CultureBrew.Art (CBA), aka DiverseTheatreBC, is envisioned to be a digital platform that will promote and foster intersectional interculturalism throughout the BC performing and media arts sector. Its central tool would be a fully searchable database of Indigenous and racialized theatre artists – performers, writers, musicians, dancers, filmmakers, directors, designers, opera singers, stage managers, and other performing and media arts professionals – to which engagers (theatre companies, film/TV casting directors, indie directors/producers, schools, social non-profits) may access as subscribers. Other digital tools and educational enhancements would be added as demand dictates and funding allows; once established, the goal is to expand nationally.
CBA will be a powerful tool for building a more inclusive theatre culture that more authentically reflects Canada by promoting Indigenous and racialized artists (IARA); increasing hiring opportunities for IARA; and fostering intercultural connection, community, and artistic collaboration. CBA would be searchable by gender, ethnic heritage (Indigenous, African, East Asian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, South Asian, mixed racial heritage), dialects, languages, artistic skills, and other fields as determined by research data gathered through community consultations.
In 2017, the support of a leading group of arts organizations was formalized through the establishment of the CBA Working Group, whose membership includes:
- Brenda Leadlay, Executive Director, BC Alliance for Arts + Culture
- Dawn Brennan, Managing Director, Urban Ink Productions
- Jay Dodge, Past President, Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) | Artistic Producer, Boco del Lupo
- Kenji Maeda, Executive Director, Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance (GVPTA)
- Phillip Djwa, Creative Technologist, Agentic Digital Media
- Scott Bellis, President, National Council, Canadian Actors' Equity Association (Equity)
- Valerie Sing Turner, Artistic Producer, Visceral Visions | Creative Director, CultureBrew.Art
We're working to expand CBA's Working Group to be more inclusive of organizations representing more disciplines. Also part of our team is Project Manager Anju Singh and Visceral Visions' Practicum Student Alyssa Hirose.
For those with privacy concerns, please note that CBA will not be a public database; artists and potential engagers will need to apply for log-in access. The privacy and safety of our artistic community is a priority; please see our privacy policy here.
It's been said that farmers don't grow crops; they create the essential conditions for crops to grow. CBA will be a vital tool to break systemic divides, disrupt institutionalized structures, and create conditions under which artists of colour – and by extension, the wider Canadian arts ecology – can thrive. We are therefore grateful for support from:
