Stage Whispers acknowledges the strong criticism on Facebook for posting this latest media release from the Rob Guest Endowment, announcing the cancellation of their 2020 scholarship, following the furore over the lack of racial diversity among this year’s semi-finalists.
It’s totally valid criticism. We rushed to post the sensational industry news, sharing the announcement quickly, verbatim from the organisers, without seeking any alternate comments from other parties involved.
Aiden Puglielli asked, “If you’re going to copy/paste a statement from an organisation accused of failing to address systemic racism, with no analysis or inclusion of voices calling out said racism, where is the journalistic integrity?”
Richard Carroll said, “You have printed a misleading statement from the RGE committee without comment or context. The 30 chosen semi-finalists have already said in a statement that they do not believe the competition needed to be cancelled to protect them (nor was it discussed with them - they found out about the cancellation on social media). All 30 of them were supporting their BIPOC friends and colleagues, and had said they would remove themselves from the competition if changes weren't immediately made to this year's contest. That is why the RGE cancelled, using 'bullying' of the 30 semi-finalists as an excuse. None of that is mentioned in your post, and as a result you have a litany of comments here talking about how terrible it is that these poor young people were bullied, what a shocking thing to have happened, etc - because they treat this Facebook page as a news source, not a place where a statement from an organisation that has behaved badly would be posted without examination or discussion.”
Thankyou to industry insiders Adam and Richard for delivering a clearer, balanced perspective. As editor, I (Neil) apologise, and regret that we failed to accurately reflect the experiences of this year’s semi-finalists, and their responses to the situation including their universal support of their BIPOC colleagues, by choosing to simply run the organisers’ official media release.
We have now received this statment from MEAA
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Statement by former Rob Guest Endowment Semi-Finalists |
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The former Rob Guest Endowment Semi-Finalists have remained united whilst navigating these past few weeks. As a result, through MEAA, they have issued the following statement:
We acknowledge the traditional land owners of the Country we live and work on today. We acknowledge Elders past, present and emerging. This was, and always will be, Aboriginal Land.
We firstly want to make clear and recognise that First Nations and POC (People of Colour) artists have endured significant trauma as a direct result of the various actions and public statements made by the Rob Guest Endowment. We cannot begin to understand the depth at which this continues to trigger and hurt our First Nations and POC friends, colleagues, and the community at large. We can, however, offer our transparency as we move forward in solidarity.
From the outset we decided to take action and sought advice and education from the Equity Diversity Committee (EDC). This was to ensure that the voices of the First Nations and POC artist community were centred and prioritised in this conversation. We have been generously invited into these discussions to listen and learn. Following said discussions, and through our own volition, we came to the unanimous decision to withdraw from the competition: to prevent our colleagues from further trauma, to de-centre ourselves and to amplify the First Nations and POC voices. The Endowment’s reactive cancellation prevented us from enacting this step in tandem with the EDC.
We categorically refute any claim or insinuation made by the Endowment, or any others, that the competition had to be cancelled in order to protect us from bullying and/or intimidation from the EDC, or the POC and First Nations members of our industry. We have no interest in perpetuating this harmful antiquated narrative, which serves only to deplatform and erase First Nations and POC peoples and their voices.
In response to the events leading up to yesterday’s statement, we fervently denounce the actions of the Endowment, including but not limited to; silencing POC and First Nations voices, misrepresenting us and our stance on the matter, and the lack of transparency that has occurred from within the Endowment.
We believe it is imperative to thank, and damaging to ignore, the immense support provided by the EDC: to thank them for their voluntary, unpaid labour and education throughout this process. It is essential to acknowledge the EDC is composed of vital volunteers, who have spearheaded the necessary changes to create a more accessible and equitable industry, and have done so with patience and grace. We overwhelmingly support the EDC’s Log of Claims presented to the Endowment, and are eager to see conversations continue between them and the EDC. We 30, and as an industry at large, are indebted to their tireless and ongoing work.
Moving forward, we will be redirecting our energy into celebrating and amplifying the many POC led initiatives that existed long before and those that have been born from this chain of events. All of which are pioneered by the boundless generosity of artists identifying as First Nations and People of Colour within our Arts community.
