[Capdist-announce] PRESS RELEASE: WAM Theatre Announces Berkshire Leadership Summit in October 2017

[Gail Burns]

October 31, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Gail Burns, Marketing and Publicity Associate

www.wamtheatre.com

pr at wamtheatre.com; 518.243.9627

Press Photos can be found at:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/
<https://www.flickr.com/photos/wamtheatre/sets/72157648698789976/>

WAM Theatre Announces Summit for Aspiring Women Theatre Leaders

Berkshire Leadership Summit Set for October 2017

“We see the operation of a glass ceiling, a metaphor for the barriers
facing women stuck at middle management where they can see the top but
cannot reach it.”

- from the Wellesley Centers for Women Study

LEE, MA [October 31, 2018] - WAM Theatre is excited to announce they will
be hosting the first pilot Berkshire Leadership Summit - an event for women
aspiring to leadership positions in the non-profit theatre in both artistic
and operational tracks - in October of 2017.

In August 2016, the results of research on why there is a gender imbalance
in leadership of non-profit regional theater were presented by Wellesley
Centers for Women (WCW) at the Women’s Leadership Conference in San
Francisco at the American Conservatory Theater. WAM Theatre Artistic
Director, Kristen van Ginhoven, was an early supporter of the study and
attended the conference.  The HowlRound blogpost about the study can be
found at:
http://howlround.com/women-s-leadership-research-results-and-recommendations

Inspired by that conference, the idea was born to create The Berkshire
Leadership Summit to continue the work of shifting consciousness and
perception around women and leadership in the non-profit theatre world.  This
first pilot Berkshire Leadership Summit is informed and supported by the
research that American Conservatory Theater commissioned from the Wellesley
Centers for Women.

This inaugural two-day, in person, pilot Summit in October 2017 will
provide deep dive, nuts and bolts sessions into four areas that female
theater professionals identified as main barriers to leadership
positions: Fundraising,
Producing, Building Relationships, and Building Awareness/Creating
Opportunity.

The Summit has three central aims: providing participants with an
experience that grows their network of allies,  enriching vocabulary that
supports the current industry while advocating for their future as women
leaders, and expanding concrete skills to apply on their path to leadership.

The Summit will also offer shorter working sessions around other areas
identified in the study and at the conference as barriers to leadership
including:


   -

   Interviewing: exploring the vocabulary of the current world
   -

   Search firm process: advocating for your future
   -

   Reading a financial report/balance sheet
   -

   Building relationships/Working effectively with your board
   -

   Strategic Planning
   -

   Defending your artistic choices
   -

   Intersectionality- including it in the room
   -

   Where is the feminine in leadership?
   -

   Who is your coalition?
   -

   What is the financial impact of women’s leadership?
   -

   What do you bring into the room that distinguishes you as a leader?


The Summit acknowledges gender discrimination is a complex topic. As a
first step, this inaugural Summit is targeted to people who navigate the
field as women (eg. transgender, cisgender, gender non-conforming) in early
to mid-career who are theatre professionals on the path to leadership.

Additional details on this first pilot Berkshire Leadership Summit will be
announced by WAM Theatre in the coming months and will be available at:

http://www.wamtheatre.com/berkshire-leadership-summit-2017/

OUR SEASON SPONSORS

WAM Theatre is funded in part by Mass Humanities, which receives support
from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and is an affiliate of the National
Endowment for the Humanities; and by the Massachusetts Cultural Council
Cultural. Our 2016 sponsors include the Adams Community Bank, Berkshire
Bank, Berkshire Magazine, Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, Blue Q, Brabson
Library & Educational Foundation, Canyon Ranch, Custom Business Solution,
Dylandale Foundation, Feigenbaum Foundation, Garden Gables, Greylock
Federal Credit Union, Guido's Fresh Marketplace, International Schools
Theatre Association, Interprint, Dr. Jay Wise, DDS & Dr. Casey Jones, DMD,
 Jon Gotterer DMD, Keator Group, LLC, Lee Bank, Lenox Education Enrichment
Fund, Massachusetts Cultural Council, MAXYMILLIAN Technologies, Michele’s
Salon + Day Spa, Nina Molin MD, No. Six Depot Roastery and Café, Petricca
Industries, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, RB Design Co., The Rookwood Inn,
Rouge Restaurant & Bistro, Toole Insurance, A. von Schlegell & Co., The
Sherman Investment Group-RBC Wealth Management, and Zabian's Fine Jewelers.

WAM Theatre is also supported in part by grants from the Lenox,
Alford-Egremont, Pittsfield Cultural Council, Cultural Council of Northern
Berkshires , Washington Cultural Council, Monterey Cultural Council,
Stockbridge Cultural Council, West Stockbridge Cultural Council, Richmond
Cultural Council – local agencies that are supported by the Massachusetts
Cultural Council, a state agency.

ABOUT WAM THEATRE

Based in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, WAM Theatre is Where Arts and
Activism Meet. The company was co-founded in 2010 by Canadian director,
actor, educator, and producer Kristen van Ginhoven. WAM’s vision is to
create opportunity for women and girls through the mission of theatre as
philanthropy.

Inspired by the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for
Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, WAM donates a
portion of the proceeds from its theatrical events to organizations that
benefit women and girls.

Since 2010 years, WAM Theatre has donated more than $30,000 to twelve
nonprofit organizations and provided paid work to more than 175 theatre
artists. In addition to the main stage productions and special events, WAM
Theatre’s activities include a comprehensive educational outreach program
and the Fresh Takes Play Reading Series. For more information, visit
www.WAMTheatre.com

# # #


-- 
Gail M. Burns

*Marketing + Publicity Associate*
www.WAMTheatre.com <http://www.wamtheatre.com/>
413-274-8122

*Our 7th Season:*Special  <http://www.wamtheatre.com/special/>| 24hr Project
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/2016-24-hour-theatre-project/> | Fresh Takes
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/fresh-takes-2016/> | Stars in the Orchard
<http://www.wamtheatre.com/stars-in-the-orchard-2016/> | Bakelite
Masterpiece <http://www.wamtheatre.com/the-bakelite-masterpiece/>

Make a donation now
<https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/WAMTheatreInc/donate.html> to WAM
Theatre!
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