Values
The Dallas Opera believes that we have an obligation to be more reflective of our communities and that the art form, the industry, and the city gain from equity, diversity, access, inclusion, and belonging.
Equity: The Dallas Opera is committed to creating an equitable culture among its staff and board, and across all its programs. The organization will work with its members to implement fair policies and practices that create working environments free of prejudice, discrimination, and misogyny, and that respect and inspire all people equally. Equity means fairness for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion, age, or disability status.
Diversity: Different perspectives, cultural histories, life experiences, and personal stories enrich the style, scale, and subject of new works and the interpretations of the inherited repertoire, as well as stimulate innovation at the organizational level. Diversity and gender parity recognize the richness of our varied identities and experiences and affirm their contribution to our art form and the communities we serve.
Access: The Dallas Opera believes everyone should have access to opera. TDO commits to ensuring accessibility for disabled and neurodivergent persons by working with partner venues throughout its physical spaces, performances, and events. This commitment also extends to maintaining a welcoming environment in our digital and online offerings.
Inclusion: Leadership at The Dallas Opera has begun to examine the attitudes, behaviors, and barriers that underlie the art form’s exclusive traditions, while exploring ways to weave new connections into the mosaic of contemporary American life. As we strive to establish mutually beneficial relationships with other arts and non-arts organizations in our surrounding communities, newcomers to opera will be introduced to the art form in a variety of settings and will be welcomed and valued as contributors to programming and organizational decision-making. Inclusion goes beyond numerical diversity to ensure authentic representation, empowered participation, and a true sense of belonging.
Belonging: The Dallas Opera is committed to co-creating a meaningful experience for all who wish to engage in opera. Through ongoing learning, communication, evaluation, and practical application, the organization works to develop a culture in which artists, staff, board, audiences, and visitors know their participation and contributions as collaborators are valued and necessary to the company.
Land & People Acknowledgement
Welcome to the Winspear Opera House.
We are delighted that you are joining us to experience opera. As an opera company, we are storytellers, and we hope to uplift the stories of those who were here before us.
We acknowledge and honor that we are on the ancestral land of various tribal nations, including the Caddo, Wichita, Commanche, and Apache Nations, who have stewarded this land and cared for its waterways since time immemorial. We also pay respect to the enslaved African people whose stolen labor helped build the beginnings of this city after the forced removal of the original stewards of the land.
This region holds generations of songs and stories of the many people who have, now, and will call this place home. We encourage everyone to learn more about its history and the pathways that brought us together.
As we harmonize entertainment, education, and artistic quality, we hope you will join us in honoring the stories of our past, present, and future.
Learn More About Dallas History:
The following list is not exhaustive and will be updated periodically. Please contact us to add more information and stories to the list.
The Accommodation: The Politics of Race in an American City by Jim Schutze
American Indian Heritage Day in Texas
Cement City
Dallas Asian American Historical Society
Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation
Commitment in Action
Through current programs and initiatives in development, The Dallas Opera is committed to:
- Adoption of Equity Values and Practices: expand the commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and gender parity as stated values and adopted practices.
- Diverse and Inclusive Boards and Staffs: increase diversity of its staff, Board of Directors, and audiences.
- Diverse and Inclusive Administrators: increase the recruitment, leadership development, and mentorship of administrators who are women and people of color.
- Diverse and Inclusive Casting and Hiring: work with members to understand and overcome biases and barriers to commissioning and casting of people of color.
- Diverse and Inclusive Training: increase the recruitment, nurturing, and retention of singers, conductors, directors, and other artists, artisans and technicians of color, and encourage the progress of administrators of color; and increase opportunities for women who are, or are aspiring to be, world-class conductors and company leaders.
- Accessibility: increase awareness of disability and neurodivergence equity, services, and practices; provide resources and services for staff, Board of Directors, artists, and audiences with disabilities and neurodivergent persons for in person and online experiences.
- Equity Training and Learning: with a focus on eliminating racism and other biases, provide training and other learning resources on equity, diversity, and inclusivity through consultations, workshops, online resources, and other means.