Welcome to The Digital Inkblot

by Jamie Dunsdon

Are we a quiet theatre community? I’m speaking mostly of the artists here, since suggesting that Canadian audiences are quiet would be a mistake that only Billy Bob Thornton can really appreciate. But what about the theatre artists, specifically those here in Calgary? Are we…shy? Are we apathetic? Apolitical? Those of you who have spent any time in the east recently, especially Toronto, know that the politics of the industry seem to be a little more public out there, the artists a little more charged when it comes to discussing the issues. Even BC is all abuzz these days, though I’m sure we’d prefer to hear their voices under better circumstances.

But Calgary has an energetic, active, diverse body of artists!  I got to see this last year when the Prime Minister made some ignorant comments about the value of arts in Canada.  Even Calgary, quiet Calgary stood up as Calgarian artists took part in the RIP protest and Wrecking Ball events!  So why isn’t there more daily, public discourse about the issues that face our local theatre community? Where are our letters to the editor, our passionate blogs now?

Have we grown complacent? Probably a little. And yet, there does seem to be an interest in a real discussion about the issues that face Calgary theatre artists. Take the All Stages Magazine published by Theatre Alberta. For those who don’t subscribe, Editor David van Belle has completely madeover the old Theatre Alberta newsletter, and transformed the quarterly publication from a handful of articles that I felt obligated to read to a wealth of articles that I look forward to reading. It still provides many of the same services as the old newsletter, but now dares to talk about things that theatre artists care about! It has a voice! The winter 2009 issue, for example, was titled “Money: The Thing We Always Talk About. The Thing We Never Talk About.” If you don’t subscribe to ASM, you should really take a look.

All Stages Magazine

But of course we now live in the age of status updates, which means that we not only have the ability to have e-discussions in real time, but also that there is an expectation that this should be available. Maybe it’s not that we are a quiet community, then, but instead that we lack a single forum for the kind of discussion we’re already eager for.  Enter Verb Theatre's blog, The Digital Inkblot.

My hope is that you will find this blog not only a resource for discussing the questions that face us all, but also an outlet for your open letters to the theatre community. My hope is that you will have fun with this blog and take this opportunity to have your voice heard. Visit the Inkblot and see what you can see!  And then...Take Action!