About The Arab-American Theater Coalition

Our mission is to advocate for the recognition and celebration of Arab and Arab-American artists in the Theater and Entertainment Industry, ensuring they can create freely, joyfully, and without hesitation. We work to dismantle the systemic barriers that marginalize Arab voices through community support, industry accountability, and artistic advocacy. 

We are a united group of artists whose roots and identities originate in the Arab World, representing the diverse countries of Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Our group comprises all religions, gender expressions, and opinions. 

Arab-American artists creating joyously, boundlessly, and without hesitation.

Arabs are among the most racially diverse ethnic groups. We reject institutionalized racism, violence, and dehumanization of Arabs within the Theater and Entertainment Industry, including anti-Arab racism, anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and colorism. Across the Arab world and beyond, Indigenous communities have endured the lasting impacts of colonialism and imperialism. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and all Indigenous people who have long faced dispossession and erasure. Committed to authentic Arab representation, we advocate for all artists and creatives of color in their pursuit of dignity, specificity, and opportunity.

We call upon industry professionals to collaborate with Arab and Arab-American artists to ensure authentic work. Arab artists remain among the least represented in the Theater and Entertainment Industry (less than 1%). This glaring exclusion highlights the urgent need for accountability and equitable representation in our industry. There is a resistance to stories that reflect Arab humanity. That intentional suppression is violence, as it dehumanizes Arab artists and Arabs around the world. 

Arabs belong in the room—activating, creating, and shaping narratives– as storytellers, valuable partners, collaborators, and innovators. Their presence brings depth, breadth, and perspective to any and all aspects of the creative process. 

We champion hiring practices that actively seek Arab and Arab-American talent, fostering opportunities for meaningful career growth and industry recognition across all creative and administrative roles, including directors, stage managers, designers, writers, producers, technicians, actors, and more. 

We advocate for inclusive casting that reflects the true diversity of Arab-American experiences, ensuring that our stories are told with authenticity and dignity. We strive to dismantle prejudice, stereotyping, and exclusion in Arab casting.

1. We provide a communal space in which Arab and Arab-American artists and professionals can gather, and community, connect and collaborate with fellow artists, and participate in their own representation. 

2. Artists can turn to the Arab-American Theater Coalition for support and advocacy. With experts across various fields, we serve as representatives for artists and professionals in conversation with their employers, colleagues, and creative teams, helping them navigate the industry with confidence.

3. We provide cultural consultancy and industry guidance for production companies, entertainment professionals, and creative projects at all stages, including (but not limited to): creative team hiring, casting, conceptualization, dramaturgy, development, inclusive practices, equitable rehearsal environments, and community engagement. We are committed to ensuring accurate and nuanced representation of Arab narratives and fostering cultural competency.

We pledge to empower Arab and Arab-American artists by being a place of safety and belonging, and by advocating for greater inclusion and representation in the Theater and Entertainment Industry. 

We maintain a comprehensive database of Arab and Arab-American artists and professionals. We encourage industry professionals to contact us in order to connect with distinguished members of our community.