ROUNDTABLES & TRAINING
New Jersey Theatre Alliance offers opportunities for staff of member theatres as well as the larger cultural community to learn and network together. The Alliance strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully.
To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Beth Prevor, Access Coordinator.
Creating Change Virtual Roundtables
Open to the full arts and culture community of New Jersey
Affirmative Action & HR Practices: A Q&A with HR and DEI Experts
Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
This session, led by HR and DEI expert Diane L. Parker and DEI and leadership development consultant Robert Naylor, will offer an overview and discussion of how recent rulings on affirmative action, as well as other current HR and DEI issues, may affect the arts sector. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to submit specific questions on any HR or DEI topic with which they are grappling at the point of registration for Diane and Robert to address.
Decolonization and the Arts
Tuesday, December 12, 2023 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
This roundtable session led by Tara Moses and Annalisa Dias co-founders and thought leaders of Groundwater Arts, will introduce foundational learnings about colonization, how it shows up in the arts field, and how we can work to decolonize our practices.
Groundwater Arts braids together new ideas, living knowledge, and immediate strategies to bring the arts and culture field to the decolonized and climate-just future faster.
Like mangrove tree roots, we are adaptable, committed to protecting frontline communities, and ready to face the biggest challenges of our time.
This session was not recorded. We encourage you to check out other offerings from Groundwater Arts at their website: https://www.groundwaterarts.com/workshops.html
Recognizing, Interrupting, and Navigating Microaggressions
Tuesday, February 13, 2024 | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM
In this encore session, first offered at the Creating Change 2023 summit, DEI and mental health expert Ymani Hawkins will guide participants through the definitions, origins, and imapct of microagressions, and will offer ways for people who experience them or mistakenly perpetrate them to interrupt and heal these moments of harm.
This session was not recorded. We encourage registrants to attend in real time to experience learning and connection.
Cultural Access Network Virtual "Access Thursdays"
Open to the full arts and culture community of New Jersey. The Cultural Access Network Project is a program of The New Jersey State Council on the Arts and New Jersey Theatre Alliance.
Best Practices on Target Marketing and Websites to Promote Your Accessible Policies and Programs
Thursday, December 7, 2023 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Communicating with the constituency you are looking to serve is essential as you build your audience and awareness of your organization’s access services and policies. Learn tips on how to market your programs and services, and the importance of having an accessible website and the information that needs to be highlighted on your website.
What is Alt Text & How To Incorporate it on Your Website and in Your Social Media Posts
Thursday, January 4, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Familiarize yourself with the importance of alt text to help serve your Blind/low vision patrons. Tips on how to include alt text with your website and social media posts. Learn how those who are Blind/low vision rely on screen readers when visiting websites and using social media outlets.
Accessibility for Arts Programs at a University
Thursday, February 1, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
This session is designed for those who run and work in arts programs within a university setting. When planning and implementing programs and policies, what steps towards accessibility can you develop and specifically for your arts programming? How can you be an accessibility advocate for the entire university campus?
Accessibility Awareness Training for Staff, Volunteers and Board
Thursday, March 7, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
This roundtable will share tips on how to make your environment a more welcoming one for all your patrons. You will learn from arts patrons with disabilities on what they expect when attending an arts event. Disability etiquette, customer service practices, and customer service policies will be discussed.
Conducting an Access Audit of Your Facility
Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Doing an assessment of your facility is essential to better understanding the features of your facility and what elements need attention with regards to ensuring accessibility for all staff, patrons and artists. Learn about the steps to take to assess your facility, who should be involved, and how to develop a plan to improve facility access.
Making Film and Videos Accessible
Thursday, May 2, 2024 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Whether you are presenting a film or producing a video for an event or a social media post, what are the steps you can take to ensure these films and videos are accessible? In this session you will learn how to incorporate audio description, captioning, and sign language interpretation into your films and/or videos.
Staff Roundtables and Affinity Spaces
Open to staff of Alliance member theatres only. Roundtables and affinity spaces are typically virtual with the exception of a few in-person events (in-person events are noted in the descriptions).
Roundtable – A peer-to-peer resource to learn and network; usually facilitated by a guest speaker, the roundtable chair, or a staff member of the Alliance.
Affinity Space – A brave space to connect with peers where the priority is self-care and community care.
Education Staff Roundtables
Open to staff of Alliance member theatres only.
Back-To-It Kickstarter Conversation
Tuesday, September 19, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
This session is an opportunity for education staff members to check in about the field at large. What challenges are educators facing? What are they excited for and hopeful about?
Ethical Hiring: Interns and Apprentices
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
This session, led by Tess L. James from the Lewis Center for the Arts at Princeton University, is about how staff and organizations as a whole can engage interns and apprentices in an ethical way. What is the future of internships and apprenticeships?
