Photographed above: Amanda Cordner
Image description: Black woman against a dark background, with a celestial crown of light above her head.
Dream Big: 2020/2021 season
message from
the outgoing artistic director
We all saw it. In the chaos of a global pandemic and worldwide civil unrest came the superficial letters of solidarity and black squares on social media. It was enraging that rather than challenge ourselves to imagine new systems of being, new ways to be in relationship with one another, some of us chose to tread the waters of our own egos and shame. Some of us continued to play nice when deep down we were frantically claiming what we believed was ours in a world of limited resources.
So you can imagine how clarifying it was to read this CBC Arts article by the brilliant Amanda Parris. In it, she urged us all to stop wasting our breath trying to explain systemic racism and instead keep our eye on the target of radical change.
“To be asked to prove and demonstrate what has long been articulated, documented and disseminated (in this instance, the existence of systemic racism) is not only insulting, it's a well-worn strategy designed to waste time,” Amanda explains. “We don't need more proof, and we don't need to wait anymore.”
Keeping my eye on the target, with Amanda’s words still resonating within me, I am pleased to present you a season which allows artists from the Black and Brown diaspora the chance to dream big. My prayer is that, in my final season as artistic director, by the time these pieces have been explored and incubated, they will emerge into a world drastically different from the present, in front of a live audience drastically different from who we currently are.
This season is all about action. About creating the world we want to live in. But we need your help. To make this vision a reality, I’m asking you to turn to action and donate to our newly set up Artistic Director’s fund. This fund will allow our season to flourish and also set up future Artistic Directors of b current to take action towards creating the world we envision.
Let’s be bold. Let’s be brave. Let’s dream big.
So you can imagine how clarifying it was to read this CBC Arts article by the brilliant Amanda Parris. In it, she urged us all to stop wasting our breath trying to explain systemic racism and instead keep our eye on the target of radical change.
“To be asked to prove and demonstrate what has long been articulated, documented and disseminated (in this instance, the existence of systemic racism) is not only insulting, it's a well-worn strategy designed to waste time,” Amanda explains. “We don't need more proof, and we don't need to wait anymore.”
Keeping my eye on the target, with Amanda’s words still resonating within me, I am pleased to present you a season which allows artists from the Black and Brown diaspora the chance to dream big. My prayer is that, in my final season as artistic director, by the time these pieces have been explored and incubated, they will emerge into a world drastically different from the present, in front of a live audience drastically different from who we currently are.
This season is all about action. About creating the world we want to live in. But we need your help. To make this vision a reality, I’m asking you to turn to action and donate to our newly set up Artistic Director’s fund. This fund will allow our season to flourish and also set up future Artistic Directors of b current to take action towards creating the world we envision.
Let’s be bold. Let’s be brave. Let’s dream big.
Catherine Hernandez, outgoing artistic director, b current performing arts