I really believe that a strong professional level in this country is the best that you can do in terms of supporting amateurs, younger students, and emerging artists. It really does have a trickle-down effect. If there are opportunities for professional companies to engage with local communities, particularly smaller communities, in a meaningful way, we always take advantage of them. When companies are coming through to present on the stage, we set up master classes for our children, to give them an opportunity for that exchange. But there are examples of more complete engagement, where a company can come in and spend a month in the community as an outside eye learning from the community, but also helping the community to see something that they may not have seen in themselves. There's a company called Coleman Lemieux et Compagnie that has done some really interesting projects. The one I know best is the Gros Morne project. It's a professional dance company and they spend a considerable amount of time. It creates true engagement that is a two-way conversation. I think funding those opportunities helps my level of student.
On May 13th, 2015. See this statement in context.