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A Letter to Artists

There's been a lot of hooplah all up in my news feed lately regarding the suspended intake of little baby actors into the theatre program that gave birth to me. Now, I'm not going to lie to you: THIS ENRAGES ME! But apart from angry letter writing and the general, all around stickin' to the man I do on the daily, there isn't much else to be done. This may come as a shock to you, but I don't have the $12 000 000 required* to reinstate the funding cut by our provincial government. A decision I can only imagine they came to while sitting around an enormous marble table, asses resting heavily on chairs fashioned from the arms and legs of struggling artists while sipping bitumen out of champagne flutes. It's the only image that comes to mind.
*lol "required"

 So, instead of getting all self-righteous, and writing an entire blog post trying to preach the benefits of art and culture to an establishment that frankly, will never read this and more importantly will never care, I wanted to do something a little different. Besides, people who are much smarter than me have already made arguments that are more coherent and relevant than anything I can fathom. Anyway, I swear too much to be taken that seriously. Here's what I'm going to do instead. I'm writing another letter. A love letter. Beware, shit gets sappy.

Here it is: My Love Letter to the Arts Community.

Dear Artists:

You inspire me. I love that you get up every day and one of two things happens. Maybe someone pays you to do something that you love and that is beautiful and that you are amazing at. Good for you. Truly. Or maybe you're more like me and you spend the 9-5 in a daily grind in order to pay for your addiction, little by little. Good for you, too.

Whichever it is, I just want to tell you one thing. Maybe you don't hear it enough. I sure as hell don't. Don't ever stop. Don't stop creating. Don't stop doing those crazy, gorgeous things you do. Know that at the very least, I appreciate them.

Some people say that theatre is dying. Fuck them. It can't die. You won't let it. I know you won't. Because no other community is as accepting, generous and genuine as we. Well, maybe they are, but I don't know them. I do know you and I want to thank you.

I want to thank you for taking me in at the beginning of my journey- a sass-mouthed, brace-faced seventeen year old with an ego- and turning me into something better. It is because of your generosity of spirit, your straightforward feedback, and the loving, safe space that you created for me, that I have begun to see in me of the kind of person that I can love unconditionally. You did that for me.

I can't imagine there existing a group of people more suited to the job of, at its most poignant, holding a mirror up to nature. You entertain, you inspire, you fucking move people. You work harder, laugh louder, think deeper, feel more intensely than anyone else on this planet. And I love you for it.

I really love you. Remember that next time someone, anyone, even your own government, tries to turn its back on you.

Forever yours,

Megan Baldrey

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