We invite you to read about and contribute to what’s going on in community-engaged arts and arts for social change initiatives across Canada. We post what people submit to us as well as "all things community-engaged arts" that we find out about. ArtBridges/ToilesDesArts shares all kinds of information:
“The upcoming 24th annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival will take place in-person at the TIFF Bell Lightbox from October 17th-22nd, and move to our online streaming and iNdigital platforms from October 22nd – 29th, 2023.
The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is our annual primary event hosted by imagineNATIVE in Toronto, Ontario, Canada every October. We present Artistic and Industry programming over the six-day Festival showcasing Film + Video, Digital + Interactive, and Audio media work created by Indigenous Artists (Directors, Producers, Writers, Designers) at all levels of experience. Since 2020, imagineNATIVE has further moved into digital and hybrid presentation of these works. Artistic programming consists of works selected through the general Call for Submissions, guest-curated programs, partnership exhibitions, and special curated initiatives.
As an Indigenous-led and Indigenous artist-centered organization, we support the artistic visions and perspectives of Indigenous Artists working in film and media arts in an inclusive and professional manner. As identified in our mission statement, we are committed to a greater understanding by audiences of Indigenous peoples, cultures, and artistic expressions. Works are therefore not required to have overt Indigenous content or themes, and can be productions made at all budget levels. We strive to represent a variety of ideas, themes, and genres, in addition to a diversity of Indigenous languages, nations, and cultures.
“Disability Justice calls for the leadership of the most impacted but as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues, disabled and neurodiverse queer racialized artists have been left behind even within their own community spaces. This workshop will explore the needs of disabled and neurodiverse artists and how to integrate accessibility and disability justice into our spaces.
April 5, 2023 6-8pm
RSVP is required. This event is hosted virtually on Zoom. ASL will be provided at every workshop by Phoenix The Fire @phoenixthefire1111
Dev Ramsawakh is a disabled and non-binary award-winning multidisciplinary storyteller, producer and educator. They’ve been published digitally on websites like Toronto Star, Chatelaine, CBC, and Xtra, and have produced projects for SKETCH Working Arts and Luminato Festival Toronto and participated in grant and program application reviews for Toronto Arts Council, The Effing Foundation and Warner Brothers Discovery. They’ve also been included in anthologies such as Disability Visibility,Two Times Removed, and Toronto 2033. They also write poetry, model, and facilitate workshops, both independently and with CRIP Collective. You can find Dev on Twitter and TikTok @merkyywaters and on Instagram @merkyy_waters or on their website IndivisibleWriting.com.”
“WALLS FOR ALL PART 2: ACTION PLAN Tuesday, March 21st, 2023 | 6:45/7:00PM – 9:00/9:30PM Online using Zoom FREE | Register via EventBrite Featuring Panelists Fiya Bruxa, Claire Browne, and Danielle Hyde
Although more women and gender diverse muralists have become established and well-known artists over the years, mural art has traditionally been -and continues to be- a (mostly white) male dominated field full of barriers and challenges for gender diverse artists. How can we create more space for women and gender diverse creators to participate in street art culture? How can we help these artists tackle many of the barriers they face? Join Mural Routes and East End Arts for an afternoon of learning and brainstorming with some of the best artists in the street art world to jam on how to make our streets for everyone, and our Walls for All!
Building on the success of Bombing Misogyny from 2021, and our first iteration of Walls for All from December 2022, this next Walls for All session will gather women and gender diverse street artists again to share and discuss common issues faced while producing murals in the public realm. Walls for All Part 2 will share the Draft Action Plan that the panelists and lead organizations have put together based on the findings from our first session. Walls for All aims to build a more equitable, accessible, and inclusive street art sector for all gender marginalized artists, while also helping to build a network and/or support group or muralists who share similar experiences and struggles.
WHO IS THIS SESSION FOR?
Artists and creatives of all disciplines, creative space-makers, producers, arts workers and/or arts administrators who: Love working in the world of street art, mural making, or public art and want to share what they’ve learned over the years!
Big Dreamers who want to connect with others who love bringing beauty to the public sphere;
Folks who are looking for an opportunity to meet like-minded creatives from east Toronto and all across Canada!”
“As summer season approaches and Clay and Paper Theatre is looking to hire the following positions:
Outreach and Accessibility Engager (Canada Summer Jobs position) We are seeking one Outreach and Accessibility Engager to provide assistance and support for our summer performances, with a focus on developing and revising communications and accessibility tools and working in a community outreach role. Our main project will be our show, Animal Nature, an all-ages play that is an ecological, giant puppet tale about habitat loss and resource extraction. While a portion of this work will be in-person (research, interviews, photos, etc), communications and accessibility tools development and community outreach can take place independently and virtually, with the opportunity for daily and weekly online and in-person review, instruction and guidance with the C&P staff.
Performer-Puppeteer (Canada Summer Jobs position) We are seeking six young people to join us this summer for our 2023 paid Apprenticeship in Public Space Performance Program. You may be an emerging artist. You may be dedicated to activism and social justice. You may be inspired by community-engaged arts. You may be someone who wants to use art to explore the urgent issues of our day. This summer, you’ll get a chance to dive into all of these areas as a performer-puppeteer in Dufferin Grove Park in Tkaronto where we will offer performances, parades and pageantry using large puppets, masks, song, and movement. Our main project will be to remount our show, Animal Nature, an all-ages play that is an ecological, giant puppet tale about habitat loss and resource extraction. There will also be opportunities to develop artist facilitation skills during community workshop sessions.
