This season I am gearing up to embark on a very exciting journey to different communities throughout the province of British Columbia. With help from the BC Arts Council, Green Thumb is sending me to different places across the province - big and small - to talk to super superintendents, educators, parents, and young people about the impact theatre has had on their lives, as well as to conduct research on how communities choose, program and afford to bring professional theatre in their schools. It isn’t a secret to our fellow touring TYA companies that school touring, high school in particular, has wildly decreased over the past decade with less money allocated towards the arts across all of Canada. The main thing we hear from educators and communities is that bookings have dropped because of a general lack of funding. I looking forward to having one-on-one conversations with educators in order to get a better understanding and grasp of the current market place and where it stands.

I am looking forward to speaking to many different people from varying backgrounds, getting to know all of the unique communities across this beautiful province, and mostly getting the chance to talk to a variety of people about the absolutely positive and life-changing effects that theatre has on young people. The information we gather this year won’t only benefit the greater community of British Columbia, but the greater community of touring TYA companies. As we are witnessing a severe change not only in the school touring circuit, but in the way our granting systems are allocating touring funds, the time to create close connections with our communities is as important as ever. As a theatre company that has been touring to schools for a long time, but often too busy rushing off to the next venue to truly connect with educators, Green Thumb is looking forward to building and strengthening relationships with the communities we serve.

Look for me in the Green Thumb van on the road throughout British Columbia this fall!

‍
- Bronwyn Carradine, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Green Thumb Theatre

‍

‍

‍