« The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation occurs on September 30. This day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and the resiliency of their communities. We encourage everyone to take the time on this day—and all days—to acknowledge and better understand the history and harms done, explore the vast learning resources available, donate to and support important related causes and organizations, and participate in programs created and led by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit organizers.

Culture Days has set September 30, 2022 aside to create space exclusively for events organized to commemorate the NDTR, including those aimed at sharing First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit experiences and perspectives and uplifting the creative and cultural expressions of Indigenous people and communities. »

For more information and Culture Days’ page of events, organizations, resources, and learning opportunities related to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, please visit: https://culturedays.ca/en/resources/truth-and-reconciliation

-from Culture Days

« Hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC), this was the inaugural event of the Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), a new national network of community-engaged art for social change (ASC) artists and organizations. Right now, in every corner of Canada, community-engaged artists and organizations are nurturing new forms of collaborative creation, dialogue, partnerships, and action for positive change. At the gathering we explored important key questions: Who is doing the work? What are the current struggles and innovative solutions? How can we and how do we address issues of equity and justice? How are we rising to the critical challenges happening in the community-engaged arts landscape today? »

Session – Embedded Evaluation: Capacity Building for the Sector and Beyond

« Session – Embedded Evaluation: Capacity Building for the Sector and Beyond – Why do evaluation? Who is it for? How to explore the perspectives of participants, community partners, funders and facilitating artists/ASC organizations? How to use qualitative, quantitative and/or arts-based approaches? How can we carry out this work in respectful and useful ways? Hosted by senior ASC leader, Seanna Connell (ON), this event brings together Dr. Annalee Yassi (BC), Dr. Kim van der Woerd and Dr. Marnie Badham (Australia) who will explore this sometimes-challenging element of our work in community-engaged arts. To provide some context for this event, please visit https://icasc.ca/asc-evaluation-tool. »

Access the Art for Social Change NOW Gathering Archive here: https://icasc.ca/asc-now-archive/

-from ASCN

“Stories of Now” is a project of ArtBridges, a member of the Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC). The video was produced by Seanna Connell (ArtBridges), Flick Harrison (Polity) and Aquil Virani.

“The project is about gathering and sharing stories emanating from the field – community-engaged arts & arts for social change – now and about what issues and areas of focus matter,” says Seanna Connell. “The stories will be unique vignettes – and together – a chronicle or snapshot of the field and practice now, at this moment in time.”

Learn more at the following links:

1. Read more in-depth written stories from the Stories of Now project on the ArtBridges blog here.
2. Watch the whole zoom recording of the “Stories of Now” session when it was live at the Art for Social Change NOW national gathering on Youtube here.
3. Find more links to other panels and presentations from the national gathering in the archive here.

-from ASCN

« Hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC), this was the inaugural event of the Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), a new national network of community-engaged art for social change (ASC) artists and organizations. Right now, in every corner of Canada, community-engaged artists and organizations are nurturing new forms of collaborative creation, dialogue, partnerships, and action for positive change. At the gathering we explored important key questions: Who is doing the work? What are the current struggles and innovative solutions? How can we and how do we address issues of equity and justice? How are we rising to the critical challenges happening in the community-engaged arts landscape today? »

Session – The Power of Partnerships in Arts for Social Change

« The creation of reciprocal and trusting partnerships is central to both short and longer-term ASC community-engaged initiatives. Our panel of experienced ASC practitioners will explore the often-complex elements for success, including taking the time to understand each other’s perspectives, language and processes; defining roles and responsibilities, and clarifying goals and capacities and sustainability. Hosted by Judith Marcuse with presenters Candice Lys (NWT), Laura Barron (BC), Dr. Louise Comeau (NB), and Karin Lavoie (QC) who will share experience and perspectives and then open up the conversation to your questions and comments. »

Access the Art for Social Change NOW Gathering Archive here: https://icasc.ca/asc-now-archive/

-from ASCN

« Hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC), this was the inaugural event of the Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), a new national network of community-engaged art for social change (ASC) artists and organizations. Right now, in every corner of Canada, community-engaged artists and organizations are nurturing new forms of collaborative creation, dialogue, partnerships, and action for positive change. At the gathering we explored important key questions: Who is doing the work? What are the current struggles and innovative solutions? How can we and how do we address issues of equity and justice? How are we rising to the critical challenges happening in the community-engaged arts landscape today? »

Session – Communities of Hope: Decolonization and Connection for the Revolution Summary

« Join three leaders in discussing ways in which the Art for Social Change sector can embrace anti-colonial practices that center equity and justice through models of care and community. Implicit in this discussion is a consideration of the need for creative spaces that resist exploitative institutional frameworks, the role of artists in imagining our collective future, and the function of nuance in our work. Panelists will also offer tactics for holding onto hope and prioritizing individual and community wellness as integral practices when investing in substantive social change. Speakers include: Allison Yearwood (MB), Vanessa Richards (BC), and Albert McLeod (MB). »

