All the arts are labour-intensive, and theatre in particular because it's live performances and because it's usually more than one person. Emerging artists are going to exist in any culture over time and over history. What they need is space. As a person who used the Poor Alex Theatre and all these tiny spaces in Toronto, I know they need space. It's going to happen no matter what.
The other thing I see constantly is that independent art theatre-makers will get a grant of possibly $5,000 or $8,000, and they spend most of that in Toronto on space. I'm trying to figure out how on earth we can do it so they don't have to spend money on administrators and producers.
In particular, they just need space. They need a clean, safe space where they can make work and be creative. They need a black box, and they can make anything anywhere. A place where they're honoured, revered and cared for is inspiring. They're acknowledged for what they do by opening up the doors.
The University of Regina just started a residency program where their final year class cohort of emerging artists were residents in our company. It was great for our company to have those young people around. When they were in that space, they made something they could aspire to from being in a professional theatre environment. It was great for this company. We had an intergenerational story happening in our space.
Theatre artists need space to make work, and they will make it. They'll be independent. They're naturally entrepreneurial, so that's why a roof, walls and doors are really great.