Artist of the Month: June 2024
Performing Artist , Arts Manager and Educator
Calgary, AB
Lily Sigie is a Mexican-Canadian performing artist and cultural developer; she holds a BA in Performing Arts and a Master's Degree in “Development and Promotion of cultural projects.” She has over 20 years of experience in the performing arts as an actress, arts educator, theatre producer, and arts manager. In 2017, she arrived in Calgary, and by 2018, she co-founded SpanicArts (Hispanic Association of Professional Artists LTD). Since then, she has been part of different cultural projects within the artistic community in Treaty 7. In 2023, she got her first Artist Development Microgrant from Calgary Arts Development to translate her book “Development of Soft Skills through Art: ABACO Case Study,” published in 2014. You can find more about her on her new website, lilysigie.com
How do you feel being selected as the Artist of the Month?
I am deeply honored to be recognized as the Artist of the Month, a testament to the impact of my work and the potential it holds. This opportunity not only allows me to expand my network but also to share my artistic journey and the transformative power of art with a wider audience. I am grateful for this platform and the chance to connect with more people who are passionate about art and culture.
What are the goals you are hoping to achieve in the next few months through your arts?
In the upcoming months, my goals revolve around advancing my artistic endeavors on multiple fronts. Currently, I'm focused on promoting the translated version of my book, "Development of Soft Skills through Art: ABACO Case," which received support from CADA in 2023. My aim is to engage educators and curriculum developers, particularly those in higher education, to explore the potential impact of incorporating art into learning experiences.
Simultaneously, I aspire to elevate the visibility of my artistic portfolio and brand through various channels, including my website. This involves showcasing my past works and projects to a wider audience, fostering greater recognition and engagement. Furthermore, I'm excited about the prospect of facilitating workshops tailored for both young individuals and adults, offering them opportunities to explore their creativity and develop valuable skills.
As an artist, I remain receptive to fresh ideas and collaborations, constantly seeking avenues to spark transformative conversations and experiences through my creative expressions.
What is your inspiration and driving force in your creative process?
My source of inspiration has always been the social issues that surround us. I don't consider myself the type of artist who seeks to change the world with their art, but I aim to at least sow a seed in even one person in the audience. The thought that my performance could spark a conversation or inspire someone to learn more about the subject fills me with energy and motivates me to continue my creative process. It is this cycle of inspiration and creation that keeps me going as an artist.
Can you recall a specific instance where your performance sparked a conversation or inspired someone to engage further with the subject matter, illustrating the impact of your creative process?
I’m always interested in creating performances that address specific subjects, particularly social issues. Reflecting on the performances I’ve done since the beginning of my career, even back in university, many have focused on social issues.
As an artist, I aim to address these problems and present them to the audience in a way that encourages them to think deeply and seek more information. Whether the issue is anorexia, bulimia, human rights, indigenous rights, or immigration, I strive to leave the audience with a sense of curiosity and a desire to learn more.
In our culture, there’s a strong emphasis on festive and party celebrations, but other cultures may have different perspectives. I want to challenge the audience to think about these differences and explore them further.
I am open to starting a conversation on a specific topic and from there, creating a performance. My inspiration can come from various sources, including music, images, and paintings. It’s a combination of these elements that shapes my work.
Our Lady of the Clouds 2011 - Photo By A.Farias - Featured with Miguel Molina - Lily Maria Sigie
How has your journey as an immigrant arts professional shaped your ongoing commitment to addressing social change through your artistic endeavors, from the challenges you faced upon arriving in Canada to the present?
My artistic endeavors have been a platform for addressing and transforming pressing social issues. The performances and plays I've been involved in, often as a creator and producer, have tackled topics such as women's rights, climate change, exile, indigenous concerns, and more recently, the Day of the Dead with the Mexican icon 'The Catrina' and immigration symbolized by the monarch butterfly.
I am the Catrina Monologue - Cspace EAU Claire Hub - Photo By Christina + Nathan 2022 - Lily Maria Sigie
Migrating to Canada was challenging. Arriving with a suitcase full of dreams and experiences to share, I quickly realized that I would need to start again from scratch, no matter how much experience I had in my home country.
In 2018, shortly after arriving in Canada and seeking recognition for my artistic career, I co-founded SpanicArts to create spaces for Hispanic artists to showcase their work. Since then, I have worked in arts administration and the nonprofit sector. Despite these roles, I've continued to participate in performing arts projects, always aiming to foster learning and transformation within our community.
I am an artist who thrives on the power of community engagement. Even when working on performing arts projects independently or with colleagues, my focus is always on conveying messages that promote learning and transformation in our community. I am dedicated to working in and for the community.
What specific initiatives have you undertaken within SpanicArts to support Hispanic artists since its establishment in 2018?
