Bard on the Beach relies on an incredible team of staff, Company members, and volunteers to help put on our Festival every summer, and our People of Bard series spotlights just some of the wonderful individuals who make our work possible. If you missed our last People of Bard post on Backup Venue Technician Kajetan Sadowski, be sure to check it out here.
Today, we’re shining the spotlight on Bard Associate Director of Development Roxanne Finnie! Roxanne joined the company earlier this year and has since become an integral voice in our Development department. We’re so grateful for the leadership and experience that Roxanne brings to Bard, and we’re thrilled to be chatting with her today!
Can you tell us about your current role and what brought you to Bard?
I am the Associate Director of Development. I started at the end of April this year just as things were ramping up to the Festival. It was a great time to join as I was able to see all the work involved in prepping and building out the Site. I had volunteered at Bard in 2019 and loved the experience, so I was excited to see the posting for this position. My background is a mix of membership, sponsorship, and event production with other non-profit organizations, so this was a perfect fit.
What do you enjoy the most about your role?
I love the variety in my role. No day is the same and I’m usually working on a variety of different things at once. I also enjoy the collaboration and interaction with all the different teams at Bard. Working in Development, you work closely with so many teams, which gives me this incredible opportunity to understand how all the pieces fit together and to brainstorm creatively. Never having worked in theatre before, there is so much I am learning and so much creativity in every person I interact with. I also love working with the volunteers. They are such a wealth of knowledge and experience!
What were you looking forward to the most this Season?
I was looking forward to seeing the Festival come together from beginning to end. There is so much that goes into creating the Festival every year. I’m always excited for a peek behind the curtain (pun intended) to see how all the magic happens. Of course, I was also looking forward to seeing all the productions and I was especially excited about Measure for Measure! When I heard about the concept, set design, and music for this production, I was so thrilled, and I was not disappointed!
Do you have a favourite memory so far from your time at Bard?
I’ve been having a great time this summer so it’s hard to pick one. I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work with our sponsors on their Marquee events and they have all been so much fun. It is such a great experience to see people come out on a beautiful evening to enjoy food, drink, and a great performance. One person who attended an event emailed me after the show, saying, “I certainly felt much happier and lighter after the show—the power of theatre!” That made my day!
When you aren’t helping to put on a Festival, what do you like to do in the summer?
For the most part I stay close to home in the summer months. I really love Vancouver during this time of the year. There is so much to do, and I live close to the beach and Stanley Park, so I spend a lot of time in the park or near the water with a book. But I also love a good adventure and especially road trips when I can. Usually these are in BC but last summer I spent a month in Europe so was able to take in some different scenery and visit places I had never been before. You can also find me in art galleries or trying out new restaurants in the city.
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us, Roxanne!
Be sure to keep an eye out on our Bard Blog for more behind-the-scenes content as we wrap up our 2024 Season—and look ahead to 2025.