Trauma-Informed Practice
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
This session will take a look at education through a trauma-informed lens. How do we make our work accessible to all? How does this topic resonate with a “post-pandemic” world? Both educators and non-educators may find this topic intriguing; all are welcome. The discussion will feature guest speaker Heidi Landis, a Licensed Creative Art Therapist (LCAT), Registered Drama Therapist/ Board Certified Trainer (RDT/BCT), and Trainer Educator and Practitioner of Psychodrama (TEP) with expertise in trauma-informed work.
Education Staff Roundtable #4
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
More info coming soon!
Artistic Staff Roundtables
Open to staff of Alliance member theatres only.
New Play Development
Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
This session centers the needs of member theatres around new play development. How are theatres handling play development right now? How and where is a play entering a theatre? Do theatres have the resources to foster play development? Do theatres wish they could do more in this area? Discussion will be led by New Jersey Play Lab founders, Cheryl Katz and Kaitlin Stilwell.
Season Selection
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
This session will be a gathering for artistic directors and related roles to discuss their season selection. How do you stay artistically fulfilled while still confronting the challenges of funding and low audience attendance? How does new play development fit into this? Grab a tea or coffee and cozy up over Zoom for a supportive conversation as you solidify your upcoming theatre programming.
Artistic Staff Roundtable #3
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
More info coming soon!
Artistic Staff Roundtable #4
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
More info coming soon!
General Management Staff Roundtables
Open to staff of Alliance member theatres only
Fall Check-In
Friday, October 20, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This session is a general check-in for general management staff and similar positions. Are we truly past COVID and what are its lingering effects? What is going on in the field and how is it affecting staff?
Managing Up
Friday, December 8, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
This session will be a discussion about the skill of “managing up” and will include tips on how to work with your boss to get what you need. Should everyone spend more time cultivating their managing up skills or should managers spend more time figuring out what is going on in their department? Inspiration comes from the Work Appropriate podcast episode titled, “Managing Up with Alaina Fuld”. The podcast episode will serve as a launch point for conversation, but it is completely optional listening. If you do not listen beforehand, you can still attend and engage.
New Year Check-In
Friday, February 23, 2024 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
We’re back from the holidays and the new year is in full swing, which means we’re due for another general check-in for general management staff and similar positions. Does your theatre have any new policies or updates for 2024? If so, how has that affected staff? What effects have the uptick in this winter season’s illnesses had on your staff and your theatre’s capacity?
General Management Staff Roundtable #4
Friday, April 19, 2024 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
More info coming soon!
Marketing Staff Roundtables
Open to staff of Alliance member theatres only
Canva Walk-Thru
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
This session is a Canva walk-thru with the Alliance’s very own Manager of Digital Communications & Marketing, Lauren Mancuso. This is an opportunity for member theatre staff to learn about the basics of this platform, its free resources, and ask questions. Lauren will provide a website overview and teach a tangible skill so that attendees walk away knowing how to make a Canva creation.
Marketing Staff Roundtable #2
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
More info coming soon!
Marketing Staff Roundtable #3
Wednesday, May 29, 2024 | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
More info coming soon!
Emerging Leaders Affinity Space
These affinity space gatherings are open to Alliance Member Theatre Staff who identify with ANY of the following: 35 years old or younger, have been in the theatre/performing arts field for five years or less, recently transitioned into the arts from another sector, and/or are new to the New Jersey theatre community.
What is an Emerging Leader?
Thursday, September 21, 2023 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
This session will explore what it means to be an emerging leader, its iterative nature, and the various definitions that have been established.
The Woman In Black at McCarter
Thursday, October 19, 2023 | 6:00 PM
*In-person event*
This session includes a pre-show mixer onsite at McCarter Theatre Center at 6:00 PM. Free light snacks will be served. Attendees will see the show titled, The Woman in Black, which starts at 7:30 pm. By registering for this event and receiving confirmation for a spot, each attendee will get a complimentary ticket to the show. Please be advised that there are limited spots available and the due date to register is Sunday, October 15, 2023.
Overcoming the Winter Blues
Thursday, February 1, 2024 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
This session will center on community care and self-care while overcoming the winter blues. How are our work and productivity affected during this time? How do we take care of ourselves and each other?
Emerging Leaders Affinity Space #4
Thursday, March 14, 2024 | Evening Time TBA
*In-person event*
More info coming soon!
Development Staff Roundtable
Open to staff and volunteers of Alliance member theatres only
Development Roundtable #1
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
This roundtable will be an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning, hear about current fundraising challenges and potential solutions, share opportunities and best practices, and discuss potential topics and dates for the upcoming Development Roundtables.