Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement

Adopted by the Verdigris Ensemble Board of Directors:

December 7, 2020 (Renewed September 11, 2023)

At Verdigris Ensemble, we recognize the systemic racial and other inequities in our society and our industry and believe it is our duty to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility for all people and to combat racism, injustice, and inequality.

As we continue to have conversations both internally and within the community at large, we will aim to move forward to reach this goal in the most effective ways possible.

We make the following commitments for our organization:

We will make every effort to develop a more diverse and inclusive audience and community base. This will include enhancing our outreach throughout all segments of our community.

We will be intentional about partnering with organizations that represent BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities to bring the highest quality and most honest art, creating cultural exchange and appreciation, not appropriation.

Our programs will reflect relevant issues that bring attention to the historic and current stories and concerns of our community

We will make efforts to program existing works by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women composers and, wherever possible, will commission and encourage new compositions by them

Our W. E. Greiner Exploratory Arts Academy residency will continue to promote a more diverse choral ecosystem in Dallas by maintaining student mentorship and music opportunities even after students graduate from the program. We will try to enhance our outreach through similar programs in other schools within our community.

We will advocate other thought-leaders to follow suit through content media and further engagement.

We realize that combating inequity requires thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and the willingness to listen and learn. We commit, as a board and as a community, to adapt our strategic planning to prioritize diversity of the Board of Directors, staff, and ensemble and to constantly strive to integrate education into the fiber of our organization, to advance racial healing, equity, and diversity to learn how to most effectively address, program, and promote BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women composers, musicians, and artists.