According to them, the process lacked transparency. The public was not consulted during the negotiations, and an employee formerly associated with the YES theater was appointed behind closed doors to a management position at the Sudbury Theater Center (STC), with no external posting.
The Sudbury Theater Center has been around for fifty years. (Archives)
Photo: Sudbury Theater Center
The two theater companies differ in their cultural offer. YES has an approach focused on musicality, and features a new generation of artists. Created 50 years ago, STC has a more general mandate, including teaching and dramaturgy.
For Matthew Heiti and Kim Fauhner, two well-known authors and educators in the Sudbury theater world, it is vital that the two companies remain distinct and independent.
However, the artistic director of STCAlessandro Constantini, stresses that a partnership with YES for the 2022-2023 season is the most logical approach
to help STC overcome their financial difficulties.
Recently, the Canada Council for the Arts cut its funding by 70% and threatened to eliminate it entirely if the STC does not take concrete action
explains the press release.
A parallel with the crisis at Laurentian
Theater has been one of the victims of the crisis at Laurentian University. The institution’s programs, slashed as part of the restructuring, have forced an exodus of artistic talent to other cities.
Laurentian’s lack of transparency in eliminating its funding for the arts has had a ripple effect on the theater community in Sudbury at large
according to Kim Fahner.
” If the government threatens to cut funding entirely, the logical response should be to enlist the help of the community, not to make decisions without consultation. »
For his part, Matthew Heiti affirms that members of the board of directors of STC do not truly represent the best interests of the STC
since the members, directly or indirectly associated with YES, have conflicts of interest in this dossier.
According to him, a model of collaboration to follow would be that of Place des Arts du Grand Sudbury, which brings together several cultural organizations under the same roof, while allowing each to maintain its own identity and programming.
Create more paid professional opportunities
In an open letter published last week, around 40 signatories expressed their dissatisfaction with the announcement of an imminent partnership between the STC and YES.
For the acting artistic director of the STCAlessandro Constantini, the letter signed by several friends and colleagues was difficult to read. It’s a very small professional environment and we all know each other.
But working together will ensure that we can offer more paid professional opportunities in theater in Sudbury.
he hammers.
In office for a few months, Alessandro Constantini replaces the former artistic director Jon McHenry, who announced his departure in a rather cryptic way last March.
Mr. Constantini is certain that he will succeed in convincing Sudburians of the merits of the partnership between STC and YES.
We will address community concerns in a press conference shortly. I am convinced that we will make the community happy when we have had the chance to express ourselves.
The press conference on this subject is scheduled for May 25.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca