Friday Morning Tea: Sharing learning and resources amongst community engaged arts initiatives

“If you have knowledge, let others light their candles in it.” –Margaret Fuller

At ArtBridges/ToileDesArts we are currently developing an online learning & resource portal that will be a feature of our new website. The resource portal will connect community engaged arts groups to helpful tools and information developed by others. If you have developed resources or documents in the course of your work, it’s likely that these could be useful to others as well! We can share resources by providing a link to the document on your website, or we can upload the resource to the ArtBridges library. Either way, all contributors will be provided with full credit and a website link. 

Skye Louis, ArtBridging Ontario Resource Developer writes:

“As we all know too well, most arts groups are cash strapped and under-resourced. Despite this frustrating reality, I have been surprised and inspired time and again by the generosity of the people who work so hard to support arts and cultural activities across our nation.  The ArtBridging Ontario project has been no exception. Since October, I have been working with the ArtBridges / ToileDesArts crew on this pilot research project. When this concludes, we’ll expand the work beyond Ontario and reach other provinces and territories.

Through ArtBridging Ontario, we have been connecting with cultural leaders across the province in order to find out more about what they are working on, and how they might be able to share their learnings with others through the ArtBridges / ToileDesArts platform. This is where the generosity comes in.

Resource: Mural Routes’ Mural Map of Canada

Mural Routes has a great resource on their website for those who are interested in Mural Art in Canada! Their Mural Map of Canada is a valuable resource where one can learn more about all the unique and creative mural projects that are scattered across the country!

If your community arts initiative has created a mural and would like to have your mural project listed on their Mural Map of Canada, click herefor their application! 

- Lisa Tran, Artbridges

“When Mural Routes first began, the vision was to create four local “mural routes” in Scarborough (now part of the amalgamated City of Toronto).  Since then our vision has grown.  We soon discovered that there are murals everywhere and we are now helping to link the “mural routes” right across Canada.”

-posted with permission from Tara Dorey, Mural Routes

Read ArtBridges’ profile on Mural Routes here.
Please see our Google map for more information.

Profile: Arts Council Windsor ON & Region

Profile: Arts Council Windsor & Region
Status: Not-for-profit
Community served: Youth, Adults
Region served: Windsor & Essex County
Language: English
Arts focus: Visual, media, theatre, dance, music, literary arts
Summary of Main Art Activities: The ACWR’s 2012 to 2015 strategic plan identifies 4 main goals to achieve.

Communicate: Develop and expand multiple channels to aid artists, inform community and advertise events

Strengthen Services & Programming for artists: Facilitate services and programming to develop skills, work collaboratively and share knowledge within the arts community

Build capacity: Strengthen the ACWR’s internal organization and ability to work towards its mission through strategic planning, partnering and maintaining a focus on targeted action

Leadership and Advocacy: Support a community where artists can work and thrive in their creative lives. Promote public discussion to increase awareness of the value of the arts for quality of life.

Mandate:
MISSION: A Non Profit organization that enriches the quality of life for all by strengthening the arts and the community through leadership, education and promotion.
VISION:

• Support artists and arts organizations in Windsor and Essex County to fulfill their creative business potential
• Place arts, culture and creativity at the heart of economic development
• Make the arts a centerpiece of Windsor and Essex County life

VALUES

• Leadership – We advocate for our creative community
• Inclusive – We reflect audience and creative community diversity
• Innovative – We support new and innovative art and artists
• Open & Accountable – We are consultative and goal oriented
• Sustainable – We encourage and develop social, cultural and economic benefit for our community

Contact: Michelle Le Chien, Executive Director
Phone number: 519-252-2787
E-mail: info@acwr.net
Website: www.acwr.net
Address: 1942 Wyandotte St. E, Windsor, ON N8Y 1E4

-submitted by Michelle Le Chien, Executive Director, ACWR

Please see ArtBridges’ Google Map for more information.

Know your grants: Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (Resource)

Grant: Community Arts Program
“The Community Arts Program (CAP) is available to community-based arts organizations and groups. The program funds projects related to arts workshops, presentations, productions, new creations, adjudicator fees, artist fees, and travel costs.”

For more information on NLAC’s Community Arts Program grant, click here.

Grant: ArtsSmarts
“ArtsSmarts is funded through the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Education’s Cultural Connections Strategy and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC). In Newfoundland and Labrador ArtsSmarts is administered by the NLAC.

The ArtsSmarts Mission: To afford schools and their communities a chance to enhance artistic activities linked to educational outcomes. The desire is to encourage students to develop their intellectual skills through active participation in the arts. In this context, the program goal is to engage young people in artistic activity to develop supporters and practitioners of the arts by nurturing creative thinkers.”

For more information on NLAC’s ArtsSmarts grant program, click here.

Grant: Visiting Artist Program
“Schools can apply to the Visiting Artist Program (VAP) to bring individual artists, groups of artists, or arts organizations into the school to provide students with direct personal contact with practicing professional artists. The program covers artist fees, materials, and travel costs. The program is offered in partnership with the Cultural Connections Strategy of the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Education, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA), and the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (NLAC).”

