معرفی
Dr. Heather Fitzsimmons Frey is an Associate Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Arts and Cultural Management at MacEwan University. Her research focuses on youth engagement in arts and cultural spaces, utilizing interdisciplinary methods such as performance-based historiography and creative co-research. She leads projects like 'Young People are the Future' and collaborates with Elm Tree Theatre on early childhood theatre creation. Dr. Frey holds a PhD from the University of Toronto and has been awarded SSHRC grants, including a 2023 Partnership Grant as Co-Investigator. Her work emphasizes community-engaged scholarship and intercultural dialogue through theatre.
Education:
- PhD, University of Toronto
Research Interests:
Her interdisciplinary research explores youth participation in historical reenactment, theatre for young audiences, and the role of arts organizations in fostering creativity. Projects include studying girl volunteers at Fort Edmonton Park and co-creating immersive theatre for children aged 1–5 with early learning experts. She prioritizes collaborative methodologies and community partnerships in her work.
Grants & Awards:
- SSHRC Partnership Grant (2023)
- MacEwan Community Engaged Scholarship Grant (2024)
- Sutherland Prize Honourable Mention (2022)
- Banting Post-Doctoral Fellowship (2017)
Advising and Grants:
Dr. Frey supervises senior student research and manages grants from SSHRC, MacEwan, and the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications. Her work often involves student research assistants (RAs) in both academic and creative projects.
Labs & Teams:
Collaborates with Elm Tree Theatre, the International Theatre for Young Audiences Research Network, and the Gatherings: Archival and Oral Histories of Performance in Canada project. Active in programming for C2U Conference 2025 and contributes to MacEwan’s Interdisciplinary Dialogue Project.