Stage Manager (Canada Summer Jobs position) We are seeking one Stage Manager to join us this summer for our 2023 paid Apprenticeship in Public Space Performance Program. You’ll get a chance to work with a company of emerging artists as we explore the unique elements of theatre and community-engaged arts in a public park setting. Our main project will be to remount our show, Animal Nature, an all-ages play that is an ecological, giant puppet tale about habitat loss and resource extraction. There will also be possible opportunities to develop artist facilitation skills during community workshop sessions.
Artist Producer Intern (Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training) We are seeking an Artist Producer Intern who will work closely with the Artistic and Managing Directors and support the theatre’s short and long-term planning while upholding the company’s mission, which supports artists (puppeteers-performers, builders, musicians, playwrights, directors, etc.), as they work in public space and engage deeply with stories of importance to local communities. You are a curious person, with a love of art and theatre, and with an interest in supporting the artistic and administrative functions of Clay and Paper Theatre. You enjoy working in a fast-paced, artistically engaging, and collaborative work environment. You think working in parks is an amazing opportunity to explore and build community connections and arts access.
Performer-Puppeteer (Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training) We are seeking three young people to join us this summer for our 2023 paid Apprenticeship in Public Space Performance Program. You may be an emerging artist. You may be dedicated to activism and social justice. You may be inspired by community engaged arts. You may be someone who wants to use art to explore the urgent issues of our day. This summer, you’ll get a chance to dive into all of these areas as a performer-puppeteer in Dufferin Grove Park in Tkaronto where we will offer performances, parades and pageantry using large puppets, masks, song, and movement. Our main project will be to remount our show, Animal Nature, an all-ages play that is an ecological, giant puppet tale about habitat loss and resource extraction. There will also be opportunities to develop artist facilitation skills during community workshop sessions.”
As ArtBridges’ Community-Engaged Arts Directory grows, we realize that it’s a bit overwhelming to read through all of the profiles. We’re hoping that by occasionally highlighting some profiles on our blog, you may learn about an initiative that you may not have initially seen in the directory. Also, if you know of a Canadian community-engaged arts for social change initiative that isn’t in our directory, but should be, please let us know! We love and need your input/feedback in building this resource! -Lisa, Content Coordinator at ArtBridges.
Equilibrium Mural (2018). Okuda San Miguel. Photo by Sharon Mendonca
STEPS Public Art is a Canadian public arts focused charitable organization that empowers communities to transform public spaces into vibrant places through one-of-a-kind public art plans, installations, and engagement strategies.
Calling all filmmakers and video artists in Canada!
Trinity Square Video and Tangled Art + Disability are seeking film and video submissions for 1000 MINUTES, a collaborative project and learning opportunity with the objective of generating up to one thousand minutes audio descriptions (a.k.a. described videos) for experimental films and videos by Canadian creators.
Selected applicants will receive a FREE, fully audio-described version of their work, created through a series of workshops with a trained team of dramaturgists, consultants, sound editors, artists, and audio-description students.
Please indicate in the application whether you are interested in participating in these workshops. Limited capacity is 10 students.
Following the completion of 1000 Minutes of audio description, a film festival will take place in January 2024 featuring a curated program of some of the described works.”
“Are you an autistic, neurodivergent, disabled or D/deaf creator? We want to see YOUR work!
Spectrum Fest is a film and media festival showcasing work from neurodiverse/divergent creators, disabled artists, D/deaf creators and others that face barriers to artistic practice. Now in it’s 5th year, Spectrum Fest 2023 will explore how layering perspectives “changes the scenery”, adds richness and creates a broader scope of understanding and accessibility in our experiences of film and media.
Call for Submissions: We are looking to select work for our main multi-screening event on Saturday April 22, 2023. Submissions will be evaluated by a volunteer jury of self-advocates, media creators, and industry professionals.”
“CITR x CACV Masterclass is a series of 5 FREE workshops for folks who would like to learn about music & performing arts. In these workshops, you’ll hear directly from folks working in community arts organizations.
“We are looking for approximately 20 participants from dance, digital access, technology, and non-dance backgrounds to collectively explore ways of bringing movement to the public. As a participant, you will be part of a digital cohort that supports testing a prototype that promotes movement-based practice, hosted on a digital platform. You will participate in a minimum of one workshop in April 2023. This Call for Participation closes on March 22nd. The cohort will be announced on April 2nd via email.”
“Arts organizations are looking toward the future to ensure the sustainability of their efforts, which requires cultivating engagement with youth and supporting their involvement and leadership within our creative communities, arts organizations, and institutions. How can our sector better engage youth in impactful and long-lasting ways?
The 6IX Academy, a social entrepreneurship high school program at the Toronto Central Academy, has been centering student voice into the development of their curriculum where arts, culture and creativity is part of their high school experience, community and beyond.
By providing students with real-world experiences in arts entrepreneurship, marketing, fashion, photography, graphic design, event planning, among others, the 6ix Academy actively supports the creative development of young people while offering pathways to careers in the arts and culture sector in Canada.
The webinar will be presented in English. Our recording will be available with French captions. Mar 9, 2023 02:00 PM EST”
