Through learnings with Balancing Act’s Level UP!* Compassion Fund pilot project in 2023/24, Imago Theatre is committing to continue prioritizing and fostering a culture of care: a workspace that acknowledges the importance of life/work balance while encouraging compassion and transparency.

Our goal is to engage in conversation with the staff, arts workers, and artists at the beginning of any contractual relationship to see if there are care and access needs we can support. The specific purpose of this support is to alleviate the weight on artists and arts workers, navigating a precarious industry, and to enable them to focus on their art and work.

Pathways to Care

Imago values a relational one-size-fits-one approach and engages in early and ongoing conversations around care or caregiving needs. Based on what resources are available to Imago, the quantity of requests, and a reciprocal commitment to mindfulness and fairness, our culture of care can include access to the following:

● Resources - Researching and sharing resources and connections to information, people and organizations around individual care needs.

● Flexibility - Engaging in accommodating access needs and flexible work arrangements within the individual staff, artists and arts workers’ contractual framework.

● FinancialSupport - Supporting caregiving /care-related costs through a small fund each season.

Pathways to Conversation

We recognize that initiating a conversation around care and access needs can be vulnerable for staff, artists, and arts workers who are beginning a contract with us.

In order to communicate that this dialogue is a welcomed one, Krista Jackson (Artistic and Executive Director), and Danielle Laurin (Managing Producer), will inform staff, artists and arts workers about our commitment to care at the time of offer.

Staff, artists and arts workers have four pathways to begin a conversation:

● Email us - Krista: krista@imagotheatre.ca / Danielle: dani@imagotheatre.ca

● Phone us - 514-274-3222

● Fill out and submit this short form below. It will be sent directly to Danielle. She will then reach out to begin the care conversation.

● Imago also has an Ombudsperson, Caroline Lemay. They are an impartial third party available for an initial care conversation. Read Lemay’s letter to artists and arts workers here.

Conversations can be scheduled in person, by phone, or a zoom call.

Once we have had an initial conversation, we will respond in a timely fashion as to whether or not we can meet the need and/or to which extent we can support.

Audience Care

Imago also prioritizes audience care when presenting shows with content that can be difficult to witness. Our ongoing commitment includes care initiatives on a show-by-show basis. Examples of past audience care include:

● Relaxed Performances.

● A digital access guide available on our website prior to the performance.

● A lobby display of design materials.

● A chill-out space in the lobby with tea, essential oils, liquid smudge and printed care resources for audience members to have a quiet moment should they need one.

● A post-show email with care resources for our audience.

*Balancing Act’s Level UP! supports performing arts organizations, companies, collectives, festivals, residency programs and project-based initiatives as they explore the creation of policies and practices that support parents, caregivers and care needs.