friends of dufferin grove park
Clay and Paper Theatre Call for Support

Clay and Paper Theatre Calls for Support to Establish
The Canadian Centre for Puppetry & Theatre Arts

posted February 9, 2005

The Friends of Dufferin Grove Park received the following letter from long-time park participants and supporters David Anderson and Andrea Dawber:

Dear Neighbours and Friends of Clay & Paper Theatre,

As many of you are aware, Clay & Paper Theatre is busting out of the Field House in Dufferin Grove Park. Also, as the NFB documentary film Citizen Z humourously pointed out last year, being a guest of the park is a tenuous situation.

Nevertheless, our ever-growing crisis for space has delivered us a wonderful opportunity. In the process of seeking a permanent home for ourselves, we have been overwhelmed by a growing number of interested and willing supporters who wish to assist us. In addition, half a dozen fellow puppetry companies based in Toronto have asked to join us on our quest. Jumblies Theatre, Puppetmongers, Shadowland Theatre Inc., the Red Pepper Spectacle, Cardboard Heart and Zagadka Zoological Society wish to co-found The Canadian Centre for Puppetry & Theatre Arts with Clay & Paper Theatre.

We need a Canadian Centre. Nothing like this presently exists. We have a pool of senior artists who are ready to pass on their expertise. The moment is now to build a legacy for the next generation of theatre and puppetry. If we don't take advantage now, the opportunity will be lost forever.

Clay & Paper's artistic director and fellow members of Toronto's prominent puppetry and theatre companies have international reputations and working relationships with artists from around the world. This Canadian team of theatre artists is most capable of developing a thriving theatre arts centre for our city, our province and our country. We have an untapped pool of creative wealth with national and international experience ready to mentor young theatre and puppetry artists; however, these senior artists are aging, and the time is now for them to pass on their theatrical knowledge and expertise.

Two weeks ago, our Member of Parliament, the Honourable Mario Silva, graciously hosted an evening of community discussion on the future of Clay & Paper Theatre. Neighbourhood accountant Carlos Teixeira provided us with his office boardroom at 1015 Bloor Street West, and a hearty group braved the coldest day of the year to join us. At the same time, on a local level we have received exceptional support and assistance from the city. Special thanks are in order for our talented new Councillor Adam Giambrone, his terrific assistant Kevin Beaulieu and to the city's Lynda MacDonald, Manager of Community Planning for South District. Together as a city team, they first put forward the 1908 heritage Carnegie library building at 1115 Queen Street West as a possible home for Clay & Paper last spring.

We are planning our next community meeting for Tuesday, April 5th, (location TBA) and at that time we hope to present a comprehensive plan for establishing The Canadian Centre for Puppetry & Theatre Arts. We wish our new home to become an arts and culture destination, a performance venue, an educational facility with a puppetry school providing programs and public workshops, and a creative incubator for puppetry and theatre artists.

Our vision includes becoming a tourist destination as a national and international centre hosting artists and theatre companies from across the country and around the world. We are discussing sistering with a number of international arts centres from Bulgaria, France, Korea, Japan, the Republic of Georgia and the United States.

For over a decade, Clay & Paper has been building community throughout Toronto, and now is the time for Toronto to build a community of support for Clay & Paper Theatre as we venture forward on our quest to establish the Canadian Centre for Puppetry & Theatre Arts.

We look forward to working with you, our neighbours and friends, fellow artists and theatre companies, community businesses, funders, residents' groups, the city and various government bodies. We welcome your participation, suggestions, feedback and ideas as we work to establish The Canadian Centre for Puppetry & Theatre Arts.

Yours truly,

David Anderson and Andrea Dawber
Artistic Director and Development & Communications Manager
Clay & Paper Theatre