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DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Established in 2020, the Diversity & Inclusion Working Group at the Academy Software Foundation breaks down barriers to access and increases connections among participants in the Foundation’s projects, the larger community, and the VFX & Animation industry. The working group brings together software engineers/developers, marketing/communication professionals, students & educators, and anyone else passionate about Diversity & Inclusion. 

No software or open source experience is necessary to participate in the working group – just an open mind and willingness to learn. If you’re a student, check out our Summer Learning Program or VFX Careers Webinars! If you’re a professional, check out our Academy Software Foundation initiatives and drop by a meeting to learn more. 

Slack

Share information, ask questions and discuss pressing topics on our #diversity channel with a diverse community of professionals, students and professors.

Mailing Lists

Sign up for the Diversity & Inclusion mailing list to be notified about upcoming meetings and other items of interest.

Meeting Calendar

Join the Diversity & Inclusion Working Group meeting on the first Wednesday of every month at 12:00 pm PT.

Wiki

Explore the latest updates on Diversity & Inclusion working group initiatives, read past meeting minutes and explore the Summer Learning Program.

INITIATIVES

The Working Group’s initiatives are centered around three pillars:

Diversity in the Foundation

Ensure there is diverse leadership and membership across the Academy Software Foundation and its projects.

Recent Initiatives:

Governing Board Succession Plan

External Outreach & Education

Encourage high school and college students to pursue technical careers in the motion picture and media industries and provide them with opportunities to participate in open source projects and learn from experienced software engineers. 

Recent Initiatives:

Summer Learning Program

VFX Careers Webinars

Member Guidance

Provide guidance and resources for Foundation members to educate their colleagues on open source and D&I topics. New initiatives are in the works. Contact [email protected] to get involved.

Recent Initiatives:

Inclusive Language

BEHIND THE SCREENS

Read more about our community members and learn about different technical careers available within the motion picture industry.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BlogDiversity & InclusionMembersWrapping Up Another Successful Summer Learning Program
September 10, 2024

Wrapping Up Another Successful Summer Learning Program

Some Summer Learning Program participants attending SIGGRAPH 2024 We recently wrapped up the Academy Software Foundation’s fourth annual Summer Learning Program, with 20 student participants from around the world joining us to learn more about coding and potential technical career paths within visual effects and animation. This year’s Program ran…
Summer Learning Program HeaderBlogDiversity & InclusionAnnouncing the 2024 Summer Learning Program!
March 6, 2024

Announcing the 2024 Summer Learning Program!

The 2024 Summer Learning Program will include 20 participants from around the globe that identify as a minority or a member of any underrepresented community and are looking to explore technical careers in animation and visual effects.
BlogDiversity & InclusionCommunity Support Needed for New Accessibility Initiative
August 4, 2023

Community Support Needed for New Accessibility Initiative

We’re excited to share a new community-led initiative to improve accessibility across our Foundation projects to better support people with disabilities.  “As an open source community it’s crucial for us to work together to ensure that our projects, tools, workflows, and data are truly accessible to all,” said Alexander Schwank,…
BlogDiversity & InclusionAcademy Software Foundation Kicks off 2023 Summer Learning Program
June 7, 2023

Academy Software Foundation Kicks off 2023 Summer Learning Program

We’re thrilled to officially kick off our third annual Summer Learning Program! Organized by the Diversity & Inclusion Working Group, this fast-growing program aims to provide practical skills and mentorship to underrepresented students and young people looking to explore technical careers in the animation and VFX industries. This year’s program…