ABSTRACT
Performing artists, presenters, and teachers define the principles, standards, and practices that can lead toward safeguarding and promoting cultural diversity and translate theory into practice. Every individual artist and organization has some capacity to raise awareness of contemporary issues regarding identity and diversity. There are differences between working toward social justice as a top priority, constructing a musical environment as a place to promulgate social change through music, and simply working toward enhanced earned income, which might be the result of more “butts in the seats. The commitment toward diversity as an ethical responsibility can lead in many directions. Institutional commitments to diversity can also lead to the commissioning of new works that express ideas about social justice, with the goal of engaging disenfranchised communities. For any performing arts institution, group, or dedicated individual, a determining commitment to social change can be a reason for being.
