Our approach is three-fold:Education and Community Outreach - The ECO Project
Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre is committed to 'educating through performance' - of engaging the audiences and artists of Alaska through direct participation in our programming.
Our approach is three-fold:
• A policy of inclusion
• An Under-18 free admission program
• Education and Community Outreach - The ECO Project
Our commitment to quality and our dedication to our local community have fostered a company that is both international in scope and Alaskan in identity.
FST seeks to engage those populations that may not have the financial/cultural wherewithal to view our activities as accessible. Breaking down the stereotype of what Shakespeare 'is' has been a constant priority since our inception in 1993. Our progress toward this goal is evident in the result; since 2003, our total audience has grown from 6,600 to nearly 10,000 served annually.
The cornerstone of FST's community outreach is the annual Bard-a-thon. This 24-hour-a-day, 8-day reading of the complete works of Shakespeare has provided the Fairbanks community and beyond with a forum in which to explore the many universal themes found in Shakespeare's canon.
Similarly, FST created the full-time staff position of Education Coordinator in February 2004. This position is responsible for internal coordination within area schools, with an emphasis on theatre performance and Shakespeare studies. In the first year of this position FST has reached over 2,000 children from 35 area classrooms.
2004 saw the first 'arts partnership' between FST and the Alaska Association of School Boards through the Alaska Initiative for Community Engagement. This partnership has fostered a unique youth theatre company (‘The Groundlings’) aimed at positive asset-building. This program is providing our youth with an opportunity to grow not only as artists, but as citizens. While staging their own production of Macbeth during the summer of 2004, the Groundlings conducted events and fundraisers that raised nearly $2,500 for the Resource Center for Parents and Children (an organization they chose to support).
Our Under-18 free admission policy is having a tremendous impact on the community as well. This policy has allowed more than 5,000 children to experience Shakespeare first-hand since July 2003. The results of this policy are immeasurable, but can be put into perspective by the number of youth who come to a production multiple times.
FST's outreach is not limited to area schools. Recently FST is toured our production of The Fantasticks to the Denali Center (assisted living facility), Fairbanks Correctional Facility, the Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage, and McLaughlin Youth Facility in Anchorage.
It is the hope of FST to expose as many people (regardless of situation) to our work. We believe that the power of live theatre helps us all to understand our world from a different perspective. It is this fundamental aspect of theatre that we deem 'educating through performance'.
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