Party for Arts Administrators!

If you work in the arts and wish you could get out there and connect with more people in different disciplines in a relaxed atmosphere with some tunes and drinks … then here is your answer:

The Emerging Arts Professional Network (EAP) is hosting its first ever EAP Connects event which aims to bring those who are in a senior position within the arts and those who are just starting out. This event will be happening on the last Tuesday of every month, so if you miss out this time, there’s always next month, but it should be a blast! I’ll be there (I’m on the EAP Committee) so drop by and say hi …

Have a great idea? Maybe you can get some money for it!

Some information that I just received at work … thought it would be interesting to post this. Sounds like a great opportunity!

Do you have a great idea for a Social Purpose Enterprise that would employ people who are homeless or low income?

The Toronto Enterprise Fund provides grants to social purpose enterprises -  revenue generating ventures founded by non-profit organizations or community groups to create jobs or training opportunities for very low-income individuals.

To apply for a grant, your organization or group must have a comprehensive business plan and enter our 2008 Business Plan Competition! This year, the deadline for the Competition is September 15th 2008. If you are a finalist, you will receive seed funding between $5000 and $50 000 to start up your social purpose enterprise. For more details on eligibility and how to apply, visit our website.

Need help developing your idea and writing a comprehensive business plan? The Toronto Enterprise Fund provides a range of supports as well links to other seminars and workshops that will help you research and write a business plan.  You can also check the “Upcoming Seminars and Events” on the Enterprise Toronto’s website regularly for business plan workshops.

Announcing our first workshop of the year

Workshop – An Introduction to Social Purpose Enterprise

Please join us on Thursday, March 27th from 9:30am until 12:00pm for an interactive workshop focusing on social purpose enterprise.

For organizations and community groups who are interested in social purpose enterprise, this workshop will help you to understand the difference between different types of social enterprises and explore the organizational characteristics that lead to successful implementation. We will also do an exercise to brainstorm business ideas that might be a good fit for your organization. You will come away from this workshop with information about Toronto-based resources and funding opportunities such as the Toronto Enterprise Fund’s Business Plan Competition. Come find out if social purpose enterprise is right for your organization!

The workshop will be held in Suite 120 at the Centre for Social Innovation located at 215 Spadina Ave. in downtown Toronto.

Please RSVP by March 24th to
Susannah Cameron
Coordinator, Toronto Enterprise Fund
scameron@uwgt.org

Text Refashion is looking for YOU!

A good friend of mine is putting together the second installment of “Text Refashion” which launched quite successfully last year at The Gladstone Hotel. It was a fantastic evening of art installations on the second floor of the hotel. More is explained in the details below. I know the deadline is today – but I’m sure you could probably slip in a submission.

(Hope Mike doesn’t kill me for saying that)

Even if you don’t submit, this is definitely something worth checking out when the next installment takes place!

Call for submissions

Skinny Jo Productions is seeking artists of all disciplines to submit for a chance to be part of the collective of SJP’s 2nd TEXT refashion.  In April 2007, SJP held TEXT refashion: Project 1 at the Gladstone Hotel with major success, and now we are ready to hit the 2nd project with full force.

TEXT is a conceptual art/media project that encourages artists’ off every medium to find inspiration through words and art as a whole.  The concept is simple and unique:  Through 1 chosen piece of text, 10 artists’ will express the text’s message through their art medium and will be given 2 weeks each (in sequence) to create the text and the art that preceded them as they see fit.

We are seeking visual and performance artists, writers, designers, and beyond. Beyond can be chefs, carpenters, fashionistas etc?

Your deadline to submit your interest is MARCH 20, 2008

We are also seeking those interested in marketing, producing and funding.

Please contact:
Michael Soulard
textrefashion@mac.com
or
416-455-5753

Tags: Art, Installation, Exhibit, Call for Submission

Go Live Toronto Podcast – new episode!

Here’s a little bit of self promotion …

If you haven’t heard, I put together a podcast once a week for the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts and the Go Live Toronto campaign. Each week I give listeners an overview of the shows opening in Toronto in the coming week.

Podcasts can be subscribed to via iTunes or the RSS feed on the Go Live Toronto website. A new one was just posted today (although they are generally posted on Monday).

Check it out and let me know what you think … always looking for feedback to make it better!

Where does stuff come from … and go?

So this isn’t so Toronto specific, but more of a global post. Have you ever wondered where all that stuff we collect – you know, the kind that really has no use in our every day life and eventually gets packed away and forgotten about – ever wonder where it comes from, and where it goes?

