Agenda at a Glance: Theatre Advocacy Week
Below you’ll find an agenda at a glance highlighting the programming you can expect.
All events are free, but registration is required to access sessions.
Join the collective movement to champion the future of theatre!
Monday, March 24 - Virtual Arts Advocacy Institute
Advocacy 101: Telling Your Story
12:30-2:00 PM ET
Learn to craft compelling advocacy narratives backed by data and strategic framing to advance policies that sustain the arts.
Assessing Risk & Taking Risk: Arts Advocacy in 2025
3:00-5:00 PM ET
Practical tools for assessing the risks and rewards of advocacy, navigating legal constraints, public perception, and institutional sustainability.
Tuesday, March 25 - Virtual Day of Action
Join us for a nationwide day of action, uniting theater advocates to amplify the power of storytelling for civic engagement. Throughout the day, we’ll mobilize online with advocacy messages that support urgent policy issues. Tune in to our IG Live sessions (@tcg_gram) at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM, and take part by sharing social media messages that support policies vital to sustaining the arts. Whether you're participating virtually, attending an event, or taking action in your community, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact.
Thursday, March 27 - World Theatre Day
Celebrate World Theatre Day with the release of our U.S. and U.S. Emergent Artist video messages. Use the hashtag #WorldTheatreDay on social media to share how theatre has impacted your life!
Breaking Barriers, Expanding Perspectives
3:30–5:00 PM ET
A global perspective on executive actions affecting artistic freedom, storytelling, and arts funding. Topics include artist visas, censorship, and the impact of immigration enforcement on public spaces.
Monday, March 31- International Trans Day of Visibility
Artists as Upstanders
1:00–2:30 PM ET
Join transgender and gender-nonconforming artists for a conversation on policy shifts, protections, and how theatres can advocate for more inclusive, affirming spaces.
Session Descriptions
Additional session descriptions to be added.
Monday, March 24
12:30–2:00 PM ET
Advocacy 101: Telling Your Story
In an era of shifting narratives and increased scrutiny, effective advocacy requires more than passion—it demands evidence, strategy, and clarity. This session will guide participants in crafting compelling advocacy stories using data-driven insights about the arts sector. Whether advocating individually or as an organization, attendees will learn how to align their storytelling with broader advocacy goals, including key issues TCG supports. Together, we will explore how to make an impact in today’s political and cultural climate while ensuring that theater remains a vital force for change.
Speakers:
Eric Colchamiro, Colchamiro Public Strategies; Trustee, DC Theatre Arts, Theater Washington
Tooshar Swain, Director of Public Policy, Americans for the Arts
3:00–4:30 PM ET
Assessing Risk/Taking Risk: Arts Advocacy in 2025
Advocacy is never without risk, but how do arts leaders determine when and how to take a stand? This session provides a strategic framework for assessing the risks and rewards of advocacy at the individual, organizational, and national levels. Participants will explore key considerations in advocating for a just and thriving theater ecology, including legal constraints, public perception, board engagement, and funding implications. Join us as we examine the balance between bold action and institutional sustainability in an increasingly complex advocacy landscape.
Speakers:
Christia Ravenell, Staff Attorney at the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
David Leichtman, Managing Partner of Leichtman Law PLLC
Robert Chelimsky, Executive Director, Playwrights’ Center
Tuesday, March 25
All Day – Included in Registration
Virtual Day of Action
Join us for a nationwide day of action, uniting theater advocates to amplify the power of storytelling for civic engagement. Throughout the day, we’ll mobilize online with advocacy messages that support urgent policy issues. Tune in to our IG Live sessions (@tcg_gram) at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM, and take part by sharing social media messages that support policies vital to sustaining the arts. Whether you're participating virtually, attending an event, or taking action in your community, this is your chance to make a meaningful impact.
Thursday, March 27
3:30–5:00 PM ET
World Theatre Day: Breaking Barriers, Expanding Perspectives
(Spanish interpretation will be available for this session.)
As we celebrate World Theatre Day, we explore executive actions that limit artistic exchange, cultural dialogue, and global storytelling. This session will examine:
- ICE Raids & Public Spaces: Increased enforcement affects civic life, creating fear in public gathering spaces, including theaters, and limiting free expression.
- Censorship & Self-Censorship: Global case studies highlight the suppression of artistic expression and its parallels in the U.S.
- Artist Visas & Mobility: Analyzing visa policies and their effects on U.S. theater workers, audiences, and the arts ecosystem.
- Impact of Funding Halts: Reduced U.S. support for democracy efforts and cultural diplomacy affects global partnerships and human rights advocacy.
- Theater Advocacy: Exploring strategies for theaters to support artistic freedom and cultural exchange.
By connecting these issues, we’ll explore the broader implications of these policies and discuss how theaters can advocate for a more open, artistically vibrant world.
Speakers:
Najean Lee
Matthew Covey
Tatjana Ažman
Todd London
CJ Ochoco
Monday, March 31
1:00–2:30 PM ET
International Trans Day of Visibility: Artists as Upstanders
Transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) artists face evolving policy landscapes that impact their ability to work, create, and thrive. This session will provide critical updates on policy shifts affecting TGNC artists, from employment protections to funding opportunities and public accommodations laws. We’ll hear directly from artists and advocates on how theaters can be allies in creating safer, more inclusive spaces. Join us as we uplift TGNC voices, challenge systemic barriers, and explore the role of theater in shaping a more just and affirming cultural sector.
Speakers:
Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi, Long Wharf Theatre
Bonnie Collum, The VORTEX Theater
Merrique Jenson, Transformations
Qween Jean, Black Trans Liberation
Kristen Gonzalez, New York State Senate District 59
Bertrand J. Evans-Taylor, Director of Government Affairs, Dance/USA
Corinna Schulenburg, TCG