Access the Art for Social Change NOW Gathering Archive here: https://icasc.ca/asc-now-archive/

-from ASCN

« Hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC), this was the inaugural event of the Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), a new national network of community-engaged art for social change (ASC) artists and organizations. Right now, in every corner of Canada, community-engaged artists and organizations are nurturing new forms of collaborative creation, dialogue, partnerships, and action for positive change. At the gathering we explored important key questions: Who is doing the work? What are the current struggles and innovative solutions? How can we and how do we address issues of equity and justice? How are we rising to the critical challenges happening in the community-engaged arts landscape today? »

Session – The Art for Social Change Network (ASCN): Who and What?

« Who are we? What are the goals? Hear from each of the ASCN hubs from across the country on what they’re doing in the field of art for social change (ASC). Hosted by Judith Marcuse (BC). Speakers include: Jacob Zimmer (YK), Marie Coderre (NWT), Sally Njoroge (AB), Judy McNaughton (SK), Josh Ruth (MB, Seanna Connell (ON), Maude Levasseur (QC), Saa Andrew (NB), Natasha Blackwood (NFLD), Tim Borlase (LAB), Megan Stewart (PEI), and Heather Wilkinson (NS). »

Access the Art for Social Change NOW Gathering Archive here: https://icasc.ca/asc-now-archive/

-from ASCN

« Hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC), this was the inaugural event of the Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), a new national network of community-engaged art for social change (ASC) artists and organizations. Right now, in every corner of Canada, community-engaged artists and organizations are nurturing new forms of collaborative creation, dialogue, partnerships, and action for positive change. At the gathering we explored important key questions: Who is doing the work? What are the current struggles and innovative solutions? How can we and how do we address issues of equity and justice? How are we rising to the critical challenges happening in the community-engaged arts landscape today? »

Session – Art for Social Change: Digital Strategies

« The world is becoming increasingly digitized and this affects how we approach art for social change. The virtual space offers endless tools for innovation and also presents some significant challenges when it comes to authenticity and community engagement. Panelists will discuss how they have used their respective digital strategies to forward their work for social change through the arts and some of the ways they have navigated challenges within the digital space. Questions about access and representation, as well as innovation and the future of art for social change in an ever-changing environment, will be brought into discourse with panelists and attendees. Featuring: Adonis Huggins (ON), LeeAnne Ireland (AB), and Joy Balmana (MB). Hosted by Josh Ruth (MB). »

Access the Art for Social Change NOW Gathering Archive here: https://icasc.ca/asc-now-archive/

-from ASCN

« Hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC), this was the inaugural event of the Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), a new national network of community-engaged art for social change (ASC) artists and organizations. Right now, in every corner of Canada, community-engaged artists and organizations are nurturing new forms of collaborative creation, dialogue, partnerships, and action for positive change. At the gathering we explored important key questions: Who is doing the work? What are the current struggles and innovative solutions? How can we and how do we address issues of equity and justice? How are we rising to the critical challenges happening in the community-engaged arts landscape today? »

Opening Session: Stories of NOW

« Hosted by Seanna Connell (Artbridges / Stories of Now) and Sally Njoroge (Trico Changemakers Studio / Artist as Changemaker), this session presents a sampling of current community-engaged work happening right now across the country.

Hear from a diverse roster of speakers, including: Miranda Bouchard (ON), Rosemary Georgeson (BC), Traci Foster (SK), Cassandra Spade (ON), Paola Gomez (ON), Moashella Shortte (NS), Glenn Marais (ON), Juliana Bedoya (BC/NB), Will Weigler (BC) and Skye Louis (AB)! »

Access the Art for Social Change NOW Gathering Archive here: https://icasc.ca/asc-now-archive/

-from ASCN

« Hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change (ICASC), this was the inaugural event of the Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), a new national network of community-engaged art for social change (ASC) artists and organizations. Right now, in every corner of Canada, community-engaged artists and organizations are nurturing new forms of collaborative creation, dialogue, partnerships, and action for positive change. At the gathering we explored important key questions: Who is doing the work? What are the current struggles and innovative solutions? How can we and how do we address issues of equity and justice? How are we rising to the critical challenges happening in the community-engaged arts landscape today? »

Access the Art for Social Change NOW Gathering Archive here: https://icasc.ca/asc-now-archive/

-from ASCN

« COVID-19 has affected the arts and culture sector across the country and had a huge impact on how we celebrated Culture Days both in 2020 and 2021. In order to understand this impact in greater depth, we used our annual survey campaign as an opportunity to ask Culture Days attendees, as well as the general public in Canada, how much and in what ways the pandemic has affected their participation in arts and culture. »

Read Culture Day’s Research here: https://culturedays.ca/en/research/covid-19-culture-days-the-arts

-from Culture Day