If your answer is yes (even if it’s not, you should check this out), may I suggest this website: the Story of Stuff.

Remember, you can start your spring cleaning now!

Hot desks! Get your hot desks here …

I rent a desk at the Centre for Social Innovation at Queen and Spadina. It’s an amazing space chock a block full of interesting organizations and people working here such as Spacing Magazine, Remarkk!, VoCA and the Creative Trust.

The space is incredibly community oriented (anyone can come on up to the 4th floor and grab a cup of organic coffee with organic milk and sugar), relax on the couches or book one of the many board rooms for free. They’ve even created a health plan for us tenants here so those of us who work alone have the chance to be healthy without paying an arm and a leg. I especially enjoy being surrounded by so many eco-friendly, design oriented, like-minded people whom I can turn to at any given moment and ask for assistance with a question, grab a bite to eat with, or share an interesting tidbit of information.

But one of the most interesting concepts that is relatively new to Toronto, is The Workspace Commons. Recently launched here at an event with Mayor David Miller, City Councilor Adam Vaughn, NDP MP Olivia Chow, and former Prime Minister Paul Martin in attendance, The Workspace Commons is described as such:

“The Centre for Social Innovation provides part-time workspace and shared services in a beautifully restored warehouse space @ Queen & Spadina. Whether you are a small volunteer group that just needs a place to meet, a social entrepreneur in early start-up or a seasoned professional looking for a place to greet clients and check email between meetings, CSI is a place to make connections, find synergies and work together to change the world.

All members access a full suite of office services and amenities including high speed internet, photocopying, faxing, mail boxes, meeting rooms, shared kitchen and reception. But the magic is in the synergies and connections that are sparking social change everyday!”

This space is ideal for anyone who doesn’t need a permanent full time desk space but needs access to amenities such as board rooms, kitchen facilities, e.mail access (free wifi and ethernet access!), phone lines, photocopier, printer etc.

CSI is pushing forward to try and make more people aware about this amazing opportunity. It’s pretty groundbreaking for Toronto. So if you’re looking for a space like this, or know someone who is, check it out! Or just drop by for a coffee …

Tags: News, Toronto, Social Innovation, Work space

It’s been a long time …

Who knew starting your own business would suck up so much time and energy!?

I sure didn’t.

But I’d like to get back into this blogging thing and try and write at least one entry a day. They may be short, but I think it’ll be a good exercise for me to also get back into the habit of writing – something that I do miss (and considering I studied it in school, I figured I should maybe do it outside of writing e.mails).

So I thought one way to get myself up and going again would be to write about a discovery I’ve made, big or small. That’s part of the reason for this blog, right? When you explore, you discover.

Today, I discovered my love of Hibiscus Organics in Kensington Market thanks to my friend Alexis who introduced it to me.

One word describes this place: Delicious!

It’s a small restaurant with a few places to sit and eat or take out. Today I had the salad and soup combo. The salad includes a wide range of bean, grain and veggie salads – all different tastes to wet the palette – and comes in a easy to transport container. The soup is a veggie medley which is perfect to warm the soul. Plus you get an organic rice cake with a tamarind-type (I’m guessing on this one) spread. And all for $7.50! It’s a steal!

They have delightful looking cookies such as pistachio and cranberry which are all vegan-ready. The staff is very friendly and the atmosphere is calm and inviting.

If you need a quick bite and you’re around the market, you must try Hibiscus Organics!

Tags: Toronto, food, organic, Kensington Market, soup, salad

I’m a published author!

Who would’a thunk it, but I’m a published author now!

It was over a year and a half ago – almost two years now – that Sky Gilbert called me asking for a few samples of my writing as he was putting together an anthology of gay playwrights … so I sent him a few things I had written, didn’t hear anything for a few months, gave up, and then got the call that he was going to be using a few of my monologues and scenes in the anthology! Colour me surprise …

So the book has finally been published and there’s a launch party on Tuesday at the Gladstone. If you’ve got nothing else to do that night, c’mon out and enjoy some gay dramatic fun!

