The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the arts in Canada and Ottawa, and most particularly the performing arts. Actors, dancers and musicians have seen their audiences ordered to stay at home and shelter in place. They too have been unable to socialize with their peers, rehearse and present their work in person. Three panelists discuss their experiences during the pandemic and share their views on what is next.

The Moderator

Michael Bloom is a founder member of the OSFAS executive committee and former vice-president of the Conference Board of Canada. He has moderated many panel discussions for OSFAS.

The Panelists

Mara Brown holds a degree in fine arts from York University and in education from Trent. She is the first director of the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre in Ottawa. She came to the Centre from Toronto where she was Senior Operations Manager for the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir Manager.

Iain Moggach is a graduate of Carleton University’s College of the Humanities and George Brown College’s Theatre Arts Program. He is an actor, theatre director and currently the Artistic Director of Theatre by the Bay in Barrie Ontario.

Shara Weaver studied at the National Ballet School in Toronto and is co-director of Propeller Dance, a contemporary integrated dance company founded in 2007 by Shara, co-director Renata Soutter and Alan Shain. With roots in the community, Propeller Dance is currently artist-in-residence at the Great Canadian Theatre Company.

Zoom Access

Please contact Gail Larose at glarose0@gmail.com for Zoom link details.