artsREACH

About -

Kate brings her artistic talents as a Visual Arts Instructor and Media Designer.

Zosha is a talented visual artist and videographer; she brings a wealth of art projects and ideas to our team.

Matthew is a founding member of Victoria’s Theatre SKAM and serves as the innovative company’s Artistic Producer. He has acted in numerous roles in SKAM’s 21-year history. He directed Smalltown: A Pickup Musical and wrote and performed in Cariboo Buckaroo. Matthew co-created the show Fashion Machine, where arts professionals train local kids for a performance where they remake select audience members’ outfits. The show now tours internationally. Matthew trained at Malaspina College and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria. He completed a Directors Masterclass with training from Peter Hinton, Martha Henry and Josette Bushnell-Mingo. He has also studied under Jillian Keily during an Intensive in choral and ensemble work. Previous teaching experience includes classes for Kaleidoscope Performing Arts School, Kate Rubin Theatre and Drama Studio, and several Victoria dance schools. His work with artsREACH allows him to bring aspects of his creation work and elements of shows he has seen at international theatre festivals to children in classrooms. Fun.

Since 2003, Valerie has been engaged in a multi-disciplinary art practice that includes performance, video, photography, sculptural installation, and collage. Her work has been both collaborative and solo. She participates in residencies around the world collaborating with indigenous artists and groups. Many of these groups are youth and children. When home she teaches/mentors children and youth at various public and alternative schools and at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. Valerie grew up in the Yukon and currently dwells in Victoria, B.C.

Kate is our program co-ordinator, who sets up workshops with over 25 schools and five Indigenous Nations. As well she supports our instructors, organizes supplies and is on our team for both strategic planning and fundraising.

Kate was a professional Stage Manager for 16 years before starting her new career as a Mom of 3. Kate graduated the Technical Production of Theatre program from Ryerson in Toronto. She has worked across the country with small theatre groups as well as larger companies like the Belfry Theatre, Tarragon Theatre, The Sudbury Theatre Centre, the Globe Theatre, Ford Centre in Toronto and more. Kate has directed 3 full school shows at the elementary school level. She is on Victoria’s Story Theatre Board of Directors. Kate is thrilled and honoured to be working with the top-notch instructors at artsREACH. Blending her love of children and theatre is the best job of all!

Anisa is passionate about young people and sees in them the greatest treasure of our communities. She strives to mine the gems of their hearts and to encourage all those she works with to develop their capacities to contribute to the betterment of the world. The arts are a means of engaging both the heart and the mind, cross all borders and languages in short, the arts can unite! With an MFA from Edinburgh University of Art Anisa set out to attempt to express through visual means the intangible, a trace of the Traceless and continues to seek out the Ideal in all relationships whether with materials or with people. She shares her efforts in many spaces from gallery to living room, to conversation at the check out counter. She lives with her husband Andrew and their daughter in Victoria, BC.

ArtsREACH is fortunate to have the administrative work that Kristen Cleaver provides to the organization. Kristen has been with us for several years and is a keen and dedicated supporter of artsREACH and the work we do for the children in schools.