2024
Diversity & Socioeconomic Impact Report
Introduction
Video message from CEO | CFO/COO
Methodology
All data from this report comes from self-reported data from participants and staff of Bluecoats programming. Students auditioning for the drum corps were given a survey as a part of the registration process, participants of our 2024 drum corps were given a sruvey to fill out during the contracting and obaording process, students attending The Blue Way Summer Arts camp were given a survey as a part of the registration process, and staff were given a survey as part of the season onboarding process. All surveys collect voluntary data, and where possible, there is a “prefer not to say” option, or an “other” option, where respondents can type in a different response. While much of our data collection in 2024 remained the same as in 2023, some questions posed and response offerings changed. As we continue to learn and grow in our approach to collecting and reporting data for this report, our data collection will evolve.
Executive Summary
At Bluecoats, we seek to increase and intensify efforts to ensure equitable access for and participation by people from all racial, ethnic, socio-economic backgrounds, genders, and LGBTQ+ identifications. We also seek to actively encourage and facilitate such participation.
In addition, we seek to form a staff and board of directors reflecting a diverse array of backgrounds and that serves all of our constituents. A first step in this porcess is to collect the raw data from the students and staff we work with in order to set a baseline for future development. This project started in 2020 with our first Diversity & Socioeconomic Impact Annual Report. In our fifth year of creating this report, we have collected more data from participants of our programming than ever before, and we continue to develop both our collection and presentation of these data.
In addtion to the reported data, you are also invited to browse a summary of the current initiatives in place or planned by the organization, and why we feel these measures are important goals for the organization’s efforts to advance a more inclusive culture. We hope you will agree that these initiatives and programs are valuable. Likewise, we hope that you will be inspired to join with us and work to make the Bluecoats Community a leader in the performing arts space.
Meet the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council
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Rand Clayton
they/them
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Dan Coleman
he/him
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Genevieve Geisler, CFO/COO
she/her
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Irene Guggenheim-Triana
she/they
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Justin Johnson
he/him
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JohnDavid Mayo
he/him
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Kate McIlvain, Council Chair
she/her
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Susie O'Brien
she/her
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Mike Scott, CEO
he/him
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Lisa Smith
she/her
Programs
At Bluecoats, we create programs that enrich the lives of young people and celebrate the joys that art and the performing arts bring to the Bluecoats Community. As we reflect on our progress in bringing this mission to life, we must also reflect on how well we bring these life-enriching programs to everyone, and how inclusive this “Bluecoats Community” really is.
We believe that we must start any analysis of the efficacy of our programming by first analyzing who our programs reach, and how inclusive we are as an organization as we seek to expand that reach.
While the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps is our most notable and recognizable program, the Bluecoats organization operates several programs. Our ensemble programs include the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, Rhythm IN BLUE, and alumni-focused programs like Legacy Arc.
Additionally, we operate several learning programs like The Blue Way Summer Arts, the Bluecoats Fellowship, Bluecoats School of the Arts, Learning Access, our school group ticketing program, and an affiliation with a local agency called En-Rich-Ment, which operates free after school and weekend programming for under-resourced youth.
Below, you can see the 2024 report on demographic and socio-economic impact for Audition Experience Camps, Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp.
The Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps
The Bluecoats Audition Experience Events
Every year, hundreds of students from around the world join us in-person for Audition Experience Events and online for Virtual Auditions. Students get the opportunity to audition for the Bluecoats, learn from our world-class educational team, and to get the Bluecoats Experience for a weekend.
During the event registration process, we collected data from xx% of the xxxx students registered for in-person Audition Experience events. Due to limitations with our Virtual Audition order forms, we collected data through a skippable form. We received 173 responses from xxxx registrants, but due to the anonymous nature of response collection, we have no way to know if people submitted multiple forms.
Race & Ethnicity
How would you describe yourself?
Gender Identity
What is your gender identity?
Annual Household Income
Approximately, what is the annual income of your household, including your parents/guardians, unless they do not support you financially in any way?
The Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps Participants
Founded in 1972, the drum corps is the face of the Bluecoats organization, and the primary program through which we bring life-changing performing arts experiences to youth, and host world-class performing arts events for our communities. Bluecoats serves young adults from around the world between the ages of 16 & 22.
During the participant onboarding process, we collected data from 100% of the 165 drum corps participants.
Race & Ethnicity
How would you describe yourself?
Gender Identity
What is your gender identity?
Annual Household Income
Approximately, what is the annual income of your household, including your parents/guardians, unless they do not support you financially in any way?
The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp
At The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp, attendees rehearse alongside the Bluecoats for a Spring Training weekend and perform at the Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration.
During the event registration process, we collected data from 100% of 239 students registered for The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp. This includes students registered for the residential and commuter options, and the one-day pro-audio clinic.Blue Way Summer Arts Camp.
Race & Ethnicity
How would you describe yourself?
Gender Identity
What is your gender identity?
Annual Household Income
Approximately, what is the annual income of your household, including your parents/guardians, unless they do not support you financially in any way?
Our Team
Our pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive community at Bluecoats requires that we work towards inclusivity and equity among both our participants and our staff.
For the 2024 programming year, we incorporated survey questions directly into the staff onboarding process. This helped us ensure a higher response rate than in previous years. xx of xx staff responded.
Race & Ethnicity
How would you describe yourself?
Gender Identity
What is your gender identity?
Our Board of Directors
Our pursuit of a more equitable and inclusive community at Bluecoats requires that we work towards inclusivity and equity in all facets of the organization.
For the 2023 programming year, we sent a completely anonymous survey to our board of directors. 14 of 16 total board members (87.5%) responded. Since the survey was entirely anonymous, there is no way to know if any individual submitted the survey multiple times.