For more information on NLAC’s Visiting Artist Program grant, click here.

Grant: School Touring Program
“The School Touring Program (STP) is available to professional artists, groups and not-for-profit arts organizations to support significant touring productions to schools throughout the province. Offered in partnership with the Department of Education through its Cultural Connections Strategy, the program provides students with direct access to high quality artistic experiences. The program covers touring costs only (i.e. travel, accommodation, per diems, artist and technician fees, tour administration, royalties, and limited rehearsal).”

For more information on NLAC’s School Touring Program grant, click here.

Other NLAC Grant Programs:

• Professional Project Grants Program
• Sustaining Program for Professional Arts Organizations
• Professional Festivals Program
• Professional Artists’ Travel Fund
• Labrador Cultural Travel Fund

-posted with permission from Joshua Jamieson, NLAC

Resource Round Table: Hidden Treasure (Neighbourhood Arts Network & Drum Artz, Toronto)

Neighbourhood Arts Network & Drum Artz Presents:

Hidden Treasure

Resource Round Table

“Please join us on June 12^th at Drum Artz (27 Primrose Avenue) from 3:00-5:00 PM for a resource round table.

Meet other artists and community leaders, and share some of the hidden treasures that help you get things done.

For additional information or to register for free, please contact angie@torontoarts.org or 416-392-6802 x 218

Space is limited, so register soon!“

-submitted by Angie Aranda, Toronto Arts

Accessible Theatre Programs for Youth: Canadian Stage (Toronto)

Profile: Canadian Stage
Status: Resource, Not for profit Theatre company
Community served: All communities welcome. Special ticket access and artistic programs for youth and emerging artists.
Read more about these programs here:
C-stage (under 30) tickets
Youth Night (under 21)
Emerging Artists
Arts focus: Theatre, including dance and multi-media productions.
Language: English
Locations: Bluma Appel Theatre: St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, 27 Front St. E; Berkeley Street Theatre: 26 Berkeley St; High Park Amphitheatre, High Park.
Mandate: Canadian Stage is one of the country’s leading not-for-profit contemporary theatre companies, founded in 1987. Under the direction of Artistic & General Director, Matthew Jocelyn, the company presents theatre with a focus on emerging performance styles and integrates theatre with other artistic mediums such as dance, film, visual arts and more. Canadian Stage shares innovative and vibrant theatre from Canada and around the world that is exciting and compelling for audiences. The company stages an annual season of works at three major venues (The Bluma Appel Theatre, The Berkeley Street Theatre and the High Park Amphitheatre) and runs a series of artist development, education and youth and community outreach programs and initiatives. For more information visit www.canadianstage.com

Accessible Theatre Programs for Youth:
Canadian Stage is committed to making our theatre accessible to young audiences through several programs. We welcome individuals from all communities to engage in C-Stage, Youth Night or our Innovators Program for Young Artists. Our Festival of Ideas and Creation is another unique opportunity.

C-Stage: Under 30? Get a ticket to the theatre for $12.50! By registering an email address, all individuals 29 years old or younger can access these affordable tickets. https://www.canadianstage.com/cstage

Youth Night: Youth under 21 are invited to go behind-the-scenes at our theatres, attend an artistic workshop with members of our staff and creative teams and have some pizza before seeing a show. Registration is FREE but spaces are limited. https://www.canadianstage.com/youth

Innovators Program for Young Artists: This program develops the skills of young theatre artists and nurtures collaborations between emerging directors, designers and stage managers ages 14-21. This unique program is an exciting opportunity for budding artists to connect with professional theatre-makers, see plays, and develop their own artistic vision through mentorship opportunities.

The Festival of Ideas & Creation is Canadian Stage’s flagship artistic development event. Bringing together local, national and international artists to spark new creative projects, the Festival encourages cross-pollination between artistic disciplines and fosters the next generation of artistic innovators. The Festival features an array of programs and opportunities for the public to intersect with the creative process and participate in the artistic conversation. Each project in the Festival is given creation and development time and a presentation. In 2012, the Festival will explore the theme of music and sound in performance practice: this may include, but is not limited to, the incorporation of opera, classical, traditional and contemporary music, musical theatre, song, digital sound design, etc. in performance based work.

Art in Leadership is a community theatre program involving ten weeks of creative workshops for youth living in nearby social housing units. Led by guest artists, the workshops use creative outlets to build the confidence, motivation and leadership skills needed to bridge the opportunity gap for these youth. After a period of development and rehearsal, the group performs a showcase of their works at the Berkeley Street Theatre.

Contact: Artistic Coordinator, Joanne Williams; Education and Enrichment Manager, Erin Schachter; Audience Development Manager, Laura Hagglund

Phone number: 416-368-8243
E-mail: lhagglund@canadianstage.com
Website: www.canadianstage.com
Address: 26 Berkeley St, Toronto ON M5A 2W3
Social Media: Find Canadian Stage on Facebook and Twitter
For tickets: Box Office: 416 368 3110, www.canadianstage.com

-submitted by Laura Huggland, Audience Development Manager & Erin Schachter, Education Manager

Please see ArtBridges’ Google map for more information