ABOUT HOLY CROW

MANDATE

Holy Crow Arts Society was founded by Justin Neal, a member of the Squamish Nation, for the creation and production of theatrical plays, community-engaged projects, creative collaboration projects, and commissions, all with a particular focus on Indigenous and Coast Salish artistic expression and stories that seek to uplift contemporary society.

MISSION

With an affinity for this clever, and at times haunting bird, Holy Crow Arts Society undertakes projects that support the research and creation of Neal’s artistic voice whilst supporting the development of production and touring of original theatrical works and collaborative artistic projects. Holy Crow Arts supports the development of educational workshops and community-engaged projects offered, originated, and developed by Neal and/or curated performance partners in and around the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam).

ARTISTIC VISION

Holy Crow was created out of a desire to address the dearth of contemporary & honest Indigenous characters on stage.

Holy Crow presents unique, artistically-challenging, and genre-defying work. Indigenous people are often stereotyped, characterized as spirits of the past, or placed in massively stylized, mythical contexts rather than portrayed as complicated, nuanced, and real people. Holy Crow’s work is committed to authentic voices of empowerment, to present dramatic storylines that place characters in opposition to a massive internal or externally systemic obstacle — be they addiction, poverty, racism, and/or oppression. And while artistic works that deal with difficult subjects are an integral part of Holy Crow’s DNA, the works aspire to explore serious themes in ways that are surprising, hilarious, disarming, truthful, and heartfelt.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Andrea Cownden
Jordan Waunch
Justin Neal
Robyn Gervais