Arts Notes
OAC holds first Twitter Q&A
On October 20, 2010, OAC organized a Twitter chat session during the International Festival of Authors to share information about OAC programs available to Ontario literature professionals around the province. For more than two hours, OAC and other Twitter users exchanged tweets with Literature Officer John Degen, who posted information about his programs. John discussed program criteria, how funding is allocated and more. Based on the positive response and requests from Twitter users for similar OAC online events, OAC hopes to host more Twitter chats in the future. Follow OAC on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/oac_cao Top
Fast approaching: Nomination deadline for the 2011 Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts
The deadline for the
Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts is just around the corner. If you know an artist or an arts organization that would make an excellent candidate for this award, please submit a nomination
by December 1, 2010.
The Premier’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts recognize long-time outstanding achievements and contributions to arts and culture in Ontario. There are two categories, each valued at $50,000, one for an individual artist and one for an arts organization.
Download the nomination guidelines and nomination form, or request a hard copy of the nomination guidelines and nomination form. Phone 416-961-1660 extension 6666, toll free 1-800-387-0058 extension 6666, or e-mail info@arts.on.ca
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Special deadline for northern writers
OAC has added an extra deadline to the
Writers' Works in Progress program (WIP). The new deadline is designed to increase the number of applications from English-language writers who live and work in Ontario's northern regions.
The deadline is December 3, 2010. PLEASE NOTE:
- Writers who applied for the June 15, 2010, regular WIP deadline are eligible to apply for the northern deadline. Writers who have already been funded through the June 15 deadline are not eligible.
- Northern writers who have sent an application for the October 15, 2010 deadline may ask to have their application transferred to the northern competition. Writers may not have an application in both the October 15 and December 3, 2010 deadlines.
By adding the deadline, the OAC hopes to address some particular challenges northern writers face:
- higher costs for equipment, training, materials and travel
- limited access to non-governmental sources of revenue
- fewer opportunities for professional development
- difficulty networking with a community of writers and publishers
Eligibility
- Only professional writers from the northeast, northwest and far north regions are eligible to apply to this deadline. See OAC's maps of geographic regions to locate your area.
- Please see the Northern Competition Guidelines for applications and program-specific information. In these guidelines, you’ll also find the Literature Office’s definition of “professional writer.”
- Only English-language applications will be accepted for this program. For French-language programs, click here.
Results will be announced and grants will be awarded before the end of March 2011.
About the Writers' Works in Progress
The Ontario Arts Council's Literature Office created the Writers' Works in Progress program (WIP) as a “buying-time” grant for professional writers engaged in book-length literary projects. Over the years, the WIP program has supported many established and emerging Ontario writers and has provided the financial footing for many a published book.
Please spread the word about this deadline dedicated to English-language writers who live and work in Ontario's north.
For more information
Helen Floros, Literature Program Assistant, 416-969-7440
Toll free 1-800-387-0058 extension 7440, hfloros@arts.on.ca
John Degen, Literature Officer, 416-969-7438
Toll free 1-800-387-0058 extension 7438, jdegen@arts.on.ca
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Deadline to apply to Ontario’s International Cultural Initiatives program
The Ontario government’s
International Cultural Initiatives (ICI)
program provides support for initiatives that will help Ontario artists, arts organizations and industry organizations gain access to the international marketplace and develop new business opportunities.
Applicants have until
November 19, 2010 and May 2, 2011, to apply. For information about the Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s International Cultural Trade and Promotions Portfolio, visit
www.ontario.ca/intlculture Top
OAC hosts Canadian Public Arts Funders meeting
From September 21-23, 2010, OAC hosted the Canadian Public Arts Funders (CPAF) professional development meeting. Executive directors and several staff of provincial and territorial arts councils from across Canada met in Toronto. The theme for this meeting was partnerships. Members discussed partnerships with arts service organizations and non-arts sectors, as well as intergovernmental partnerships. They concluded the meeting with a discussion of best practices and CPAF’s role in fostering partnerships.
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2010 Ontario Dance Platform, a celebration of dance in Ontario
Canadian and international arts presenters, choreographers, dancers and dance companies immersed themselves in a dynamic showcase of Ontario’s dance scene for three days in September. Ontario Dance Platform was an exciting opportunity to experience a diversity of Ontario dance artists working in traditional, classical and contemporary dance styles.
Networking opportunities for both artists and presenters abounded. And the workshops helped participants build on their core competencies. The touring workshop alone drew representatives from more than 20 dance companies.
For many, the benefits of Ontario Dance Platform were immediate. Several dance artists received engagement offers, including an invitation to an international hip hop festival in London, UK. For all presenters, the event resulted in an enhanced understanding of the range of styles and genres of work produced in the province. Ontario dance artists learned a variety of skills including how to pitch their work effectively. Overall, Ontario Dance Platform resulted in a renewed sense of pride and a greater awareness of professional dance in Ontario.
The event was organized by Community Cultural Impresarios (CCI) Ontario’s Presenting Network and funded in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts.
About Ontario Dance Platform
Ontario Dance Platform is a new initiative of OAC’s Ontario Dances, a funding program launched in 2008 to encourage Ontario arts presenters to incorporate more live dance performances in their communities and to increase the number of Ontarians engaged and interested in dance.
For more information, please contact Myles Warren, Dance Officer, 416-969-7422, toll free 1-800-387-0058 extension 7422, mwarren@arts.on.ca
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2010 Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award
Lynne Hanson is the 2010 recipient of the Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award for her song “
Rest of my Days”
The award was presented during the
Ontario Council of Folk Festival’s 24
th annual conference gala dinner on Saturday, October 16, 2010.
Read the press release
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Staff Comings and Goings
We are very pleased to announce that
Eleanor Albanese will be joining us as
Interim Associate Arts Education Officer while
Christina Akrong is away on maternity leave. We also welcome
Cathryn Gregor as
Arts Investment Fund Manager. Cathryn will work with recipients of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture’s three-year Arts Investment Fund.
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