support for the above initiatives.
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A structured selection and onboarding process for all advisory committee members will begin in September 2025. Timelines may adjust depending on capacity.
Why It Matters:
We believe that by actively listening and learning, we can better uphold our mission to create accessible and artistically excellent theatre.
Looking Ahead
These commitments are not new to Deaf West. They reflect long-standing values that have shaped every aspect of our work. We are proud of that legacy and see this next phase as a way to give our practices more structure, visibility, and staying power.
This is about ensuring that our core values are sustained through systems and resources. It is about welcoming new collaborators while deepening our accountability to the communities we serve.
Meaningful progress takes time, trust, and shared investment. We will continue to refine our practices, track impact, and invite new voices into the conversation.
Our ability to grow depends on the resources we secure, and we are deeply grateful to every partner, artist, and supporter who makes this work possible. Please support our efforts by making a donation today. You may earmark your donation for the commitments above.
We are listening as we move forward. Your ideas, feedback, and collaboration shape what comes next.
Thank you for building with us.
— The Deaf West Team