At a time when local stages are dark, Theatre By The Bay (TBTB) can see the light from behind the curtain a little more today.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) has given a 26-month, $370,900 Grow Grant to TBTB to expand the number of playwriting and theatre production mentorship opportunities.
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey, in a media release, stated why the grant was so important to the local arts community.
“Difficult times such as these remind us all of the intrinsic value of artistic expression,” said Downey. “They provide participants a creative outlet, and the audience an entertaining escape.
"I am pleased to see Theatre by the Bay continue to innovate and grow our local arts community. I am happy to see their efforts supported by the province, and cannot wait to see their next lineup of exciting productions," said Downey.
The theatre’s artistic director, Iain Moggach, told BarrieToday the grant is welcome news - especially during the current COVID-19 health crisis.
“It means that Theatre by the Bay is absolutely going to survive this pandemic,” said Moggach. “But, perhaps more importantly, receiving this grant means that, when theatres are ready to reopen and groups can gather once more, we will have more employment and training opportunities for local artists than ever before.
"As a company which is so committed to developing the local community, I hope this will be a sigh of relief for our local and aspiring professionals," said Moggach.
Moggach and his team have been instrumental in the development of many impactful educational programs. The Barrie Theatre Lab and the Indie Producer’s Co-op are just two initiatives from TBTB that have helped aspiring writers and producers over the years.
The new grant will help expand on the work already done by the arts group as well as help create new initiatives.
“This grant is going to support these programs, but also launch some new ones to flesh out what we are already doing,” said Moggach. “Most excitingly, it is also going to lead to the creation of a festival of new works.”
Moggach said thanks to so many talented artists in the community, he believes a festival would provide a platform for them, but added such an event “is a ways off.”
Programs will begin in the fall of 2020. More information will be announced on Theatre by the Bay’s website, newsletter, and social media channels, as it becomes available.
