Making the Arts Welcoming for All

By Samantha Stinson and Leslie Cowles, DEI staff committee co-chairs

Walton Arts Center embraces diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in both its programming and its work culture. We believe in having a diverse body of staff, with people of all colors, creeds, backgrounds and identities. Walton Arts Center is continually working to create and maintain an equitable workplace in terms of pay standards, benefits and policy. We welcome and strive to include all voices by giving space and avoiding interruption, listening with the goal of understanding and disagreeing with grace. The Walton Arts Center DEI committee is comprised of 25 employees across the spectrum of Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP departments along with several members of the Walton Arts Center Board. The committee meets monthly to discuss workplace culture, current events, programming and policies. The DEI committee strives to improve our workplace environment through education and staff training. Over the past year, we have collaborated with (R)Evolve, a DEI consulting firm that meets periodically with groups of employees to provide seminars, gamified trainings and discussions in a judgementfree environment. We provide additional education and staff trainings, and curate a DEI staff library for everyone. Walton Arts Center also focuses on diversity in programming, most notably our Mosaix programming. Mosaix performances are chosen in collaboration with Northwest Arkansas cultural communities to illuminate the various cultural tiles that make up our beautiful community through

We believe in music, dance, film, comedy and more. having a diverse Another very important (and fun) job of the DEI body of staff, committee is deciding how the organization will with people of all participate in diverse community events such as Northwest Arkansas Pride, Fayetteville Hispanic colors, creeds, Heritage Festival and the BlackownedNWA backgrounds and Business Expo. We also work toward creating identities. concrete policies that will affect employees for the better. A recent example of this is creating a parent’s room for nursing and pumping on the job. DEI is a constantly evolving process, and a commitment that we take very seriously. We are constantly listening, observing and acting to create a comfortable, respectful workplace. As we learn more, we strive to do better. We strive not for perfection, but for progress. In addition to acting as a sounding board for our staff, performers and visiting crews, we welcome feedback from our patrons – positive or constructive – about their experiences in our space!