by Jini Stolk
Inquiring minds want to know:
Q. Why is arts access (for Deaf/hard-of hearing and blind/low-vision audiences) not catching on in Toronto?
A. Good news! Native Earth Performing Arts is working to provide surtitles, ASL Interpretation and audio description at performances of the upcoming Rutas Panamericanas Festival, produced by Aluna Theatre at the Aki Studio Theatre at Daniels Spectrum in Regent Park. According to the wonderful Rae Powell, NEPA’s Accessibility and Health and Safety Program Project Manager, the company wants to present a way of incorporating accessibility that makes artists go ‘yeah, we can do that!’ How great is that?
Q. What was the hippest, happiest, new theatre launch in recent memory?
A. That’s easy: BOUNCE, The Theatre Centre’s Informal Ball to support their new West Queen West arts hub. Why was it so great? Well, everyone got their own poem, written just for them; and there was dancing, good food, exciting performances, famous volunteers and touching speeches. But also because the crowd was new, young, and very enthusiastic: a good omen for the future success of The Theatre Centre’s first permanent home.
Q. Is there still time to make a New Year’s Resolution?
A. Yes, anything before the end of January counts. Why don’t you consider Creating a not-to-do list – which unfortunately doesn’t actually free up all that much more time to spend at the gym, but offers some interesting ideas on how to create your own perfect, balanced, schedule. I am planning to build three process goals into my daily calendar – “the small tasks that, when accomplished every single day, will result in the eventual achievement of one’s end goal.” (…start to write a blog post, write a blog post, finish writing a blog post.)
