Letter to Audiences, brought to you by artists Natércia Napoleão and April MacDonald Killins, is an equity in theatre themed project that consists of a three-part journey with the Found Fest community. This project brings together academic research, lived experience, and action-oriented community engagement in a podcast that audiences will experience for the first time as a roaming auditory experience in Old Strathcona during Found Fest 2021. Our goal is to forge a conversation with amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton) arts patrons, showing where they have agency and power to profoundly shift the theatre industry.
STEP 1: SURVEY
First up, we invite audiences to stop by and participate in our YEG Theatre Patron Perspectives on Equity survey. Click here to participate! Findings will be released at a later date through Common Ground Arts.
STEP 2: PODCAST
Have you heard that theatre is going through a major reckoning in regards to equity? Click here listen to Natércia and April’s pilot episode of a new podcast exploring equity in Edmonton theatre.
Podcast is approximately 40 minutes in length.
This podcast includes a discussion of marginalization and the experience of historically oppressed groups in the theatre. The conversation is solution-focused and seeks to engage listeners in a found experience of reflection that may lead to action.
STEP 3: CONVERSATION
For this step of the process, you will be asked to join Natércia, April, and a small number of other community members for a solution-focused conversation about equity in theatre. Each slot will be limited to six participants (including Natércia and April) to ensure everyone has space to share, reflect, and ask questions. We encourage artistic leaders and those with proximity to artistic resources to join us for these conversations to check in about lived experiences and ongoing challenges to equity in Edmonton theatre. Book your conversation slot on Saturday, July 10 by clicking here.
This will be a seated, outdoor, distanced conversation at a private location near the Found Grounds in Old Strathcona. We encourage all participants to be masked throughout the event.
