Press

In a world where arts funding is at risk and young creatives are struggling to make ends meet, Paprika Festival thrives with a new model.

This May, Paprika Festival returns — and it’s all about celebrating fresh voices, bold ideas, and Toronto’s next wave of performers and theatrical creators.

This week on Stageworthy, host Phil Rickaby welcomes Amanda Lin and Julia Dickson, the co-leadership team behind the Paprika Theatre Festival, now celebrating its 24th season. Amanda and Julia share the story of Paprika’s evolution, recent strategic programming changes to prioritize artist and staff well-being, and the organization’s commitment to supporting emerging artists.

Listen to Paprika Artistic Producer Keshia Palm and General Manager Julia Dickson talk with Phil Rickaby on the Stageworthy Podcast ahead of #Paprika23.

The participants say having creative spaces like the Indigenous Arts Program for young Indigenous artists is important, especially in Ontario where the provincial government is making cuts to arts funding.

A focus for the past six years or so at Paprika has been ensuring that its programs are accessible across demographics.

Paprika is home to the freshest voices in Toronto theatre. It has been instrumental in attracting exceptional young artists to the theatrical medium because it provides such exceptional support, leadership and mentorship to theatre artists in their formative years. Looking back at the aspirations we had for Paprika in 2001 makes me realize just how much it has outstripped our initial vision. I am so proud that Passe Muraille will get a chance to host this seminal festival of new theatre works in 2014 and I welcome them all through our big red doors.

We are excited to see Paprika explore new spaces and relationships over the next few years – our community will benefit enormously from the energy these young artists bring to their theatres. Tarragon will continue to support Paprika in any way we can and we look forward to welcoming Paprika back sometime soon.

If your child is showing strong talent in something like sports, there’s no shortage of coaches and more serious teams to foster that passion, right? I have a few friends who’s kids are dynamos in figure skating and hockey. But what happens when you have child who’s interested in performing arts? The local drama club is great but for the kids who are more serious about the arts, where do you turn to?

I was a theatre geek in high school. I directed school plays, I went to arts camp, the works. But beyond school-sanctioned extra-curriculars, there wasn’t a lot of programming for kids like me who were interested in theatre. There were plenty of arts programs, but not so much theatre-specific. 

With a few months of reflection behind us, the real Occupy victory was ideological rather than political.