Luminato Festival Toronto is pleased to announce the appointment of Dian Marie Bridge as its new Associate Artistic Director. Dian will work alongside Naomi Campbell, Luminato’s Artistic Director, and the rest of the programming team to shape the festival, and ensure its positive contribution to the artistic community, locally, nationally and internationally. Dian will be responsible for leading Luminato’s year-round Artists in Residence Program which was launched in July of this year to support local artists, offering them opportunities to envision their work on an expanded scale, re-charge their imaginations and build stronger networks across the arts community. 

Dian Marie Bridge has been an active member of Canada's theatre and arts community for over 20 years, and is an award-winning. Toronto-based theatre maker and arts manager, with focuses on producing, directing and writing. Dian has worked with many arts organizations including Maison de Poivre Gallery, The Stratford Festival, Volcano, BAND Gallery, Obsidian Theatre, Canadian Stage, Mirvish Productions, Playwrights Guild of Canada, AfriCanadian Playwrights Festival and The Guthrie Theatre. 

An inaugural member of Stratford Festival’s Michael Langham Workshop, intern-Artistic Director with Obsidian Theatre and co-founding Artistic Producer of Cric Crac Collective and Vancouver’s 4Large Heads Collective, Dian’s directing work focuses on new play development and dramaturgy, while her intent as a producer is to bridge creative communities through peer-to-peer mentorship and the cross-pollination of ideas and practices. 

Announcing Dian’s appointment, Artistic Director Naomi Campbell said: “I am so excited to welcome Dian Marie Bridge as a permanent member of Luminato’s programming team, in the key role of Associate Artistic Director. I have known Dian for almost 20 years and every time we work together she leaves me wanting more of her time, talents, energy and ideas. I look forward to her counsel and collaboration, and I know that she will bring great insight and creativity to the role. We are very lucky indeed to be able to work with Dian in the months and years ahead.” 

Reflecting on her appointment, Dian said: “As a theatre artist and arts manager, I have always admired artists in their immense talent, intelligence and empathy. At this point in history, artists are demanding that we take a concerted look at who we are, the world we are in, and how we want to shape the world to come. My focus has always been to offer actionable support of artists and their work, from professional development programs to collaborative creations. Luminato has given me the chance to continue this work and an opportunity to have a national impact on the arts community. I am so thrilled, humbled and full of anticipation for what this new chapter as Associate Artistic Director holds.”

Dian is also the recipient of the inaugural Strombergs Family Realization Fund, through Nightwood Theatre, Stratford Festival’s Elliott Hayes Guthrie Award for Playwriting, and SummerWorks’ RBC Professional Award.

Photo: Dian Marie Bridge.