Opera Mariposa is a critically-acclaimed company working to make opera more accessible. As Canada’s first entirely, openly disability-led and run opera company, we’re dedicated to creating inclusive opportunities for emerging and underrepresented artists, and have been recognized as “[one of] Canada’s key indie players” (Opera Canada Magazine). Since 2012, our mainstage productions have been hailed as “well-honed” (Opera Canada), “delightful” (Review Vancouver) and “a stroke of genius” (The Voice), while our annual Benefit + Awareness events have raised over $100,000 to date for a variety of charities and healthcare programs.

Our Mission

We believe that opera can be for everyone. We work with both disabled and non-disabled artists to present compelling, critically acclaimed programming for diverse audiences. We love finding ways to welcome more people in, and have a mission to create opportunities for emerging and underrepresented artists and creatives.

Our passion for accessibility has led us to offer a wide array of free events and digital offerings; we also bring artists out into the community through the Repertory Concert Artist Program, and explore interdisciplinary works through the Mariposa Theatre Wing. In 2019 we became one of the founding members of Indie Opera West, a network of independent performing arts companies dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation, building capacity, promoting equity and diversity, and supporting and advocating for the operatic art form across Western Canada. In 2021 we joined the Association for Opera in Canada and the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance, and that same year, was also invited to represent accessibility interests on Actsafe Safety Association‘s Performing Arts Standing Committee.

Why support Opera Mariposa?
Our generous supporters play a leading role at Opera Mariposa. As a young, artist-led company with a strong charitable mandate, it's thanks to our wonderful donors and sponsors that we can continue creating opportunities for talented artists, and making a difference through the power of music. If you've enjoyed our shows in the past, and want to help us continue producing unique, high-calibre programming in future, please explore how you can support our work. With your help, we'll be able to ensure that opera is for everybody - and to help keep the performing arts a vital part of our community for generations to come!