The current Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival will be around for quite a while.
The Festival's Board of Governors has announced it is extending Antoni Cimolino’s term as Artistic Director to 2022, which will be the Festival’s 70th season.
Cimolino’s tenure as Artistic Director began with the 2013 season. At that same time Anita Gaffney was appointed Executive Director, and they had the task of stabilizing the Festival financially after a $3.4-million deficit in 2012.
Together they created a strategic plan to strengthen the work on stage, reverse declining attendance, and set the Festival on a strong course for the future.
Since then, attendance has risen by 9 per cent; and there have been two years of operating surpluses amounting to $2.5 million. In addition, the Festival’s Endowment has grown to $71 million from $56 million.