In Solidarity,
The former Rob Guest Endowment Semi-Finalists 2020
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This statement followed from the MEAA Equity Diversity Committee
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Statement by the Equity Diversity Committee on the Rob Guest Endowment |
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The following statement has been issued by the Equity Diversity Committee in response to the cancellation of the 2020 Rob Guest Endowment:
The Equity Diversity Committee (EDC) has been in conversation with the Rob Guest Endowment (The Endowment), our membership and the semi-finalists of this year’s competition since August 20. We facilitated discussion with over 100 vested stakeholders to collate a log of claims detailing the changes our industry hoped to see with The Endowment. These claims were presented to The Endowment on September 2 by the EDC and representatives from the Musical Theatre Industry. Following this meeting The Rob Guest Endowment published actions on September 16 they believed would address these concerns. The EDC nor our members were engaged in the creation or publishing of these.
Yesterday afternoon (18/09/2020), we sent an email to The Endowment detailing the updated log of claims which identified issues with the published actions, and reiterated demands that weren’t addressed. We also requested The Endowment re-enter negotiations with the committee to ensure an appropriately robust strategic plan could be developed for future competitions alongside a conscientious approach to providing necessary support for this year’s semi-finalists.
By close of business, we learned, alongside the semi-finalists themselves, via a public statement that the 2020 competition would be cancelled.
It is disappointing that the time, lived experiences, and wealth of knowledge and skills that were volunteered by the EDC, our members and our wider industry has been mislabeled as “bullying” and “intimidation”. It’s concerning to see the Endowment rob the semi-finalists of the commendable agency we’ve witnessed over the past month, to silence their voices and co-opt them in a narrative they were not part, let alone aware of. This work should not be discounted or invalidated, but engaged with.
The passion of our workers and performers from various diverse communities to fight for equity and justice, should not be ignored or misrepresented. Rather, the Endowment must answer the call to action, and play their part in supporting the development of a vibrant future for our industry. If we are to truly seek merit and excellence, we must provide equal opportunity and access. This is a journey The Endowment is starting on and must continue on.
With that, we commend the choice to cancel this year’s competition.
Having been unable to find solutions for this year’s competition, this decision stands as acknowledgement of the immense work required to ensure the actions the Endowment has readily committed to, can be refined with appropriate consultation, while receiving the time, resources and consideration needed to ensure the long term success of their plan and the Endowment.
In support of the earlier statement from the semi-finalists and the sentiments of our members, we encourage the Endowment to take the opportunity presented by the cancellation of this year’s competition to return to the table and work with the Equity Diversity committee in building sustainable strategies for future competitions.
In Unity
Equity Diversity Committee
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The original media release, as published.
On 20 August, the Rob Guest Endowment announced the 30 semi-finalists for this year’s scholarship. Due to the lack of racial diversity of the semi-finalists, we received criticism for not doing enough to attract black, Indigenous and people of colour applicants. We heard this message and agreed that we should have done more to ensure there was a greater BIPOC representation. We unreservedly apologised and vowed to do better. Our initial response in August contained language that we should have known was offensive and we apologise unreservedly for any offence caused.
On 16 September we announced a wide range of changes to ensure that in the future, the endowment would involve people of colour and of Indigenous and other diverse backgrounds in every area of the competition, and we introduced measures to ensure that semi-finalists in future competitions included a diverse array of entrants including Indigenous Australians and people of colour. https://www.stagewhispers.com.au/news/statement-rob-guest-endowment-future-changes
The Rob Guest Endowment is run totally by volunteers passionate about the musical theatre industry. Our goal is to help promising young performers in the name of one of Australia’s greatest musical theatre performers Rob Guest, who guided, mentored and taught young artists and theatre workers, boosting their resilience and determination. For more than a decade, the endowment has been a unifying and positive force in the commercial musical theatre industry.
The endowment team is particularly concerned for the mental health and welfare of the 30 semi-finalists in this year’s competition. They have endured significant challenges which are likely to intensify should the competition enter its second and third rounds. We are aware that some semi-finalists have been targeted and intimidated from a number of sources and as a result have experienced significant anxiety over recent weeks. Bullying and intimidation have no place in a competition that has only ever sought to bring joy and hope to talented young performers in the commercial musical theatre sector.
The semi-finalists in the Rob Guest Endowment competition are our first priority, and their wellbeing comes before the scholarship. To protect them, it is with great regret that the 2020 Rob Guest Endowment Competition will now be cancelled and this year’s scholarship grant is suspended until 2022.
To emerging young performers in the commercial musical theatre industry in Australia, we will endeavour to continue to support and encourage your talent. We look towards the future and to the next scholarship, which will usher in a new era of change for the endowment. Information about future dates and details will be announced on our website.
The Rob Guest Endowment leadership committee
The above text is the media release from the Rob Guest Foundation, verbatim.
