***I don’t speak for JASNA GL.
@MuseAndDionysus released an important video on this topic from a black costumer’s perspective. Please watch.    • The Historical Costuming Community ha...  

Short Answer: Yes, but not in historical costume if you are a visitor.

All ad revenue I get from this video will be donated to The Slave Dwelling Project.

Unless otherwise noted, images from Locust Grove email about programs and events, and their YouTube channel.

https://locustgrove.org/
https://locustgrove.org/learn/theensl... for information about the enslaved
https://locustgrove.org/louisvillecoa...
https://locustgrove.org/janeaustenfes... for the Jane Austen Festival.
https://locustgrove.org/wp-content/up...
https://locustgrove.org/diversityequi...
https://locustgrove.org/wp-content/up...

https://slavedwellingproject.org/so-y...

Saying Their Names: Interpreting the Lives of the Enslaved at Historic Sites:    • Saying Their Names: Interpreting the ...  

Let's Talk About It!: Caisey and Sidney on Interpretation    • Let's Talk About It!: Caisey and Sidn...  

Black Lives Matter.

The largest Jane Austen Festival in North America is held at Locust Grove Historic Site, a former plantation. Sorry not sorry for the click-baity thumbnail, but this video is about how going to Locust Grove is an excellent educational opportunity, during the Festival or any other time they are open. But if we want to continue having a huge Jane Austen Regency costume event where many historical costumers go primarily to dress in their Regency finest and hang out, we need a separate venue for that; and what such an event committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion might look like.

Sidney Edwards and Caisey Cole worked as interpreters of the enslaved @ Locust Grove. Their efforts are valuable. There is joy along with the heavy in this insightful video, and it is well worth watching for anyone who goes to living history sites.

Locust Grove has several ongoing initiatives related to researching and educating the public on the enslaved at the site, including an Enslaved Interpretation Task Force, the Name the Enslaved Campaign, collaborations with Joseph McGill of the The Slave Dwelling Project, Cheyney McKnight of Not Your Momma’s History, and Michael Twitty of the Cooking Gene. They’ve also transformed the wood shop on site into an enslaved family dwelling to create an immersive experience and site for reflection; LG is in partnership with University of Louisville’s African American Theater Program, now directed by the aforementioned Sidney Edwards, and their new interpretive program, Unfolding the Story, directed by Crystian Wiltshire, starts soon and sounds amazing.

So, What would a diverse, equitable, and inclusive Jane Fest where all Janeites and costumers who wish to could dress in their Regency finest look like?
1. Well, it would not be on a site of clearly documented generational trauma for a marginalized group.
2. There would be clear DEI policies, clear procedures for incidents, and follow through/enforcement from the Festival Committee.
3. It would consistently feature diverse speakers on Jane Austen’s works, her time period, and writers of color.
4. Diverse workshop teachers would be invited and hired and paid properly.
5. The vendors invited to participate would be diverse.
6. Some of the proceeds would be donated to local or national social justice charities.
7. Some attendees otherwise financially unable to attend would be sponsored.

Do you have any additional ideas for how to make a future Jane Fest more inclusive? Ideas for where it could be held? Please let me know in the comments. The Festival at Locust Grove this year meets more of these criteria than the Festival ever did in the past, and I think it is possible to meet all of these criteria in the future.

LG's Community Guidelines
We understand that this year’s Festival theme may bring up uncomfortable
conversations. We believe that such conversations require courage and respect from
all involved, and that such conversations are necessary for growth, change, and
understanding. We are committed that our Festival spaces, both virtual and inperson, and these conversations remain safe and respectful for all Festival
participants. All Festival representatives will be asked to follow the guidelines
outline here.
Furthermore, we request the members of our community to follow and respect the
following guidelines:
• Be kind, inclusive, and welcoming to all participants in all spaces, including
virtual, in person, and on social media.
• Harassment, slurs, and hate speech of any kind will not be tolerated in virtual
or in-person spaces, and on social media, including group discussions, virtual
chats, social media comments, etc.
See link above for more.