Photo: Sid Ryan Eilers (they/them) Credit: Facebook
Content warning: The following article and podcast makes reference to rape and trauma. Please proceed with caution and care. If you require support, there are resources available.
The 2024 budget for the Hamilton police department was $214 million. That was an increase of over $16 million from 2023.
According to Sid Ryan Eilers, in 2023, the City Enrichment Fund asked Hamilton Council to approve somewhere between $6 and $12 million dollars to fund the arts, agricultural programs and events, as well as non-profits, community and volunteer organizations.
Instead, the City Enrichment Fund received a total of $2 million in funding.
While accepting the Contemporary Dance Award in June 2024 from the City of Hamilton Arts Awards, Aeris Körper co-artistic director, Eilers, asked council to consider redirecting some police services funding to arts and enrichment programs.
Hear Eilers full acceptance speech.
Today, I’m in conversation with Eilers (they/them) a multi-talented dance artist, choreographer, director, dramaturg, producer and performer about her courageous acceptance speech and her vision for the arts in Hamilton.
2014 was a pivotal year for Eilers who goes by her mother’s German last name which means brave warrior. Eilers marriage was ending while she was launching Aeris Körper with co-artistic director Mayumi Lashbrook. The Canadian contemporary dance company produces live immersive shows, hosts community platforms, and leads accessible movement workshops.
The appeal to Hamilton Council had personal roots. Eilers’ mother was raped when she was 13-years-old. Although the rape was reported to police, they convinced Eilers’ grandparents to take a bribe instead of following through with charges.
However, Eilers saw, and experienced, how that trauma impacted her mother’s and her own life and informed the ways Eilers’ work engages folks who often are not included in dance performances.
Eilers and I discuss the immense community support that permeates the art scene in the Hammer. From The Fringe Festival to Gritlit, Dances at the Bay, the monthly Art Crawl along James Street and the annual Super Crawl in September, Hamilton’s artists support one another and make sure that art thrives. Even if it’s on a dime.
Find out what fabulous performances, workshops and festivals Aeris Körper, Eilers and Lashbrook have in store. Then, make the time to take in some of Aeris Körper’s amazing offerings.
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Thanks to everyone who read today’s article and listened to my podcast. With your continued support, a little Nicoll can make a lot of change.
Music: Real Estate by UNIVERSFIELD is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License. freemusicarchive.org.
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Sid Ryan Eilers knows every body houses profound stories