SpanicArts is one of my biggest achievements since moving to Canada. I co-founded it with Fredy Rivas and Milena Vasquez. After arriving in 2017, I participated in the RAMP program through the Rozsa Foundation. I sought out a program to help me continue my career as an arts manager, and Rozsa Foundation was a perfect fit. Due to my experience, they allowed me to skip the introductory RAFT level and go straight into RAMP.
To join RAMP, I needed to represent a nonprofit organization, but I didn’t know any local organizations at the time. Fortunately the Global Mexican Networking allowed me to represent them, which made it possible for me to participate.
RAMP provided me with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to co-found and launch SpanicArts. Before this, I wasn’t familiar with the nonprofit landscape or the process of establishing an organization. It was a significant learning journey.
I met Fredy during this time and initially proposed establishing a theatre company, given my background as a performing artist. Fredy suggested we think broader and include all artistic disciplines, as he is a multidisciplinary artist. I agreed, and we decided to integrate various disciplines under SpanicArts.
Our main objective for SpanicArts was to create a platform for Latino artists, particularly those who were immigrating and had no specific support network. At that time, other organizations like CCIS existed, but none focused solely on immigrant artists. SpanicArts emerged around the same time as Toyin’s Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI), and I greatly admire the work they have done.
ICAI is open to all newcomer and immigrant arts professionals, whereas SpanicArts focuses on Latin American artists, a significant and growing community. I served as President and later as Vice President of SpanicArts, but I stepped down in 2022 to focus on my new role as a parent. However, I remain involved as a member and co-founder, and SpanicArts continues to hold a special place in my heart.
I am incredibly proud of what SpanicArts has achieved over the years. One of our dreams was to have a physical space, and I am delighted to see the organization growing and thriving.
We love helping immigrant artists in the community; it’s truly amazing. I wish I had the kind of support and platforms available today for immigrant artists through ICAI, SpanicArts, and other organizations. These resources are now open and accessible to the community.
One of the reasons we created SpanicArts was precisely to provide this kind of help and support that I didn’t have when I started. Absolutely.
Fredy Rivas, Lily Sigie and Milena Vasquez SpanicArts Co-Founders. May 2019.
How do you envision the organization's future trajectory in enhancing cultural representation and artistic expression within the Hispanic community in Canada?
I’m no longer a board member at SpanicArts due to focusing on being a mother, but I remain very close to them. While I don’t know all the details of their current projects, I can see from the outside that they’re doing great, especially with their physical space. Achieving this space was one of our dreams, and now they offer help to all communities, not just Mexicans or Colombians, but everyone.
Every day, they reach a broader audience, not just artists but a wider group of Latin people in the community. More people know about SpanicArts now, which is great because it means there’s a growing interest in their events. I attended their last event, Cinco de Mayo, and was impressed by the large turnout. I thought, “Wow, our first event had about 10 people, and now it’s so full!” It’s wonderful to see the organization becoming well-known and loved by the general public, not just artists.
What were some of the barriers you have faced as an immigrant performing artist in Canada?
One significant challenge I have faced as an immigrant actress is improving my pronunciation in English. As an actress, I need to have not only a sufficient level of English but also a neutral accent, rather than a Latin one. This has pushed me to continue learning, not just the language itself, but refining my accent to avoid being pigeonholed into Latin characters.
I also find that theatre in Calgary still lacks openness to immigrant actors. While some theatre companies have become more inclusive of immigrant artists in recent years, others remain less so. This could be because there aren't many immigrant actors, or because productions still require specific profiles and accents. From my experience as a co-founder of SpanicArts, I've observed that there are more immigrant visual artists exhibiting their work than there are immigrant performing artists. Visual disciplines tend to be more individualistic and don't require language to create and exhibit, unlike performing arts, particularly theatre, which relies heavily on teamwork and verbal expression. Even in physical theatre, language is needed for promotion.
Malinche a broken identity - 2010 - Photo By Javier Salas - Lily Maria Sigie
This may be why my recent creative works have been more individual. When I feel inspired to create, I don't wait for an opportunity; I take action, even creating monologues where I am the director, writer, actress, and producer.
If you consider yourself creative, you need to create no matter what!
My "hunger for the scene" goes beyond acceptance in a theatrical production; I have proven that this is not a barrier for me and that work can be done independently. However, the essence and magic of theatre lie in teamwork and collaboration, which is why I continue to seek out collaborators to keep transforming the scene.
How did you hear about ICAI and what drew you to connect with us?
Back in 2018, I met Toyin Oladele, Executive Director and Founder of ICAI. At that time, I was also working on founding SpanicArts with Fredy Rivas and Milena Vasquez. I admire Toyin's work within the cultural scene of Alberta. She has reached many audiences and people interested in supporting immigrant and newcomer arts professionals like us and her efforts have created numerous opportunities.
I wish I had this kind of support when I arrived in 2017, the same time as Toyin, but things happen for a reason. She was meant to found ICAI, and I was meant to co-found SpanicArts.
