The Latest
Introducing the Bluecoats 50/50!
Today we’re launching a fun new way to support Bluecoats! This summer, join in the excitement as we draw two 50/50 jackpots! The first drawing will be held on July 5th, and the second following Tour of Champions: Akron, presented by Stanbury Uniforms on August 9th.
Best of all, there’s two ways to enter! In the State of Ohio? Then you can enter online right now at bluecoats5050.com! If you’re attending Innovations In Brass, Bluecoats Party in the Plaza, Monumental Fourth, or Tour of Champions: Akron, then you can find a raffle salesperson on site and buy right there!
2021 Diversity & Socioeconomic Impact Report
In July 2020, we promised to create an annual report on the demographic and socioeconomic impact of Bluecoats programs, the diversity of our team, and the progress of our initiatives to advance inclusion and equity within our organization.
This is our second year of building this report—you can view last year’s inaugural report here. Reflecting on these data annually allows us a concrete and ongoing opportunity to reflect on our programming and the ways in which we’d like to see it grow in our pursuit to build a more inclusive and equitable culture. As we take steps to advance this culture, sharing this demographic data helps us to create a culture of transparency and, we hope, this report increases people’s understanding of the reasons the steps we are taking are so necessary.
Bluecoats Begins Search For Program Operations Leadership
The Bluecoats team is growing! Today Bluecoats has launched a search for two senior program operations roles. The Director, Program Operations & Manager, Program Operations are new roles at the organization that will work alongside the Executive Team and the Corps Manager plan, manage, and execute the organization’s programming in a way that upholds standards of safety, participant experience, and operational excellence.
Lunch with Legends: A Conversation with Tom Blair
Last week, Bluecoats had its first Lunch with Legends event. This new series invites drum corps legends to join the Bluecoats at rehearsal and to speak to performers during a lunch presentation. The first speaker was DCI Hall of Famer and longtime DCI Broadcast/Cinecast Producer Tom Blair. Tom Blair has an extensive history in drum corps, beginning when he marched Glassmen in 1976 and including producing almost all of the DCI World Championship broadcasts since 1987.
Introducing Bluecoats Party in the Plaza
A Free Afternoon of Music, Family, and Fun at Canton’s Centennial Plaza!
Today we’re announcing the launch of Bluecoats Party in the Plaza, an afternoon of music, food, and family at Centennial Plaza. The event begins at noon on Sunday, August 1st, and features a jam-packed day of entertainment, ending with the world premiere of the 2021 Bluecoats - in a FREE CONCERT!
2020 Diversity & Socioeconomic Impact Report
As we plan a future for the Bluecoats organization, we must work to ensure that the Bluecoats Experience, and all of our performing art programming, reach both more people and a more diverse array of communities. Today we’re publishing our inaugural Diversity & Socioeconomic Impact Report, which provides an important snapshot of our “starting point” as we set out to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in our programs as well as our staff. As promised in July, our goal is to compile a report like this annually.
Bluecoats Announce 50th Anniversary Alumni Corps Caption Heads and Steering Committee Addition
Steering Committee Chair Ted Swaldo is excited to announce the Caption Heads, who will provide key instruction and supervision for Bluecoats 50th Anniversary Alumni Corps, taking the field in 2022. Swaldo shares, “Having previously announced our Design Team, we are thrilled now to add to this outstanding group the Caption Heads, who will organize and lead each section.” The caption heads will begin working in earnest with the design team, named in September of 2019, who are ready to share significant parts of the 2022 show with members soon.
Policy Task Force Completes Review Of Corporate Policy
Recently the Policy Task Force of the Bluecoats Executive Committee completed a periodic review of corporate policy, particularly several youth protection and health, wellness & safety policies. On January 19th, the Board of Directors adopted these revised policies with this resolution.
We have made a list of several of these policies publicly available at bluecoats.com/policies. It includes the newly adopted Anti-Racism Policy, drafted in collaboration with the Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council.