October 1, 2020
At the end of July, Ontario Presents announced that, with funds from the Department of Canadian Heritage, we would be offering a limited number of small grants to presenters who wish to partner with a local artist to craft a project that will engage the community with the performing arts.
We are pleased to share that 15 organizations have been approved for funding under this program and are moving ahead with plans for innovative, community-engaged projects. These organizations are:
- Brookside Music Association – Midland, ON
- Carebridge Community Support/Mississippi Mills Youth Centre – Almonte, ON
- Delta Mills Society/Delta Community Enhancement Committee – Delta, ON
- Department of Illumination – Prince Edward County, ON
- Dryden Entertainment Series – Dryden, ON
- Fergus Grand Theatre – Fergus, ON
- Huntsville Festival of the Arts – Huntsville ON
- Live from the Rock – Red Rock, ON
- Pied Piper Kids Show – Cobalt, ON
- Red Lake Wilderness Entertainment Series – Red Lake, ON
- Registry Theatre – Kitchener, ON
- Simcoe Contemporary Dancers – Barrie, ON
- Sioux Hudson Entertainment Series – Sioux Lookout, ON
- THEOP – Deep River, ON
- Waterford Old Town Hall - Waterford, ON
Projects include an outdoor storytelling event, a community-driven song and performance creation, a co-created choreography process, an opportunity for children to tell their quarantine stories, and more!
Ontario Presents will work with the participants to evaluate and document these projects. Case studies and lessons learned from will then be shared with the presenting community through OP’s community engagement website, ArtsEngageCanada.
With further thanks to the Department of Canadian Heritage, we are also thrilled to be able to provide a professional development opportunity to participating presenters and artists. This
“ArtsEngage Learning Community” will work together over the next six months to share experiences, learn from each other, and expand their understanding of community-engaged practices.
This Community will be led by ArtsEngage Project Lead Jane Marsland, OP Communications and Membership Services Coordinator Natalie Dewan, and creative producer Fanny Martin. Founder of Art of Festivals, Fanny brings extensive experience shaping cultural strategies, engaging people in the public space, designing arts-based learning programmes and creating experiences unique artistic experiences in Canada, the UK, and France.
Select webinars/virtual conversations from the Learning Community will also be open to the broader presenting community. More on these opportunities coming soon!
We are thrilled to be able to fund on-the-ground projects and to open the door to discussions on essential topics of engagement at this time of vast societal change. We look forward to sharing lessons and opportunities with our network and invite you to follow along with us in this learning journey.
For updates, be sure to sign up for our Ontario Presents enewsletter.
Questions? Email natalie@ontariopresents.ca.