Art Talk: “What’s it all about?” with Ruth Howard
Thursday November 12, 7:00-9:00 pm
Carnegie Community Centre Theatre, 401 Main St., free
Join us for an introduction to the Downtown Eastside Arts4All Institute. Learn about community plays and projects in Toronto and beyond, and pick up a few tips on principles and practices of community-engaged arts. Visiting artist, Ruth Howard, has lots of experience designing community plays across Canada, producing community operas in Toronto and developing mentoring programs. She is Artistic Director of Jumblies Theatre, a company that makes art with, for and about the people and places of Toronto. Presentation, video clips and time for questions and discussion.
The evening will start with the launch of the book A Journey into the Downtown Eastside Community Play, ‘In the Heart of a City’, a travelogue of the play’s creative process, containing photos and interviews with artists, community participants and spectators of the play along with the reflections of the author, Valerie Methot, Roundhouse artist-in-residence.
Art Talk and Panel
“May I have this dance? – Forming Community Partnerships”
Friday November 13, 7-9 pm
Ukrainian Hall, 805 East Pender St free
Moderator Michael Clague
How do you go about forming a network of partnerships to support community arts projects? What are the issues surrounding partnerships with social agencies, schools, parks boards, neighbourhoods and global organizations? How do you safeguard an artistic vision while respecting your partners’ agendas? How can community partners support you in entering unknown and possibly risky social territory?
We will be joined by panelists Judith Marcuse (co-director of Vancouver’s Centre of Arts for Social Change); Cyndy Chwelos (Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre and formerly of Arts Starts) Ruth Howard (Jumblies Theatre), Dafne Blanco (Headlines Theatre) and jil p. weaving (Vancouver Park Board).
Documentary Film Night at the Carnegie- Community – engaged Art Practice
Saturday November 14, 2009 6-10pm
Carnegie Community Centre, free
An evening of talk and documentaries in cooperation with Documentaries for Thinkers, coordinated by Colleen Carol and Margot Butler of UBC’s Humanities 101. Margot will host the evening. Details HERE
Art Talk and Panel
“Making Room at the Table- Diversity in Community Arts”
Tuesday November 17, 7-9pm
Gallery Gachet, 88 E. Cordova, free
Moderator Amir Ali Alibhai
How do you attract, invite and help diverse groups and people feel included in community-arts projects? How do you bring them together in a way that allows honesty and safety, so that all the contributions are strong and valued?
Panelist Lina De Guevera (Puente Theatre) will look at practical strategies to embed diversity from day one. Rosemary Georgeson (Urban Ink) will look at how we navigate and negotiate the multi-cultural spectrum of a community and the protocols that make its varied groups feel safe and welcomed. Cathy Stubington (Runaway Moon theatre) will address the inclusion of all ages and Bruce Ray (gallery gachet) will speak from his experiences with mental health issues. There will be lots of opportunity for questions and contributions from the audience.
