CULTURE OF BELONGING

At Barter Theatre, we believe in theatre as a service to our community. We believe in being a space of common ground, where everyone can gather to experience a shared story. We know this is only possible if we commit to the work of providing a more welcoming space for everyone.
We are committed to being a leader in our community by fully embracing, fostering, and continuously evolving our policies, procedures, culture, and programming to better serve every member of the Barter community. We want everyone regardless of gender, race, socioeconomic background, identity, or walk of life to feel genuinely welcome at the theatre. Our goal is to stay true to the spirit of Appalachia and to the core values that define our mission.
We are committed to the ongoing assessment of this work, acknowledging that the list is not exhaustive, and that growth is a fundamental aspect of organizational success.

Internal Practices

● A Common Ground Committee with members from our Board of Trustees and Staff
● Training and expansion of best practices throughout the organization
● Hiring and artistic processes that actively welcome new voices while honoring Barter’s legacy of residency
● Evaluation of workflow and opportunity in the organizational structure

Programming

● Producing a variety of programing that celebrates the rich tapestry of perspectives and experiences within the Appalachian population and region
● Creating and cultivating programming that showcases the work of artists and stories from a variety of backgrounds and worldviews
● Producing Sensory Friendly and open-captioned performances
● Further expansion for accessible theatre experiences

 Community

● Continued commitment to and active engagement with marginalized communities and community leaders through programming and relationship building activities
● Continuation of relationship building with individuals and organizations that focus on disabled and special-needs communities