Taking PRIDE in Creative Spaces

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June 1st marks the beginning of Pride Month, which celebrates the 2SLGBTQIA+ * community. Pride also reminds us all to reflect on the continued fight against discrimination and hate. The origin of Pride stems from the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City. Beginning with a raid on June 28th, 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, over the course of a week thousands gathered at the Stonewall Inn. Protests against the New York City police department by 2SLGBTQIA+ groups lasted for a six day period. Although protests had occurred before, this uprising marked the beginning of a fundamental change in the perception of sexual orientation and gender identity on a broad scale. Many countries now host Pride parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia, concerts and other events to reflect on the contributions, achievements, and struggles of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

ArtsBuild Ontario encourages people to learn about and support 2SLGBTQIA+ spaces and organizations. While we highlight three Toronto-based groups here, we recognize that there are many others across the province and Canada. ArtsBuild Ontario does not discriminate and does not tolerate discrimination, against anyone based on their sexual preference, or gender identity, or mental and/or physical ability, and we strive to represent this commitment in our actions. Support for our 2SLGBTQIA+  colleagues, friends, and family doesn’t end when June does.

ArQuives

ArQuives, 2020

Located in Toronto, the ArQuives is the largest independent 2SLGBTQIA+ archive in the world. This archive documents history in a variety of different ways; textual records, audio visual records, posters, photographs, artifacts and artworks. The ArQuives welcomes contributions on an ongoing basis. This is a safe space for building a lasting repository where members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ can feel accepted, valued, and celebrated.

Donate here. 

Buddies in Bad Times

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Buddies in Bad Times is “Toronto’s leading destination for artistically rigorous alternative theatre and a world leader in developing queer voices and stories for the stage”. As the largest and longest-running queer theatre in the world, Buddies supports year-round programming that includes a full season of queer theatre, new works festivals, artist residencies, and intergenerational training and education initiatives. For over 40 years this renowned theatre has welcomed well over one million visitors and premiered over 1,000 works of unique content. 

Donate here. 

Artists Mentoring Youth ( The AMY Project)

This is a Toronto-based organization that is committed providing accessible, affirming performing arts training & creation programs for women and non-binary youth from equity-seeking communities. The AMY Project strives to break down barriers which cause youth to be unable to pursue their artistic passions. Whether social, economic, racial, etc, The AMY Project fights these systemic inequities to foster a safe and creative space. As part of their mandate, they offer “free performing arts training programs serving young women and non-binary youth. AMY breaks down barriers to participation by providing meals and transportation; accessible, queer and trans inclusive and anti-racist environments; one-on-one mentorship”. 

Donate here. 

*We recognize that this acronym does not encompass all sexualities, gender identities and expressions. ArtsBuild Ontario recognizes that there is a wide spectrum and our intention is to be as inclusive as we can.  For more information on terminology, click here.

Winter Internship through Humber College with ArtsBuild

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During the Winter semester of 2021, ArtsBuild was fortunate enough to have a Program Assistant intern.

Warren Bain, a student of the Arts Administration & Cultural Management Program at Humber College, spent four months evaluating ArtsBuild’s programs and overall structures.

We recently caught up with Warren and here is what he had to say about his time with ArtsBuild.

Photo Credit: Mark Binks Photography

“As part of my learning with the Arts Administration & Cultural Management Program at Humber College I completed a winter internship with ArtsBuild Ontario. The entire placement occurred remotely online and I had an enjoyable experience. As a Program Assistant I worked closely with Interim Executive Director Diana Moser and Program Manager Amy Poole.

I was brought in to do an evaluation of much of ABO’s materials in what I came to call “An Outside Perspective on the Current Workings of ArtsBuild Ontario”. Diana helped steer me through close to 10 years of material and I was happily given agency to ask for whatever I needed and encouraged to investigate whatever I was curious about. The full report came to 40 pages in length and as ABO looks ahead to a new Strategic Plan, I am hopeful that my report will be of value and use.

The internship was a stimulating and informative learning experience for me. I was tasked with completing many different administrative jobs including reporting, data entry, research, and analysis. I participated and engaged in written and spoken communication through weekly staff meetings, emails (I got my own fancy ABO email to use), reporting, and representing ABO during third party engagements (webinar’s, a CPAMO meeting, and a Scarborough arts meeting). The evaluation was my first solo undertaking of such a large-scale administrative project, and stress management was key to the success of my writing. This was a challenge I had not fully appreciated, and I am happy to have experienced it in an internship especially considering the breadth of health management many people have had to navigate while working from home.

My experience with ABO led me to learn of many arts organizations in Ontario. Arts work can often be lonely work but my time with ABO showed me how connected we all are. I look forward to hearing more from great companies and ABO in the future – though not through a screen but rather in real life!”

Thank you Warren for your hard work throughout the semester!

ArtsBuild Ontario’s New Resource Library Launched

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ArtsBuild Ontario is happy to launch the newly revamped Resource Library! The Resource Library includes external resources on Building, Managing, Financing, and Greening your creative spaces. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive collection of external resources to support the development and sustainability of non-profit, arts, heritage, community, and faith-based organizations’ spaces and projects. ArtsBuild Ontario is happy to offer this resource, and we look forward to growing it even more over time!

Click here to visit the Resource Library!

ArtsBuild Ontario Announces New Program & Communications Coordinator

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KITCHENER – April 28, 2021 – ArtsBuild Ontario (ABO) is happy to announce the appointment of Tatiana Poluch as the new Program & Communications Coordinator.

Tatiana will be responsible for supporting ABO program and project deliverables, managing all internal and external communications, and coordinating the 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace activities. Tatiana comes to ABO with a background in museum studies, historical researching, and writing.

“We’re excited to have Tatiana join ABO! She brings key skills and a fresh perspective to our organization, and we are looking forward to the future with Tatiana as part of our team.” – Diana Moser, Interim Executive Director

Tatiana is experienced in content curation, community engagement, and program development in the arts and culture sector. She is dedicated to promoting the arts and furthering the reach of diverse artists and their vision. She volunteers with several arts organizations such as the Guelph Arts Council and Remarque Art Consulting.

Tatiana holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, with a History major and Art History minor, as well as a Master of Museum Studies degree from the University of Toronto.

Please join us in welcoming Tatiana to her new role at ABO!

 

CSMN Mentee Spotlight: Brenda Darling, The Alumnae Theatre Company

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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!