Community Work

I’m an active volunteer both in my local community and with more far-reaching groups; here’s a list of some of the things I’ve been up to.

Current Community Work

Peterborough Folk Festival – Executive/Artistic Director
Entering its 20th year in 2009, the PFF is a three-day festival in the heart of beautiful downtown Peterborough, drawing over 8,000 attendees annually.  As Director, I head the organization, and am responsible for day-to-day operations and funding as well as artistic vision and long-term growth.  Over the past two years, myself and a team of dedicated volunteers have increased funding by 40%, re-branded the festival, and worked to restructure the organization.  Challenging and rewarding in ways I could never have imagined, I’m honoured to be returning in 2010 for my fourth term as Director.

The City of Peterborough’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Committee
An advisory board made up of representatives from local cultural institutions such as the Canadian Canoe Museum and the Peterborough Public Library, I sit on the ACHAC as both a private artist and as the Director of the Peterborough Folk Festival.  It’s always a pleasure to sit down with my colleagues in these sectors and discuss the directions of arts, culture and heritage planning in the city. I’m currently serving my second 4-year term, and I sit on the following subcommittees:
Interim Public Art Subcommittee –  Shaping future policy for public art funding, maintenance, and supervision.
Artsweek Subcommittee – Providing vision and leadership to reshape Artsweek Peterborough.

Trent Valley Archives ‘Eerie Ashburnham’ Ghostwalks
I love theatre, but my current schedule leaves me without the time to rehearse and perform in traditional plays; instead, I’m volunteering my time as the leader of the Trent Valley Archives’ heritage and history walk ‘Eerie Ashburnham’ in 2011.  This gives me both an opportunity to perform and the time to indulge my love of local architecture and my obsession with heritage neighbourhoods.

Past Community Work

Shelter Valley Folk Festival – Board of Directors
A volunteer from its inception in 2004, I joined the SVFF Board of Directors in February 2008 and served until 2010.  One of Canada’s best-loved festivals, SVFF is an experience of community grassroots culture that is not duplicated anywhere.  It was pleasure to be a part of this dynamic, hard-working Board and to contribute on a higher level to a festival that has given me so much.

Peterborough Civic Awards Committee
Joined this committee in 2009, helped to revise the current Civic Awards nominations proccess.

I’ve volunteered for many other organizations; below is a partial list of some groups I’ve done work with.

Six Shooter Records
Easter Seals Canada
Ontario Council of Folk Festivals – Board of Directors
Artspace Artist-Run Centre – Board of Directors
Trent Radio Studio C Steering Committee
Sears Ontario Drama Festival – District Festival Coordinator
The Gainey Foundation
Peterborough Canadian Irish Club – Secretary, Board of Directors
Lang Pioneer Village
Peterborough County Museum and Archives
Peterborough Arts Umbrella
Peterborough Folk Festival
Peterborough Theatre Guild
Market Hall Performing Arts Centre
Showplace Performing Arts Centre
Peterborough Festival of Trees
Peterborough New Dance/Public Energy
Shelter Valley Folk Festival
Peterborough Civic Awards Committee
Max’s Cabaret
Ship of Fooles Theatre Company
Mysterious Entity Theatre