Explore Alberta’s Thriving Art Scene with Daniel J. Perryman and Michael Bartz
Posted on January 29, 2026
Some of the most compelling artist stories can be found right in your neighbourhood. Featuring live interviews set inside artists’ home turf, from galleries to makeup studios, the STORYHIVE series On Location Lethbridge and On Location Medicine Hat bring those stories to the forefront, one creative and fun conversation at a time.
Led by content creators Daniel J. Perryman and Michael Bartz, the series shines a light on local artists across small towns in Alberta, celebrating creativity in all its forms and inviting audiences to see themselves reflected in the stories of the province’s many talented artists.
We caught up with Daniel and Michael to talk about the origins of On Location Lethbridge and On Location Medicine Hat, what goes into producing a live interview series, the dynamic spirit of Alberta’s creative communities and what they hope viewers take away from watching.
STORYHIVE: Tell us about yourselves!
Daniel J. Perryman: My name is Daniel J. Perryman. I’m a British Canadian producer, director and actor, working across both stage and screen. I also do stage combat and intimacy direction, which has become a big part of my creative practice.
Michael Bartz: I’m Michael Bartz from Lethbridge, Alberta. I’m primarily a filmmaker. I make short films and also work in podcast production, usually focused on environmental sustainability.
STORYHIVE: What are your On Location series all about?
Daniel J. Perryman: At its core, [On Location Lethbridge and On Location Medicine Hat] are about meeting local artists in their own communities, uplifting their stories and inspiring creativity in the people watching.
STORYHIVE: What inspired you to apply for STORYHIVE and create this series?
Daniel J. Perryman: I’ve been involved with STORYHIVE before [in other programs], where I did my Shakespeare project. When I saw the call for this project, my summer was open and I knew I wanted to focus entirely on creative work!
I’m naturally very curious, and even though I’m an introvert, I love meeting new people. This felt like the perfect excuse to apply, do something meaningful and collaborate with people I care about.
STORYHIVE: What goes into creating a series like this, from finding an artist to interview to filming?
Daniel J. Perryman: First and foremost, you need a strong working relationship. Michael and I spend a lot of time together, and that means being able to have hard conversations, curious conversations and differing opinions while still moving forward.
Finding artists involves a lot of research; Google searches, arts directories and plenty of cold emails. You don’t hear back from most people, but when you do, it’s extra special. We also always meet with guests virtually before filming, just to connect and build trust.
When it comes to locations, flexibility is key. We often ask guests if they have a space they’re comfortable filming in. Ultimately, our goal is to make sure they have a good experience. If we leave and they have a smile on their face, I feel great about that.
Michael Bartz: We also try to meet people in person whenever possible. Sometimes that means attending local events or making trips, especially to places like Medicine Hat, to connect organically. Referrals from past guests have also been helpful.
For me, the story is central. We’re especially drawn to artists trying to make creativity a full-time pursuit and navigating the balance between art and everyday life.
STORYHIVE: How would you describe the art scene in Alberta?
Michael Bartz: We primarily film in Medicine Hat, but we’ve also been to Lethbridge, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray, and we’re heading to Red Deer and Lloydminster next. What’s surprised us most is how vibrant the arts communities are in smaller cities.
Once you start meeting people, you realize just how diverse and rich Alberta’s creative landscape really is.
Daniel J. Perryman: I’d absolutely echo that.
STORYHIVE: What was it like joining STORHIVE On Location?
Daniel J. Perryman: One of the biggest takeaways is how much you get to know your own city. You meet people you didn’t even realize were there. And you quickly learn how generous artists are with their time and energy—it’s a real privilege.
Michael Bartz: For me, the biggest shift was working live. My background is mostly editing video and audio, so doing live interviews was new and intimidating at first. But I’ve grown to love it. It teaches you to roll with the conversation, support your guests and focus less on perfection and more on presence.
STORYHIVE: Has there been a standout moment or guest for you?
Michael Bartz: One interview that really stayed with me was Jordan Bouchard, a metal welding artist from Medicine Hat, who we featured in our first season. He didn’t initially see himself as an artist; he saw himself as a blue-collar worker. Through the conversation, he had this realization about his work and that was incredibly impactful.
STORYHIVE: Do you have any advice for creators applying to STORYHIVE programs?
Daniel J. Perryman: Give yourself lots of time for the application. Write far more than the minimum word or character count, because, like filmmaking, the real work happens in the edit.
Applications are a tool to help you distill your idea. Share your drafts with people you trust and try to have fun with the process. If it stops being fun, invite someone into your process who can help reignite that spark.
STORYHIVE: You often do fun icebreaker games with the guests, like Jenga, etc. Where did that idea come from?
Michael Bartz: That started in Season Two. With the live format, cameras and lights can feel intimidating, so we created an icebreaker segment to help guests relax before diving deeper.
Over time, it evolved to include trivia and shared participation. It became a fun, dynamic way to connect!
Daniel J. Perryman: It also helps level power dynamics. In an interview setting like this, there is an inherent power dynamic between the interviewer and the interviewee. One of my mantras is “people over process over product,” and the icebreakers really put people first. Once that segment is done, you can see guests relax and feel more confident.
STORYHIVE: What do you hope audiences take away from On Location Lethbridge and On Location Medicine Hat?
Michael Bartz: We talk a lot about inspiring the artist in you. Even if someone doesn’t identify as an artist, we hope they watch and think, “I could do that too.”
Daniel J. Perryman: There’s so much more creativity around us than we realize, and it’s for everyone. Even people who don’t think they’re creative absolutely are. Tapping into that creativity can genuinely make people happier.
Join us in congratulating Michael and Daniel on their incredible success! Explore On Location Medicine Hat, On Location Lethbridge and all other On Location series now on TELUS Optik TV Video on Demand channel 850, Stream+ and STORYHIVE’s YouTube channel.