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Hello, 2021 - I see you got acquainted with 2020 on your way in.
You know that feeling when you lie down to take a nap during daylight, and when you wake up, it’s dark outside? It’s discombobulating and unsettling. It usually takes an hour or so before my brain and body start talking to each other again and come to a mutual understanding of space and time. That’s kind of how I felt leaving 2020.
Disappointing, disturbing, disruptive, disjointing, despairing, dreadful, detrimental - all words offered by one reader to describe 2020 - is how I felt stepping into 2021.
With recent events shining a light on emboldened white supremacists, words fall short to describe what I feel.
It feels more urgent than ever that we come together, galvanize difference and make our stories visible.
Network Connector is the start of bringing these stories together. We’re excited about working with members of Network Connector to co-create and problem-solve ideas that amplify our voices and overpower the oppressive ideologies that surround us. There are now 75 members and growing. If you haven’t already become a member, you can add your profile here and join us on this journey.
Thank you for reading. If you’re seeing this newsletter for the first time, you can read previous issues and subscribe here.
Warmest,
Lindsay
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Creative Users Projects News
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75 members and growing!
Check out Network Connector, an online directory of artists, service providers and others working in accessibility, disability and the arts. Whether you're looking for someone to work with or collaborate with on a project, you can find them here. Learn more about Network Connector or become a member at creativeusers.net/network.
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Highlights from the Community
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Featured Event: Next Stage Community Booster
January 21st - January 24th
Join Toronto Fringe for Next Stage Community Booster, a four-day event that will be a boost of energy, ideas, creativity, and friendship for those enduring an isolated pandemic winter. The event will feature digital performances from acclaimed indie artists, a half-day conference for the indie theatre community, livestreamed conversations on urgent topics, a digital Self-Care Hub, audio experiences, and more! Next Stage Community Booster will feature events with ASL interpretation, including all Facebook Live events and a performance by Tamyka Bullen in ASL. All video and audio pieces will be accompanied by screen-reader friendly PDF transcripts, and many events will have captioning.
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Unlimited Festival
The fifth Unlimited Festival runs through January 17th. This digital rendition is entirely free and features dance, performance, comedy, music and visual art that celebrates the artistic vision and creativity of disabled artists. Check out this weekend's schedule, where you can find events with British Sign Language, audio description, captioning, and relaxed performances.
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Disabled BIPOC Emerging Artist Micro Grant
The Cyborg Circus Project and the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) present the Disabled BIPOC Artist Micro-grant Program. This program is a one-time micro grant opportunity for Disabled BIPOC emerging artists in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Artists should be within the first five years of their career and be experiencing some kind of barrier artistically or personally that these funds could help address. An ASL version of this call for applications is available. Applications are due tonight at 11:59 pm EST.
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Job Posting: Project Coordinator
Eastern Front Theatre is looking for a Project Coordinator for their Accessibility Project, an initiative to create more accessible live performance spaces and rehearsal settings for community members and artists who typically face barriers ─ whether physical, neurological, cultural, or economic. This contract position is based in Halifax/Kjipuktuk but is open to residents of Nova Scotia. The application deadline is January 25th.
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VocalEye upcoming events
Starting January 20th, VocalEye presents their New Year Full of Zoom, replacing their live events during the pandemic. They'll be presenting a variety of described performance videos (theatre, opera, dance), festival highlights, visual art tours, described film screenings and cultural tours featuring local artists and other special guests that you can enjoy from home, free of charge!
January 16th and January 23rd, learn the basic skills and approaches used by professionals for describing dance for audience members who are blind with the workshops Describing Dance - in Two Acts. Workshops will be offered over Zoom.
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Job Opportunity: Research Associate
Re•Vision: The Centre for Art and Social Justice is seeking a full-time Research Associate II to support research at the Re•Vision Centre for Art and Social Justice in the College of Social and Applied Human Sciences at the University of Guelph. This position will play a key role in a few interconnected research projects at the Centre related to experiences of access, social change, and technology in the arts sector. The closing date for applications is January 18th.
