The Line Drawn Initiative works to prevent harassment and abuse in the New England performing arts community. The results of a survey conducted by Line Drawn in 2018 showed that sexual harassment and assault are pervasive in the performing arts and the problem too often goes unacknowledged and unchecked. By developing programs and resources specifically for the needs of the New England performing arts community, Line Drawn aims to create safer and more equitable work environments.
We are committed to this initiative because preventing harassment and abuse is not optional, it is a requirement for creating theater. And we challenge you—to create safer working spaces for our community, address issues, have bystanders trained, and be leaders in a culture shift.
By partnering with IMPACT Boston, StageSource developed programs, resources, and infrastructure specifically for the performing arts community to more effectively prevent and handle all forms of harassment. This includes sexual harassment, racial discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of harassment or microaggressions that can discourage artists and audience members from becoming part of the New England theater community.
Line Drawn Standards
THE LINE DRAWN COMMUNITY STANDARDS are a unified set of practices developed over three years by the New England performing arts community in collaboration with IMPACT Boston to address and prevent harassment. These nine standards were developed through a collaborative process of summits, surveys, and community meetings. They are designed to be rigorous and impactful, while remaining achievable by performing arts organizations of all sizes and budgets. By adopting at least eight of the nine standards, a company can receive a Line Drawn Designation.
History of Line Drawn Initiative
In 2018 & 2019, StageSource held a series of Summits, facilitated by Meg Stone of IMPACT Boston, to learn from the community what their needs and concerns were and discuss how we need to move forward. Theatre-makers and patrons from around New England joined the Line Drawn Working Group to tackle issues brought up by the community during these Line Drawn Summits and worked to develop a set of Community Standards for New England artists and organizations to adopt and follow that deal with harassment.
After three years of extensive discussions and preparation, StageSource and IMPACT Boston launched the Pilot of the Line Drawn Community Standards for the 2022 calendar year. THE 2022 PILOT ORGANIZATIONS were Actors’ Shakespeare Project, Central Square Theater, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, Entropy Theatre, Fresh Ink Theatre, Gloucester Stage Company, Greater Boston Stage Company, Lyric Stage Company, Moonbox Stage, Open Theatre Project, and SpeakEasy Stage Company.
As StageSource winds down its operations, IMPACT Boston will be guiding the pilot organizations through the second year of the program in 2023 with updates to the Training standard and greater structure for the organizational check-ins planned for year two.
Additional Resources
If you work at or attend a college or educational institution, many have an array of resources for reporting, counseling, and support.
THEATRICAL:
- Collected Harassment-related policies & sample templates drafted by StageSource
- Not in Our House — Chicago Theatre Standards
- Not in Our House DC — DC Theatre Standards
- TCG — Theatre Communications Group sexual misconduct resource list
- AEA — Actors’ Equity Harassment Hotline
- International Federation of Actors (FIA)
- Intimacy Directors & Coordinators
- IDI’s 5 Pillars of Intimacy Practice
MEDICAL:
If you are seeking medical attention, injury documentation, a sexual-assault nurse exam, or evidence collection:
- Boston Medical Center: 617-414-4075
- Massachusetts General Hospital: 617-724-4100
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: 617-754-2450
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital: 617-732-5636
REPORTING:
- Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination — enforces the Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws through the investigation of Discrimination Complaints, the prosecution and adjudication of cases, and through preventative training and education.
- Massachusetts Harassment Prevention Orders — for seeking harassment prevention order, restraining order, or protective order. Chapter 258E , is there to protect you against someone who is harassing, stalking or sexually assaulting you, no matter what your relationship with them might be.
- Info on MA Mandated Reporters — Those working with minors (including teachers, educational administrators, physicians, police officers, and more) are required to report abuse and neglect. An additional guide for MA requirements here. To find other state laws, visit RAINN.org
SUPPORT:
- Boston Area Rape Crisis Center —free, confidential support and services to survivors of sexual violence ages 12 and up and their families and friends. You can reach their hotline by phone 24-7 at 800-841-8371 or web chat 9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. every day. 800-841-8371
- Victim Rights Law Center —The VRLC offers free legal assistance to sexual assault survivors who have legal needs as a result of the assault in areas of privacy, safety, education, employment, immigration, housing, LGBTQ-specific issues, criminal justice advocacy, and financial stability. In addition they provide resources for professionals who work with survivors. 617-399-6720 x19
- Fenway Health Violence Recovery Program — Free counseling, support groups, advocacy, and referral services of domestic violence, sexual assault, and anti-LGBTQ hate violence. VPR staff is specialized in working with LGBTQ individuals. 617-927-6202
- Psychology Today — a free and fairly comprehensive resource for finding a licensed therapist who can help you consider options and manage your well-being.
- Rape Abuse and Incest National Network — Free, confidential, national hotline. 800-656-4673
- One Love Foundation — Education on healthy and unhealthy relationships (out of and within the workspace) tools empowering to identify and avoid abuse, including confidential, live hotlines and support.
TRAINING:
- StageSource and IMPACT Boston hosted their first pilot Bystander Intervention Training specifically designed for theatre-makers in July 2019, and are continuing to develop this training. This training was adapted into a webinar during the early months of the COVID outbreak.
- In April 2019 StageSource brought in Intimacy Directors International (IDI) to do a series of the first four public Intimacy Workshops in Boston. Two with a focus on Intimacy in performance, one for educators working with students, and one for staff and administrators. October 2019 they brought IDI back in to train 35 artists in a 3-day Intimacy Intensive to learn the foundational skills to create, utilize, and develop intimacy direction and consent practices.
- IMPACT Boston — Conducts bystander, self-defense, abuse prevention, and conflict de-escalation programs, as well as consultations.
- One Love Foundation — Education on healthy and unhealthy relationships (out of and within the workspace) tools empowering to identify and avoid abuse, including confidential, live hotlines and support.
PAST WORK:
- DRAWING A LINE – AN ESSAY ON THE WORK OF LINE DRAWN AT HOWLROUND.COM
- Launch Memo from Julie Henrikus (February 2018)
- Report from StageSource Survey and Line Drawn Summits 1 and 2 (updated March 2019)
- Handouts from Line Drawn Summit 3: Accountability (March 2019)
This work is a product of StageSource and IMPACT Boston and is inspired in part by the work of #NotInOurHouse
