September 23, 2020 | News,

A Year of Experimentation

This year has asked us all, both as individuals and as a larger organization to reexamine how we create art. From the shuttering of live theatre as we know it to answering to the call of anti-racist action, we are proud to announce our commitment to a Year of Experimentation, focusing on the development and programming our new digital venue, and providing support to international artists through reimagined residency programs that support new works, new platforms, and new approaches to process.

To support this ambitious undertaking, we will suspend live events at both the Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre and Emerson Paramount Center through June 2021, instead focusing our resources on artists from subordinated communities as part of the Jubilee Season, the nationwide theatre festival featuring work generated by those who have historically been excluded – including but not limited to artists of color, Native American and Indigenous and First Nations artists, women, non-binary and gender non-conforming artists, LGBTQIA2+ artists, and artists with disabilities.

Executive Director David C. Howse shares, “Our commitment to privileging subordinated voices is an amplification of the work to which we have been committed over the years. The deeply held values of belonging, ambition and curiosity which have become synonymous with the ArtsEmerson brand are the foundation on which our work will continue to grow – even during these incredible times.”

Among the artists developing new work through residencies with us are Wang Chong (China), Christiane Jatahy (Brazil), Why Not? Theater (Canada), Somi (USA), Travis Alabanza and Sam Lindsay (UK), Nassim Soleiamanpour (Iran/Germany), Guillermo Calderon (Chile), and Melinda Lopez (USA). The previously announced Parable Path residency, led by Toshi Reagon (USA) and recently named Best Theatre Residency 2020 by Boston Magazine, continues through June 2021 with the continuing support of The Doris Duke Foundation.

We are honored to have this opportunity to deepen our relationships with artists we’ve collaborated with previously and to forge new relationships, delving into digital programming and artists residencies all under our Year of Experimentation. For more details on our upcoming programming, be sure to sign up for our email list, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram and you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s coming next!