As all successful research indicates, case studies provide valuable insight, so you may find that there is presence even in absence.

Good luck

Thanks for your comment. It’s great to get long-form feedback that has really considered what we are up to.

I think you mistake the necessity of have a bold statement to debate for bias. A neutral statement would make debate impossible. The resolution tonight could just as easily be:

“Be it resolved that Boards of Directors should never overrule the Artistic Direction of a Theatre company”.

The point is the resolution cannot be:

“Be it resolved that the relationship between Boards and Artistic Directors is a complicated one with macro and micro ramifications.”

There would be nothing to debate.

I also think you mistake Aislinn’s disagreement with David Ferry for bias about the resolution. David and Aislinn differed on the question of the younger generation’s response to The Factory Situation. I think she and I are both pretty neutral on the question being debated tonight, which seeks to expand the debate outside of one specific instance.

If the resolution was:

“Be it resolved that the younger generation of theatre artists should be more engaged with the theatre community.”

Probably Aislinn wouldn’t be the right moderator. That’s not what w’re debating tonight though and is why she will do a wonderful and unbiased job.

“Be it resolved that Boards of Directors have the right and responsibility to overrule the Artistic Direction of a Theatre company”.

I hope that the debate fosters lively and much needed continued discussion on all aspects of this still unresolved problem – that being how some boards see fit to ‘govern’ a cultural organization that they are in place to support , and yet you undermine your own hopes for a fair, open-minded debate by offering up a statement that contains already biased overtones. Thus, it falls short of the clear, bold statement to which you aspire. Similarly, it might have been wise to bring in a moderator who stands on truly neutral ground to insure that your important initiative plays out with the greatest success possible.

Comments and criticisms aside, kudos to you for all the energy and vitality and passion you bring to the community, Aislinn, and I do wish you and the participants every wish in realizing a debate that is indeed full of listening, consideration and response.

As someone existing both on the periphery and at the heart of the territory being discussed tonight, I see that a primary trust has been broken and a lot of work will be needed to mend it. Hopefully, your efforts will go some way to achieving that.

Marian Wihak

Many people asked me, after the exchange of letters, if David and I were “okay” with one another. Well, we went on to work on Modern Times Stage Company’s production of The Lesson together, we’ve exchanged emails keeping each other up to date on some of our goings-on, and he complimented me on my spiffy new jacket last year.

David and I can disagree on an issue in a big way (and probably will again), and still consider one another to be allies in the greater scheme of things. So, too, can this community.