Foster Festival Annual Report 2017

Foster Festival Outreach
While our primary function is to deliver top-notch theatre to audiences in Niagara
and beyond, we are deeply invested in our community here in St Catharines.
artists in the delivery of top-notch
drama enrichment programming.
It is deeply gratifying to have made
an impact on young lives through
this initiative and to connect with so
many amateur theatre practitioners
in Niagara.
Our Local Heroes Initiative, introduced
in 2017, allowed The Foster Festival
to deliver free tickets and hospitality
vouchers to families in transition.
Working with Bethlehem Housing
and Support Services and the YWCA,
we were supported by Wise Guys
Charity Fund as lead sponsor and
Mahtay Café as hospitality sponsor.
Nearly 70 people took advantage
of this wonderful opportunity to
experience Live Theatre and enjoy
a post-show treat. We will continue
to build on these initiatives as a real
commitment to CompassionateStC
and to those in our region for whom
the arts are less accessible for reasons
beyond their control.
From the Board
“What the creative group has done for me
was provide me with a night every week
to look forward to. I met a new (good)
friend, and heard the voices of many other
people that have experienced similar things
as me. I’ve discovered how to cope with
my feelings through creative outlets that
have helped me as well.” - Hailey H, 2017
“This group was awesome for me because
of the friendships that I’ve made and the
knowledge earned. It really made a difference
coping with my anxiety and felt like
a safe place always.” - Sara, 2017
Mayor Sendzik’s challenge to create a Compassionate StC
resonated deeply and we have focused our outreach on
marginalized populations within our city and region. Our
outreach program, called The Drama Club, continues to
meet the needs of children and youth who experience
difficulties in their young lives by offering extracurricular
arts enrichment in partnership with other Not-for-Profits.
In 2017, we received dedicated
funding from The Rotary Club of St
Catharines and from our Founding
Sponsor Meridian Credit Union. Our
partnership with the Kristen French
Child Advocacy Centre of Niagara
has received a 3-year Ontario Trillium
Foundation Grow grant to expand
our programming. We offered and
led 2 12-week sessions for girls
who have experienced abuse and
we are currently modifying the
curriculum for indigenous youth
and for children aged 9 – 11. Our
Drama Club in partnerships with the
KFCACN and Niagara Children’s Centre reached a wide
assortment of children and youth in St Catharines and
Niagara region, delivering free arts enrichment programs
using highly qualified Niagara-based artist/instructors
who were paid for their participation.
In 2017, we renewed our partnership with Rodman Hall
Art Centre to deliver Adult Drama Club – a tremendously
well-attended monthly evening series of Scene Study
clinics.
“I went to the Old Love show and had a
wonderful time! The other day I was praying
that I would have an opportunity to attend
the last show and here you are with tickets. I
am really looking forward to the show”
- Local Heroes participant from the YWCA
It’s hard to convey how extraordinary is the success of The Foster Festival after two seasons. In terms of artistic
achievement, it is mounting ambitious productions of Norm’s work of the highest professional calibre. With
three world premieres under our belt and two more to follow in 2018, the Niagara Region is seeing the original
versions of these exciting works that will set the standard for years to come. In terms of box-office success, the
Festival is solidifying a loyal audience that would be the envy of any new arts organization. In terms of community
presence, the Festival (largely through the tireless work of Patricia and Emily) has become a vital and active
institution in St. Catharines and the larger community. It is very gratifying to be a part of this adventure and I
hope that you will all take pride in this wonderful thing that has finally happened in downtown St. Catharines.
2017 Board of Directors
Board Executive
Glen McCann, Chair
Janis Barlow, Co-Vice Chair
Candice Turner-Smith, Co-Vice Chair
Lisa Matheson, Treasurer
Deborah Slade, Secretary
Board Directors
Tom Arkell
Adam Bornstein
Renata Difilippo
Board Message
- Glen McCann, Board Chair
It’s been an absolute privilege to support the Festival’s PR
strategy over its first two seasons, witnessing media interest
and tickets sales flourish. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity
to join the increasingly diverse Board of Directors and play
a larger role in the Festival’s burgeoning impact at the
community level. The addition of the Local Heroes initiative
was a clear extension of the company’s well defined mission,
vision and values. Very much looking forward to building on
last year’s achievements and working hard to promote the
arts throughout 2018.
Rosemary Drage-Hale, Past Chair
Drama Club provided almost 75 hours of free arts enrichment
throughout the year and contracted more than 20 regional
Rod Hollick
David Hulley
Costin Manu
- Adam Bornstein, Board Director
Paddy Parr
Page 9 | Foster Festival Annual Report 2017 Linda Smith
Foster Festival Annual Report 2017 | Page 10