Amid a perilous recovery period for the performing arts, the Slaight Family Foundation announced on Wednesday a donation of $15-million to 22 Canadian theatre companies that’s being called “transformative” and an “answered prayer” by artistic leaders.
The intentions are to see as much income as possible flowing to on-stage and behind-the-scenes creators in the industry that was completely shuttered at the height of the pandemic, as well as to help get audiences back in seats, according to Gary Slaight, president and chief executive officer of the foundation.
The Slaight Family Foundation was established in 2008 by John Allan Slaight, who was a broadcast pioneer in Canada and leader in the music industry. It has a history of supporting charitable initiatives in a number of areas, including health care, social services and culture. Theatre companies across the country may have received significant government support during shutdowns through programs such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, but most of the pandemic programs geared toward performing arts companies have now wound down, just as urban theatre companies are embarking on what they hope to be their first full live, in-person seasons since 2018-19.