Recent years have brought much-needed conversations and sweeping responses to harassment allegations and improper conduct by those in powerful positions in entertainment fields and beyond.
We know what’s wrong... Now what do we do about it?
Led by award-winning Producer, Director and Arts Administrator Akia Squitieri, this workshop will discuss how individuals and organizations alike can respond to incidents and allegations; how to navigate academic, artistic, and professional environments; the different responsibilities of artistic leaders, directors, individual artists, ensembles, venue staff and renters; and the tools and resources to foster a culture of prevention. Men, women, artists, presenters, students, and others are invited to learn in this judgment-free zone.
The entertainment industry in particular is often rife with potential pitfalls and challenges unique to us and what we do. This training looks to the future on proactive, action-based solutions to help prevent this in creative environments. This workshop is intended to help support the creation and presentations of new work, not hinder it. This is not about censoring the work we do, but creating realistic, actionable steps, resources and tools to prevent, address and respond to incidents, as well as work together to dismantle and recreate our environmental cultures. Utilizing past examples, implementing simple and straightforward tools, processes and best practices, and allowing for open and honest conversation this workshop aims to give participants a solid action plan for their needs. By creating open communication, expectations and tools as an industry, we can accomplish and Create Safe Spaces together.
Akia Squiteri is an award-winning Producer, Director and Arts Administrator. She is the Founding Artistic Director of Rising Sun Performance Company and Company Manager for the Innovative Theatre Foundation. She served as the Company Manager for the international sensation, Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theater for over 10 years.
Past notable credits include working on staff at Horse Trade Theatre Group, serving as General Manager for FRIGID New York’s inaugural year, as Production Coordinator for nationally acclaimed Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, overseeing the playwright’s unit and INSIGHT 13 production series and on the Advisory board of the Paul Butterfield Fund & Society. She is a recipient of the New York Innovative Theatre Awards “Founders Award” for her contributions to the organization and the Off-Off Broadway Community and Two-Time "Congeniality" Award Winner from the Planet Connections Theatre Festival for her community involvement. She recently served as the Director of Charities for the Planet Connections Theatre Festival, focusing on advocacy and social justice outreach.
In the traditional business sector, she has worked with Pfizer, EMI Records, Conde’ Nast Publications, EFT Group and others. She is an Alumni of the Commercial Theatre Institute, and has been a speaker, panelist and guest lecturer (on various theatrical topics) at the following institutions: CTI, Actors Equity Association, Ramapo College, Theatre Resources Unlimited, New York University, Horse Trade Theatre Group, FRIGID Festival, and the National Action Network. She is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management. She brings over 20 years of professional experience to her trainings combining her work as a Human Resources Professional and Theatrical Artist. You can learn more about her work here at www.akiasquitieri.com and www.risingsunnyc.com
