(photo credit: Michael Cooper)
We have to educate our friends, families and neighbours to see arts and culture as a part of the fabric of our society that is as integral as universal health care.
Arden Ryshpan has been an arts activist almost since birth. She is the daughter of actor, Howard, and her mother, Virginia, was an essential part of the ACTRA machine (as was Arden who served on its board). Now, as Executive Director of the stage-performers' association, she and her board are facing difficult times. But art thrives in Toronto (where the majority of Equity members live) even when the process of governing takes time.
CHARPO: What are the special issues CAEA faces in Toronto?
RYSHPAN: The issues really aren't that different from city to city, province to province. Of course, there are nuances and different concerns rise to the top of the list depending on where you live but for the most part, the struggles facing people trying to create theatre are the same everywhere. It just comes in a slightly different political package. The majority of Equity members live in Toronto. What is an issue for 30 people somewhere else is an issue for 300 here in Toronto so the sheer numbers tend to tip the balance. The issues aren't new - not enough work, not enough affordable rehearsal space for people trying to create their own work, our own policies that contain conditions that aren't that helpful to smaller companies, how to use media cleverly in order for the public to hear about your show and choose it over the huge number of other options they have here in Toronto - these issues are shared ,in some part, with every region in the country. One thing that is a bit different here is that we don't have the same kind of support for the arts from the Mayor that other cities do.