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2021 BIPOC Public Art Residency
Are you, or an artist you know, interested in gaining experience, building networks and professional skills needed to launch or expand a public art practice? STEPS is launching CreateSpace, a national public art residency program designed in consultation with advisors from coast to coast, to provide emerging Black, Indigenous and racialized artists with the skills, relationships and practical experience needed to take their public art practice to the next level. The deadline for submissions for the CreateSpace BIPOC Public Art Residency is January 31st at 11:59pm EST.
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The Collaborative Poem Project
On January 21st, join Listen To Dis Community Arts Organization for the Collaborative Poem Project with Danielle Richardson. During this free collaborative writing workshop over Zoom, you'll work together to create something new. Explore poetry and the craft of describing emotions using different writing/creating techniques. ASL interpretation will be provided.
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Job Opportunities: reachAbility
reachAbility, based in Halifax, exists to serve individuals who face barriers to inclusion and community participation. They are currently seeking applications for a two positions: a Grant Writer and a Facilitator. Both positions are full-time, with negotiable start dates. Apply as soon as possible!
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Call for Mentors - Mentor in Residence Program
Neighbourhood Arts Network and North York Arts present the Mentor in Residence program, supporting career planning, project development, and developing entrepreneurial skills through virtual consultation sessions with industry professionals through one-on-one consultations delivered remotely. Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Disabled people and 2SLGBTQ+ mentors will be prioritized. This is a paid opportunity with mentors compensated $50 per hour for a total of 20 hours annually. You'll hear back in mid-late February regarding the status of your application.
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Time Lapse: Posthumous Conversations
On January 20th, pay tribute to the memory and legacy of disability arts pioneer Geoff McMurchy with a retrospective of his works. McMurchy was known for his elaborate art assemblages, often made of pieces salvaged as he wheeled around the city’s alleyways. This virtual tour will include a slide show of images from the exhibit with verbal descriptions and commentary from guest curators. Join VocalEye in their virtual lobby for some pre-show mingling with host Amy Amantea, before the descriptive pre-show introduction, audio described virtual tour with special guest curators, discussion, Q&A and a prize draw!
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Podcast: Disability Stage Right
Disability Stage Right (DSR) is a podcast about putting artists, access and disability on stage, right. DSR examines access to, and the barriers faced in, training, physical spaces and attitudes through interviews and discussions with incredible Canadian theatre and performing artists with disabilities. Check out the latest episode for a discussion with actor, writer, director, and theatre founder Debbie Patterson with hosts Myles and Stefanie in conversation about a wide range of topics, including why it's important for society to re-frame our understanding of "access".
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Quarantine Concerts w/ Gaelynn Lea
Join Gaelynn Lea for a weekly concert on YouTube featuring improvisational live-looped violin, original tunes, and remote special guests! This week, Gaelynn welcomes two special guests: father/son Chicago-based rock heroes Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) & Spencer Tweedy. Captions will be provided. The hope is to create some chill ambiance for your Sunday afternoon!
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Job opportunity: Re•Storying Autism in Education
The Re•Storying Autism in Education project is an arts-based, community-engaged multimedia storytelling project and international collaboration of autistic, neurodivergent and non-autistic educators, practitioners, family members, artists and researchers creating new theoretical and methodological knowledge in education (broadly conceived) that moves beyond dominant deficit models to value and desire the difference of autism. The project is seeking a part-time Research Project Coordinator; the deadline to apply is January 22nd.
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Poetry and Prose Writing From the Body-Mind
January 24th and January 31st, join the Quebec Writers' Federation for a two-session workshop for disabled writers and allies, hosted on Zoom. Practice writing in different formats, individually and in group compositions, building upon each others’ work and existing disability literature. Each session will be two and a half hours, with activities for forty-five minute periods, and breaks in between.
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Accessing the Arts Listings
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Connector is a newsletter highlighting accessible arts in Canada. In each edition, we connect artists and audiences with different organizations in regions across the country to get the word out about programming that has been curated with different bodies in mind. Our goal is to foreground Canada’s accessible arts culture by getting information out!
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