CSMN Mentee Spotlight: Brenda Darling, The Alumnae Theatre Company

Creative Spaces Mentoring Network

As we enter into a new iteration of the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network, we would like to share one final interview with mentee Brenda Darling around the topic of her experiences and learning with the 2020-2021 iteration of CSMN!

 

1. What motivated you to sign up for the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network?
Alumnae Theatre Company ‘s facility needed many upgrades and improvements from sound and lighting systems to accessibility. We didn’t even know what it might cost or how to find out. We asked the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network whether they could find someone to help us in create a request for proposal to upgrade a theatre facility.

2. Who was your mentor?
Phillip Silver.

3. Were they a part of the same industry/arts discipline as you? If not, were you still able
to learn things applicable to your situation from your mentor?
With experience that extended from theatre and opera set and lighting design, to renovation and design of contemporary theatre facilities to leading the Faculty of Fine Arts at York University, Phillip understood our situation immediately and could recommend exactly what we needed to do.

4. How did your one-to-one meetings take place? What kind of structure did your meetings have?
Due to the pandemic, Philip Silver and I have spoken for many, many hours, but we have never met except over Zoom. Our discussions were guided by the practical steps in developing a “Request For Proposal”. Often our next meeting would be arranged once I had completed my assigned research.

5. How did the knowledge gained from having a mentor, or how did your mentor directly, help you solve a challenge or issue you were having with your creative space project? Briefly explain the issue or challenge and how your mentor was a part of solving it.
To begin with, I had intended to write an RFP requesting a costing for every upgrade we’d dreamed about for our perfect facility. I hadn’t realized how much a consultant would charge for pricing our many options. Patiently, Phillip talked me through the cost implications of some of the more elaborate, most unlikely dreams. I removed them from the RFP: why pay to price something that we were definitely not going to undertake?

6. Over the last year, how much has your knowledge of creative space projects changed and how much of that would you attribute to the mentoring network? Do you have more confidence moving forward in your project?
I have gone from 0 to 99 in my ability to prepare an RFP, thanks to my mentor. Best of all, the basics of this this new skill can be used in multiple situations large or small, in or out of the arts, for many years to come. I also know it well enough that I could instruct others.

7. Would you recommend this program to someone who was in your position a year ago? If so, why would you?
This seems to be an ideal program in which to accomplish a specific challenge or project which requires practical steps to complete.

8. If someone wanted to make the best use of the Creative Space Mentoring Network, what would you recommend to them?
If the project is outside your experience or abilities, so much the better, especially if you intend to do all the leg work, and will rely on your mentor for just advice and guidance.

 

Brenda Darling, Past President of the Board for The Alumnae Theatre Company

We look forward to continuing the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network in 2021-2022!


November 2020 Program Updates

After a lot of work behind the scenes, ArtsBuild Ontario is happy to announce some great news about our LEARN IT | BUILD IT | MANAGE IT Workshop and Webinars, and the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network 2021-2022.

LEARN IT | BUILD IT | MANAGE IT

LEARN IT | BUILD IT | MANAGE IT (LIBIMI) began as a two-part workshop and webinar series. That covered 4 key areas that support creative space capital projects:

  • Alternative Financing
  • Community Engagement
  • Building/Renovating
  • Maintaining/Managing Creative Spaces

Part 1 began with workshops in several communities. However, as the health and safety of our participants is of the utmost importance, and in light of concerns regarding workshop attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic, ABO has decided to change these workshops into one-on-one virtual sessions to complement the part 2 webinars.

Our Virtual Consultative Sessions kick off with finishing LIBIMI Part 1! Part 1 covers the topics of Alternative Financing for Capital Projects and Engaging Community in Capital Project and will conclude with two Virtual Consultative Sessions for participants within the Cambridge area.

In these sessions, participants in and near Cambridge with a creative space project in mind will have an opportunity to sign up for a one-on-one consultation with presenters Julia Vlad and Jeremy Freiburger. Presenters will offer guidance and perspective based on their expertise and pertaining to their session topics.

Cambridge Virtual Consultative Sessions are January 12 & 19 2021. Learn more about them here, or apply for a spot here. Applications close on December 10, 2020.

We will have more information about the LIBIMI Part 2 Webinars in the coming months, so please keep a lookout for that!

Creative Spaces Mentoring Network 2021-2022

We’re happy to announce the 2021-2022 edition of the Creative Space Mentoring Network! We are now seeking mentors for current and future iterations of the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network! If you have been part of a capital project, strategic plan, or have the knowledge to share in arts management, the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network provides an opportunity for you to support fellow arts managers and foster strong arts and heritage sectors.

To support our mentors during COVID-19, ABO will provide a one-time honorarium to mentors matched with mentees for CSMN 2021-2022.

How To Apply:

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please complete this Mentor Interest Form. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Poole, Program Manager, at amy@artsbuildontario.ca or 519-880-3670 ext. 102.

Learn more about the CSMN 2021-2022 program here and stay tuned for when we start looking for mentees!


The Creative Spaces Mentoring Network is Accepting Applications for 2020-21!

 

Mentorship is about expanding your knowledge, growing your skills and making connections. ArtsBuild Ontario’s Creative Spaces Mentoring Network (CSMN) is a mentoring program for cultural leaders in Ontario’s art sector focused on strengthening the business and management skills needed to successfully oversee, renew and develop creative spaces. The 2020-21 CSMN program is now open for applications!

HOW IT WORKS
ArtsBuild Ontario will match cultural leaders from around Ontario with experienced mentors from their own or other sectors.  After an initial training workshop, the mentoring teams will meet in person for up to three hours monthly from June 2020 to May 2021. The mentoring team discussions are confidential and will focus on particular challenges and skills identified by the mentee at the beginning of the partnership. All teams will take part in a Kick-Off Workshop and Wrap Up Webinar.  Additional training materials and learning opportunities, including webinars on creative space projects, will be provided to participants.

PROGRAM TIMELINE

Deadline for Mentee Applications Friday, March 13, 2020
Application Selection March 2020
Partner Matching March 2020 – May 2020
First Training Webinar Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Mentoring Sessions Begin Monday, June 1, 2020
Mid-Program Workshop/Webinar Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Wrap Up Webinar Week of April 26, 2021

HOW TO APPLY
1. Complete the Application Form
2. Provide a letter of support for your mentee application
3. Record a 1 – 2 minute video on your smartphone or web camera telling us: about you and your organization, your facilities plans and/or projects, and how this opportunity would benefit you. Email your video with your application.
4. Submit the application online and email the letter of support as well as a video file or link to Amy Poole, Program Manager at amy@artsbuildontario.ca.

If you are selected and matched with a mentor there will be a $200 +HST program fee and there will be a letter of agreement to be signed outlining your role and our expectations.

If you are selected by ArtsBuild Ontario, we will work hard to match you with a suitable mentor based on the skills outlined in your application.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For more information about the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network, please contact Amy Poole, Program Manager at 519.880.3670 ext 102 or amy@artsbuildontario.ca.

Read more information on the Creative Spaces Mentoring Network page!