Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces the next phase of its equity and inclusion initiative, Academy Aperture 2025. The first phase outlined specific goals for the Oscars® and Academy governance, membership, and workplace.
Oscars:
The Academy will encourage equitable hiring practices and representation on and off-screen to better reflect the diversity of the film community.
Collaborating with the Producers Guild of America, the Academy will create a group of industry leaders, appointed by David Rubin, including A2020 Committee chair DeVon Franklin, to develop and implement new representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility by July 31, 2020.
Governance and Membership:
Moving forward all governors, executive members and staff will have annual mandatory unconscious bias training will be mandatory. All 9,000+ members can also participate in this training.
The Board of Governors passed a resolution to amend the Academy bylaws to enact maximum governor term limits. Governors will be allowed to serve on the board for a lifetime maximum of 12 years.
The Academy will host a series of panels called “Academy Dialogue: It Starts with Us” open to all, with conversations about race, ethnicity, history, opportunity, and the art of filmmaking.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures:
The Academy Museum will create spaces highlighting the experience of traditionally underrepresented or marginalized people. It will work with the Inclusion Advisory Committee, to help develop public programs, exhibitions, collections confronting racism, highlight the work of diverse artists, and expose historical omissions.
Workplace Culture:
The Academy will establish an Office of Representation, Inclusion and Equity to oversee the Aperture 2025 initiative and work with the Board of Governors. The office will be led by Academy COO Christine Simmons, in partnership with Lorenza Muñoz,
The Margaret Herrick Library, Academy Film Archive, and Academy Museum staff will have access to newly created Employee Resource Groups (ERG) to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The organization’s current initiatives and programs include Academy Grants Program, Academy Gold, Action: The Academy Women’s Initiative, Academy Gold Fellowship for Women, Academy International Inclusion Initiative, Student Academy Awards, and Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. screenwriters.