what’s on(line) + what brings you hope
November 12, 2020
we’re dreaming up new ways to connect you to the artists using the space to research, experiment, and create while our doors are closed to the public.
Do you miss the café as much as we do? The vibe of people working away, taking a break, having a coffee, a chance encounter, a laugh shared between old friends—we hope What’s On(line) will recreate some of that sense of connection. Each month, you’ll get an exclusive look at what’s going on behind the scenes; offering insights into the creative process or quick connections with an artist.
Last month, daniel jelani ellis, Neema Bickersteth and Nikki Shaffeeullah gave our Instagram community a glimpse into their process. If you missed them, don’t worry; we’ll be handing the reins over to artists and staff more often over the next several months. Follow along on Instagram or Facebook to learn more about the people behind the art. None of this would be possible without the artists’ continued commitment to working safely and abiding by our community accountability agreement. This month, Finishing artist Victoria Mata and her crew will be in the space—keep reading to meet her.
We hope you enjoy this chance to connect with the artmakers who are inventing the future. Grab a drink and enjoy!
hi, victoria!
If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
To Venezuela in a heartbeat.
Favourite park in your city?
I love the lakeshore, is it considered a park?
What’s the best advice you’ve ever heard?
Everything takes longer. The only thing that doesn’t have a solution is death.
What are you listening to?
Currently a lot of experiments of strange and abstract sounds by Alexandra Gelis in the Franco Boni Theatre.
What makes you feel hopeful?
Art and the role that we artists have in sculpting a new future.
Her project Cacao | A Venezuelan Lament is a new multidisciplinary production currently in development in Residency at The Theatre Centre and with the support of Aluna Theatre.
Set amidst the annual euphoric celebrations of Venezuela’s San Juan Festival the work displays a polylinguistic convergence of sound, visual art, and the moving body. Mata’s choreographic curiosity stems from her own life experiences and follows the oppositions and tensions between traditional Afro-Venezuelan dance genres and Canadian contemporary expressions—honouring the labour and sweat of the living knowledge-holders of cacao farming communities in Venezuela.
what makes you feel hopeful?
Exploration artist Lorena Torres Loaiza is putting together an experimental project called Pandora In A Box, and as a starting point, is crowdsourcing answers to the question.
In Lorena’s words: “We’re building a giant comic people can walk through, moving the rules of comics page layout to a 3D space. For the story, we’ll explore how hope is preserved, lost, and how it can be created anew. To begin, we’ll explore the Pandora’s box myth. She’s let evil out. The world is ruined. But unlike evil, hope won’t come out of the box by itself. Perhaps she goes in the box to find it. Or perhaps the box itself is a safe place to hide, if she can ignore hope’s naïve, pesky attitude in there.” Take a moment to share your hopes with us.
learning, unlearning
“From the origins of settler colonialism to the era of reconciliation, land remains at the centre of the conflict between Indigenous peoples and Canadians. So what could a just future look like? The project of land back is about reclaiming Indigenous jurisdiction: breathing life into rights and responsibilities. This Red Paper is about how Canada dispossesses Indigenous peoples from the land, and in turn, what communities are doing to get it back.”
Browse through the summary of Land Back: The Yellowhead Institute Red Paper, beautifully illustrated by Cree-Metis artist Julie Flett, and download the report to read the full analysis.
in the community
Native Earth: Recommenders Grant for Theatre Creators
Bring your ideas to Native Earth! They’re currently accepting submissions from emerging and established theatre and multidisciplinary creators who are residents of Ontario. This program provides funding for artists to create new work and does not fund the creation of non-theatre work, workshop costs, or productions. While Native Earth prioritizes the funding of Indigenous artists, non-Indigenous artists are also welcome to apply so long as the company and work consider the seven traditional values: Courage, Generosity, Tolerance, Strength of Character, Patience, Humility, and Wisdom.
Submission deadline: November 30, 2020
WhyNot Theatre: ThisGen 2021 Fellowship
WhyNot Theatre is now accepting applications for the 2021 iteration of ThisGen Fellowship! This national initiative supports BIPOC Female, Trans, and/or Non-Binary theatre practitioners get to the next stage in their careers through training, mentorship, guided self-study, and peer-to-peer connection. 12 Fellows will be selected as part of the 2021 cohort, and applicants may apply to participate in the Director or the Cultural Leadership Stream. This program runs February–June 2021.
Submission deadline: December 4, 2020
Sky Blue Theatre Company: British Theatre Challenge
Returning for its ninth year, Sky Blue Theatre’s International Playwriting Competition will see five winning plays produced by a professional cast and crew for a one week run of performances in London, UK. Winning works will also be filmed in performance, given full written assessments by theatre pros, and considered for publication by Sky Blue Theatre Company’s partnered publishers. Note: There is a £16 submission fee per play.
Submission deadline: March 30, 2021