Berkshires/Columbia County Pay Equity Coalition: 2024 Summit

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What we are doing. How we are doing it.  

In June of 2023, we released our report, on pay equity for cultural workers. Now, join us as the Berkshires/Columbia County Pay Equity Coalition reports on our forward momentum over the past year. 

Hear the multiple ways the coalition is approaching equitable compensation based on our participatory research process. Hear what we’ve done, how we’ve done it and how we are seeking to overcome ongoing challenges to effect change around pay equity for entry- and mid-level arts and culture workers.

History: 

The inspirations for our work are our own colleagues, as well as the cultural employees who found outlets for their voices in 2020 through the open letter We See you White American Theater, Change the Museum, and Change Berkshire Culture. They shared stories of how working in the arts caused financial hardships/inequity that took a toll on their physical and mental health and personal relationships.

In 2022, as part of a year-long Inclusive Leadership program facilitated by Multicultural BRIDGE and supported by Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, six art and culture employers in Berkshire and Columbia Counties in Western Massachusetts and Upstate New York asked entry- and mid-level arts and culture employees about their experience of current compensation models. We asked arts and culture organizations how they are striving to make arts and culture work livable. And we asked ourselves to imagine a future that recognizes that passion doesn’t pay the rent. In June of 2023, the coalition had a public release of the project report including data, stories, and a menu of offerings for how to achieve more equitable compensation in our sector.

Now a growing coalition of arts and culture employers are implementing the report recommendations and improving pay equity in their organizations.  

Our collaboration is conducted in the spirit of cultural humility and mutual learning as we work individually and together toward change. Our work currently focuses on changing internal systems, becoming more transparent with our boards, staff, and communities, and reporting our efforts at pay equity summits.

Berkshires/Columbia County Pay Equity Project Coalition: Ancram Center for the Arts, Art Omi, Barrington Stage Company, Berkshire Art Center, Berkshire Dance Theatre, Berkshire Museum, Berkshire Music School, CATA, Flying Cloud Institute, Hancock Shaker Village, The Hudson Eye, Jacob’s Pillow, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, The Mount, Susan B. Anthony Museum, Ventfort Hall, WAM Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival