Rita Davies

Strengthening Indigenous creative and leadership capacity within the arts is one of the critical tenets of Harbourfront Centre's long-term strategic goals. This mandate extends itself across the organization, from the presentation of Indigenous artists on its stages to the curators and educators they hire and the producers they work with.

The Factory Theatre Board of Directors has announced that Nina Lee Aquino will end her tenure as the Factory's Artistic Director. Nina has been a guiding force for the company for a decade during which she has mentored emerging talent, created a platform for diverse voices to be heard and a stage for the best in Canadian theatre.

Rita Davies, OAC Chair, today announced the selection of Carolyn Vesely as the Ontario Arts Council (OAC)'s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) starting January 2, 2020. Carolyn, OAC's current Director of Granting, will succeed Director & CEO, Peter Caldwell, who steps down in December 2019 after eight years as head of the organization. Peter informed the OAC board more than two years ago that he would not seek a renewal term.

THE TORONTO FRINGE FESTIVAL returns this summer with an extensive line-up of productions by award-winning artists, the popular POSTSCRIPT pop-up patio, and for the first time, will venture to the East End with 16 shows presented at main venue Streetcar Crowsnest. The TORONTO FRINGE takes place July 3 July 14, 2019 with 151 shows at 46 venues presented across the city, and all venues are fully accessible.

Inspired by Philippine mythology, Through the Bamboo is an action-packed adventure about the value of storytelling, and how families deal with loss. The world premiere of Through the Bamboo will take place at the Toronto Fringe July 3 - 14, 2019 at the Factory Theatre Mainspace.

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has released The status of women in the Canadian arts and cultural industries: Research review 2010-18, a report commissioned from a research team led by Dr. Amanda Coles, a Canadian on faculty at Australia's Deakin University.

The recipient of the 2017 Silver Ticket Award is highly regarded arts manager, community activist and activator Jane Marsland. The Silver Ticket was presented to Ms Marsland at the 38th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards, held Monday evening, June 26, in the Elgin Theatre of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre.

Rita Davies has been appointed Chair of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), following her nomination by the Government of Ontario.

Toronto, Canada

The George Luscombe Award was inaugurated in 1999. Revolutionary theatre founder and artistic director George Luscombe founded Toronto Workshop Productions in 1959, marking the beginnings of Toronto's alternative theatre movement. He was Artistic Director for 27 years at TWP.