Playwright’s Canada Press announces the arrival of
Gay Monologues and Scenes: An Anthology
Edited by Sky Gilbert

Join PCP as we celebrate the publication of Gay Monologues and Scenes, an anthology edited by Sky Gilbert.
This exciting collection of contemporary gay Canadian theatre will be launched at the Gladstone Hotel Art Bar on Tuesday, October 16th, at 8pm.

rief readings from Gay Monologues and Scenes will be performed by Edward Roy, Peter Lynch, David Bateman, Salvatore Antonio, Tony Berto, Jefferson Guzman and Sean Reycraft. The ever-genial RM Vaughan will host the evening, and the even more genial Sky Gilbert will be in attendance, along with the authors, to sign books.

Gay Monologues and Scenes: An Anthology features work by
Salvatore Antonio
David Bateman
Tony Berto
Ken Brand
Gavin Crawford
Julian Doucet
Paul Dunn
Blair Francey
Jefferson Guzman
Peter Lynch
Michael Lewis MacLennan
Jordan Patterson
Sean Reycraft
David Roche
Edward Roy
Colin Thomas
RM Vaughan

For further information, please contact Annie Gibson at 416-703-0013 or at editor@playwrightscanada.com

NO CUTS TO OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES

NO CUTS TO OUR ESSENTIAL SERVICES
because it’s tough as hell to swim in empty pools?

Gathering at Nathan Phillips Square
Wednesday, September 19th
4 – 6 PM
please circulate widely

On WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19TH, 4-6PM we are calling on ALL MEMBERS OF THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND ANYBODY ELSE to convene at NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE to make it clear that we will not tolerate cuts to our essential services and that we support the Land Transfer tax.

IT’S URGENT: the councillors will be meeting on the 20th to discuss this and we need to show our city officials that we are organized and strong in numbers and that we are horrified by the city’s deteriorating quality of life.

Please show your concern by attending WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th!
because it’s tough as hell to swim in empty pools.

please circulate widely

If you have suggestions for speakers, activities or want to help organize please contact:
Heather Haynes – heather@torontofreegallery.org
Darren O’Donnell – darren@mammalian.ca
Lisa Pijuan-Nomura – girlcancreate@yahoo.ca

- the land transfer tax is a one-time 2% cost payable only when you choose to buy a house; if implemented it will avert large annual property tax increases payable each and every year
- first time home buyers will receive a rebate for the land transfer tax
- only 6 cents of every tax dollar you pay goes to the city. The remaining 94 cents goes to the provincial and federal governments.

30 seconds to save the Arts in Toronto

This is a very important message and one that I feel very passionate about!

Take a moment to read this over, then copy the message below, send an e.mail and forward on to all of your friends!

You are being forwarded this email as a person who cares about Toronto.

Did you know the city’s budget crisis could mean the end to theatres, galleries, festivals, concerts and all funding to writers, artists and musicians? It could also mean the end to libraries, community centres and health programs—everything that makes Toronto one of the world’s most livable cities.

Your action now can prevent this.

The city has never been closer to the brink. In just 30 seconds you can help avert cuts to the fabric of our city:

1. CREATE a new email, addressed to clerk@toronto.ca; cc’d to: dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org, hhampton-qp@ndp.on.ca, john.tory@pc.ola.org

2. TYPE the following subject line: “Yes to land transfer tax. Please copy to Mayor and City Councillors (arts)”

3. PASTE this paragraph into the body of the email (or make up your own):

“Dear Mayor Miller and City Councillors:
My Toronto includes:

• the arts
• libraries
• community centres
• recreation programs
• public health services
• museums
• and the TTC

To protect my city, I support the land transfer tax as an immediate solution to Toronto’s financial crisis.

your name
address
postal code”

4. DON’T FORGET your name, address, and postal code at bottom

5. PRESS send.

PLEASE DO THIS TODAY. THE CITY VOTE WILL BE SEPTEMBER 20!

10,000+ EMAILS NEED TO REACH CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK. EACH ONE WILL BE READ.

FORWARD WIDELY.

There is a lot of misinformation circulating about the land transfer tax. Did you know:

• The land transfer tax is a one-time 2% cost payable only when you choose to buy a house; if implemented it will avert large annual property tax increases payable each and every year
• First time home buyers will receive a rebate for the land transfer tax
• Only 6 cents of every tax dollar you pay goes to the city. The remaining 94 cents goes to the provincial and federal governments.

For more information on the land transfer tax, and the city’s upcoming vote www.fairtaxes.ca.

For more information on Toronto artists’ response to the city budget crisis click www.torontoartscoalition.org.

The artists and audiences of Toronto thank you for adding your voice to the growing movement to save our City.

Signed,
From The Arts For the City