The Open Fist Theatre Company stands with the BIPOC community, including the AAPI people within it. We believe it is every human being’s right to participate equally in our institutions and communities – to be treated equally, to have their voices heard, and to have access to equal justice.

We are committed to being a part of the radical change that is needed to dismantle oppressive systems for good, specifically the system of white supremacy. We take a firm anti-racist stance and will not tolerate anything less than that in our role as storytellers and theatre-makers.

We are also committed to celebrating, uplifting, and centering the voices and stories of people of color, with the understanding that the theatre arts serve an important role in the movement towards inclusivity and liberation.

OFTC Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Open Fist Theatre Company believes it is every human being’s right to participate equally in our institutions and communities, to be treated equally under the Law, and to have access to equal justice. This is reflected by the company’s name, which combines the notion that an open spirit — embracing all people and ideas — is essential, with the idea that determination — signified by a fist — is necessary, if the theater is to remain a vital voice for social change and awareness. We are committed to being a part of the radical change that is needed to dismantle oppressive systems for good. Our policy is to take a firm anti-racist stance and will not tolerate anything less in our role as storytellers and theatre-makers.

Open Fist recognizes that past productions did not fully embrace or foster the diverse community we strive to create. We are addressing and correcting these inequities by becoming more deliberate in our inclusion of diverse artists and sharing these perspectives through the work we create. We continue to seek diverse voices for our Board and staff and challenge ourselves to speak to broader audiences. We have adopted a continuous learning mindset and understand that our racial equity work will evolve as we grow.

Open Fist Theatre Company remains committed to the creative empowerment of all its writers, directors, actors and designers; to sustaining a community that practices authentic inclusivity with the greatest possible diversity of age, race, ethnicity, ability, gender, sexual orientation, and socio-economic backgrounds; and to engaging an audience of similar diversity in order to unlock the potential of imagination and storytelling to build a better world. Together, the Company and its patrons strive to nurture empathy by embracing and celebrating differences, and by affirming the value and agency of all human beings.