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New Artistic Director Ryan Cunningham

Native Earth Performing Arts is pleased to announce our new Artistic Director Ryan Cunningham, whose fresh leadership and zealous vision will move NEPA into yet another exciting era of creating strong Indigenous work for our community and beyond.

“We were impressed and excited about many of Ryan’s ideas for Native Earth, which included multidisciplinary connections with the arts community and the national Indigenous community,” says Jed DeCory, President of NEPA’s Board of Directors. “We feel that with his energy and vision we will be able to continue on a path to a positive future.”

Ryan is a proud Métis (Cree/Scottish) from Edmonton, Alberta and has worked as a professional actor across Canada. He is the co-founder and Artistic Manager of Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts and the co-curator/producer of The RUBABOO Arts Festival, which kicks off on January 30th in Edmonton. He is co-founder of The Agkowe Collective which continues to bring the award winning play to communities across Canada and beyond. Ryan is a board member of two prominent national organizations: IPAA (Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance) and the CanDANCE Network.

Ryan recently performed in Yukonstyle at the Berkeley Street Theatre (Canadian Stage). As an actor he has performed in notable productions such as King Lear and The Ecstasy of Rita Joe (National Arts Centre), Urinetown: The Musical and Vimy (Firehall Arts Centre) and Next Year’s Man of Steel (Shadow Theatre). Ryan can be seen right now on APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) in the third season of the award winning series Blackstone, as well as Mixed Blessings, Earth: Final Conflict and Blue Murder.

Ryan’s involvement with Native Earth began as an actor in the fall of 2003 during the 16th Weesageechak Festival. He has been a featured actor in NEPA mainstage productions: Annie Mae’s Movement, Death of a Chief and Dreary & Izzy. Ryan was a Festival Associate at Native Earth supporting the 23rd annual Weesageechak Begins to Dance.

Native Earth welcomes Ryan to its community and family. We look forward to sharing his artistic vision in the months to come as he steps into our office as of January 6, 2014.

 Media Reference: Jessica Carmichael Phone: (416) 531.1402 E-mail: [email protected]

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