Earlier this summer, I wrote about why I love producing and how I got to the place where I knew I wanted to be a producer.

One thing that I didn’t mention in that entry, however, is my surprise at realizing that I have an interest in municipal public policy as it relates to the arts. Somehow, somewhere along the way, I realized that the interplay between a city and its arts and artists is a fascinating dynamic. They have such a symbiotic relationship — most cities are defined, in some way, by their arts; and at the same time, the arts in that city are shaped by the city’s treatment of them. They impact each other in all kinds of crazy, wonderful, frustrating ways, and neither can really thrive without the other.

That interest is one of the main reasons why I did my internship with CADA this summer. (The other reason being the contacts that I made, which will hopefully be significant when it’s time for me to find a job!) I loved the idea of working for the organization that liases between the city and the artists, being, in some way, a part of each, but also separate from both. It’s a unique governing structure, being neither a part of the city government nor a collective of artists speaking for themselves.

Or, in their own words, Calgary Arts Development champions the arts as a key driver of the long term success of our city. We act as a central hub that invests in, promotes, learns about and advocates for the arts to animate Calgary as a vibrant cultural centre.

I loved working there, and I’ve made no secret of the fact that I want to come back to CADA as a full-time employee, if there are positions available when I’m looking for a job this winter. A big part of what I loved, I realized, is the fact that CADA takes what I love about producing and does it on a larger scale.

I often refer to producing as being the “fairy godmother” for artists — providing the support and the means to make dreams a reality. Of course, it’s far more work than waving a magic wand, but that image is the idealized version of producing that keeps me going. Between granting, marketing, advocacy, and municipal support, that “fairy godmother” role is what CADA does for artists in Calgary across the board. It’s not just one producer working on shows for one company, or for a small section of people (although that kind of work is very dear to my heart, too, and I don’t know that I could fully step away from the hands-on work of producing theatre). Instead, it’s an organization providing funds, publicity, awareness, and support for the entire city’s arts community.

Seriously, I think that makes it just about the coolest company ever to work for. (And incidentally, Avenue Magazine agrees with me.)

It takes all kinds of artists and arts advocates to make CADA what it is, but as a producer, that’s what I love most about it.

Tags: calgary, Career, Culture, producing, work-life balance

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