Theatre Orangeville gets grant to support COVID-19 recovery

Theatre Orangeville has been awarded a $146,200 grant to help in the recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. The Resilient Communities Fund was developed to help non-profit organizations recover and rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19 to continue meeting the needs of Ontario communities.
“Theatre Orangeville has shown great creativity during this pandemic by finding new ways to reach out to our community and connect performers with their audience,” said Dufferin-Caledon MPP Sylvia Jones. “Through the generous Ontario Trillium Foundation Resiliency grant, they will be able to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of COVID-19.”
Live theatre is who Theatre Orangeville is! Telling stories, transforming lives, engaging with, and connecting to community. Yet, like so many others, 2020 brought unprecedented challenges for Theatre Orangeville. The forced cancellation of all the programming – leaving thousands of patrons and program participants with no venue or outlet for engagement or self-expression. Also, from actors and directors, to set designers and crew, the ripple effect on loss of employment and economic impact has been significant. Despite these challenges, Theatre Orangeville is continuing to preserve by adapting and finding ways to pivot practices to re-engage with our community.
With the help of the Resilient Communities Fund grant, which will be given out over a six-month period, Theatre Orangeville will continue to recover by investing in a digital infrastructure that will facilitate a hybrid artistic approach that unites all the diverse wonders of the live in-theatre experience with the accessibility and inclusion benefits of viewing online. This hybrid approach will launch during a Summer Series event starting in July 2021.
“The Summer Series event, will enable us to continue to move forward, creatively engage and entertain our patrons, attract visitors to the area and support our local businesses. It will allow us to remain vital as we present artistic creations that provide an outlet for creative expression and support theatre and local creative artists while remaining fully adaptable to any changes in public health restrictions,” said David Nairn, artistic director, Theatre Orangeville.
On May 21, Theatre Orangeville hosted a virtual Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Recognition event. Sylvia Jones, MPP for Dufferin-Caledon region and Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer Edward Bleaney were on hand to congratulate Theatre Orangeville.