Yesterday, alongside a full slate of our usual weekly coverage, I took a ride up to the main Temple University campus for a rally marking one month that the Temple University Graduate Students' Association has been on strike. They want a living wage for their Philly home, fair healthcare benefits for their families, more parental leave (Temple currently offers them just five days), and better working conditions. You can watch a one-minute BSR video of the rally here.
Many of the striking workers are artists and arts educators who play an important role in the present and future of our arts scene. But more than that, our educational sector is crucial to Philly's character and part of what puts us on the map. If these institutions can't or won't treat their workers fairly, what does that mean for our city's future? Workers' rights are also an important facet of broader movements, including racial, gender, disability, economic, and reproductive justice. These are all things the BSR team supports from within our own sector.
This week's stories include a review of Alvin Ailey's latest Philly stop, Tennessee Williams at the Walnut, the premiere of Lyric Fest's 20th anniversary song cycle, and more. Next week, look out for coverage of the Philly mayoral candidates' forum on the performing arts and cultural economy, plus more theater, art, dance, and music reviews.
And on Friday, don't miss March's BSR in the Wild mailer, with subscribers-only tips on where our team is heading this month.
Alaina Johns
BSR editor-in-chief