I always attend the closing events of their mentorship program. These events give me the chance to expand my network among immigrant artists and colleagues.
The work ICAI has done since its founding has motivated me to believe that I have a place in this city as an immigrant artist. Through ICAI, I have met artists who are now my colleagues, and together we share ideas and potential projects.
What does mentorship mean to you?
Mentorship, to me, is about guiding and supporting others on their journey to success. I've been involved in mentorship since my time in Mexico. While studying at a public university, I tutored students in subjects like cultural marketing, catering to those interested in cultural and arts business.
This passion for mentorship continued at SpanicArts, where I always welcomed artists and their projects. With a Master's in Cultural Project Development, I understand the importance of project development from start to finish, including evaluation. This aspect has become integral to my career.
As a performing artist and cultural manager, I've had the opportunity to work on various projects, including ABACO, which is the focus of my book. This project aimed to bridge cultural gaps within the community
I've also been called upon by Calgary Arts Development (CADA) to serve on project and grant juries, where I enjoy reading proposals and providing recommendations to artists.
During my time at Arts Commons as an events coordinator in the social impact department, I had the pleasure of meeting many artists from ICAI at their exhibitions. I love hearing about their projects, understanding their potential, and helping them overcome challenges. At the end of the day, I see myself as a guide, drawing from my experiences as a teacher.
What opportunities are you currently looking for?
I am looking forward to sharing and discussing my most recent translation of my book "Development of Soft Skills through Art: ABACO Case." I particularly want to reach teachers, directors, and people involved in universities and professional development. They need to understand how art can be an excellent tool for developing essential skills such as communication, leadership, creativity, and teamwork, which are crucial in any disciplinary area and educational stage. Additionally, I would like to support and counsel institutions interested in creating a similar program within their ecosystem.
Geraldine Ysselstein, Lily Sigie and Miguel Cortines during the presentation of the E-Book. Cspace April 2024.
What inspired you to initiate the book project, and what were some notable highlights and challenges you faced throughout its development?
The book was published in 2015 and is based on the research I conducted about the ABACO program at the university where I used to work. This program offers workshops in various arts disciplines, including theatre, dance, photography, and journalism. The main objective is to develop students’ soft skills through art.
For my thesis, I decided to investigate whether art truly helps in developing these soft skills or if it was just theoretical. I conducted both quantitative and qualitative research and proved that art is indeed an effective way to develop skills such as communication, leadership, creativity, and teamwork. The workshops specifically targeted these four skills, and the results were significant.
The program was created within a specific context and ecosystem, and it has been successful. I encourage directors, teachers, and tutors to read the book and consider whether a similar program might be suitable for their institutions.
After facing the challenges of immigration, in 2023, I decided to focus on myself and my work. I have spent years promoting other artists, and now it was time to promote my own achievements. I applied for a microgrant from CADA, which helped fund the translation of my book, create my branding, and build my new website.
I finished the translation in 2024 and am now focused on promoting the book. It’s available for download on my website. My goal is not just to sell the book but to share the success of the ABACO program and encourage universities and schools to consider implementing similar programs. That’s what I’ve been working on recently.
Can you tell us about any new projects or initiatives you are currently working on?
Now that the book is done, I am promoting three workshops on my website. Additionally, I’m working on a project to build a summer camp for children focused on theater in Spanish. I’ve noticed, along with a friend, that children often start to forget their first language, Spanish, once they begin school here. My friend has urged me, given my background in theater and performing arts, to do something about this. She pointed out that my children might face the same issue and forget Spanish once they start school. We don’t want that to happen, so I believe that theater is the best way to help children practice and retain their language skills. I’m currently exploring how to make this summer camp a reality.
Ana and Mia Performance - 2008 - Featured with Montse Ramirez - Lily Maria Sigie
What insights and words of advice would you offer to newcomer and immigrant arts professionals in Alberta's creative community?
I would like to share with the artistic community the importance of never giving up on their passion, no matter what. If you are passionate about your work and willing to face the challenges it brings, keep going. There will be times when you want something—a job, an exhibition, a project, a grant—and you don't get it. In those moments, remember that if there isn't a "yes," it's not a definitive "no." Instead, it might just mean "it's not your moment" or that life has something better in store for you.
Always trust in your talent. As creative individuals, it’s crucial to believe in yourself. In Spanish, "creer" (to believe) and "crear" (to create) are closely related, and "creer es crear" means "to believe is to create." You have everything you need to succeed; you just need to believe it!
Someone once told me that opportunities come suddenly and that they must find you working, that is, creating. Don’t wait for inspiration to strike; invite it into your process and make it a part of your journey.
Finally, as creative people, we shouldn't sit idly waiting for "the project" or "the call." Instead, we should create our own projects and invite others who share our vision to join us.
A female look in the mirror performance - 2015 - Lily Maria Sigie
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