We provoke change. We want theatre to be human and to be for everyone. So we open doors wider, create new practices, experiment with never-before-seen models. We take on systemic challenges and remove barriers, for audiences and for artists. To make a greater impact on the world around us. And it’s working.
artists trained
hours of childcare subsidized
hours of free space provided
Why Not Theatre uniquely pushes cultural boundaries with innovative theatre, giving a voice and platform to marginalized groups and reflecting the spirit of our community and culture.
–Sonia Chanchlani, Chanchlani Family Foundation
There aren’t many opportunities for today’s leaders in this indie performing arts world to come together to grapple with challenges and dive into solutions.
–Nikki Shaffeeullah, ThisGen 2018 Participant
"My deafness gives me the advantage of exploring the meaning of universal design where I can create theatre that is accessible for everyone regardless of signing or hearing ability."
–DAWN JANI BIRLEY, DEAF ACTOR, CREATOR, HOST
Why Not is asking all the right questions that keep theatres vital, current, and an essential part of the artistic life of our city and country. The Kingfisher Foundation is proud to support the Why Not team in their devotion to find new answers and their delight in the responsibility of nurturing creativity in artists and citizens.
–Martha Burns, Kingfisher Foundation
riser project
RISER Project is a collaborative producing model for theatre artists and companies to create and present new work. It was developed in order to address some of the challenges of producing independent theatre in Toronto, including the high cost of production, difficulty of building audiences, and inefficient use of resources and infrastructure. The first three years of testing the model were made possible with the generous support of the Toronto Arts Council’s Open Door Program, and RISER is currently supported by the Government of Canada, RBC Foundation, and TD Bank Group.
thisgen fellowship
Mentors foster connections, share experiences, and provide confidence and support in a person’s career. ThisGen Fellowship is an initiative that recognizes and elevates hard-working and promising artists through mentorship, helping bring folks to the next level in their career. In 2021, 15 BIPOC Fellows have been selected as part of the cohort, in either the Director Stream or the Cultural Leadership Stream. The Fellowship will support building relationships with leading artists and institutions from across the country.
space project
The current model for arts space relies on artists paying high rent for short-term use or making long-term commitments to build infrastructure. Why Not’s Space Project aims to provide greater access to space for artists who need it most by activating temporary and meanwhile spaces.
space project
As real estate becomes increasingly expensive, and space is at an unprecedented premium in Toronto, cultural spaces become harder to acquire and operate. We’re reducing barriers and providing greater access to spaces for some of the artists who need it most. Through unique cross-sector partnerships the Space Project is activating underutilized spaces across the city of Toronto for cultural use. Connecting property managers and community leaders, we’re finding a sustainable method of offering space free-of-charge. Now in its pilot phase, we are measuring the Project’s impact on artists and the communities they engage.
caregivers project
It’s no secret that the artistic community is losing voices in the prime of their artistic maturity due to the high cost of childcare. It’s true that not everyone wants to continue their career as soon as they become parents, but this initiative seeks to ensure the decision to pause or leave is truly a choice. Through our own internal pilot we have learned valuable information about how the cost of care, the stress of coordination, and intensive working schedules all contribute to the difficulty of simultaneous work and parenthood. We continue our internal research in 2020, as well as partnering in Balancing Act, an artist-childcare initiative spearheaded by Theatre Direct.
deaf artists
As a part of our commitment to making sure that stories are told from all perspectives, we are continuing to find new ways to collaborate with artists from the Deaf community. We met Dawn Jani Birley in 2017 when she played Horatio and translated our adaptation of Prince Hamlet. Since meeting her, we have found new ways to support the work of Deaf artists, including collaborating with Banff Centre and The Citadel Theatre in 2019 to create a training program for Deaf and hearing artists from all across the country. We continue to work with Dawn, and are currently devising methods of completely new and unprecedented Deaf artist and audience integration in our hearing-led company.
deaf artists
As a part of our commitment to making sure stories are told from all perspectives, we are continuing to find new ways to collaborate with artists from the Deaf community. We met Dawn Jani Birley in 2017 when she played Horatio in our adaptation of Prince Hamlet. Since meeting her, we have found new ways to support the work of Deaf artists, including collaborating with Banff Centre and The Citadel Theatre in 2019 to create a training program for Deaf and hearing artists from all across the country. We continue to work with Dawn developing her own company, 1S1, and are currently devising methods of completely new and unprecedented Deaf artist and audience integration in our hearing-led company.
