ELAN — ENGLISH-LANGUAGE ARTS NETWORK

Development Plan: 2005—2010

February 7, 2005

INTRODUCTION

During the months following the Quebec Arts Summit, ELAN's ad-hoc board of representatives has worked closely with consultant Susan Grundy to elaborate a 5-year development plan based on the core objectives stated in ELAN's mission statement.

Under the guidance of this mission statement, the Development Plan presents seven (7) development strategies. Each strategy proposes specific objectives and actions. The first year of the Plan is pivotal, as significant energy will be directed towards building the network and providing the necessary tools for its members. The ability to fulfill these objectives is dependant on available funding and community support.

The following years will focus on strengthening the network and expanding it to include the greater community — both inside Quebec and across the country. Ongoing evaluation will provide the opportunity for ELAN to review and adjust so that the Plan remains fluid and responsive to the community's needs.

DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

The Plan is guided by seven development strategies which reflect the priorities raised during the Arts Summit discussions. These seven strategies are interconnected and overlapping.

The objectives and supporting actions within each strategy are presented in the following pages.

Bring the English-Language Arts Community Together

Objective 1: Make ELAN known to English-language artists in Quebec so that they can plug into the network if they desire. Reach a first-year target of 500—600 members (individuals and organizations).

Actions Year 1:

The first half of Year 1 will be devoted to bringing artists and organizations into the fold of ELAN — building the network. There will be a continued effort to identify individuals who are willing and capable contact resources for their particular discipline. The sectors will be reached through the following approach.

Actions Year 2 and beyond:

Gradually build up the membership/network base and monitor growth fluctuations.

Objective 2: In order to bring the artists together, ELAN will provide its network members with concrete tools to facilitate dialogue and to provide information.

Actions Year 1:

Once network membership has reached a minimum level of critical mass:

Actions Year 2 and beyond:

Maintain the above activities. Update. Increase frequency (newsletters, etc). where feasible.

Organize periodic artists' get-togethers around specific themes. (The artists want to meet face-to-face). For example, follow up on the suggestion for a workshop on Getting Your Event Covered by the Media.

Track/monitor growth fluctuations in the talent bank.

Objective 3: Adopt a formal structure. As the network strengthens during the first year, ELAN will be in a position to gradually evolve its operations towards a more formal structure. This will likely occur only in the second half of Year 1.

Actions Year 1 (September—December):

Define ELAN's organizational structure: guaranteed seats for organizations; individual membership; sector representation; staff, board and committee position descriptions, etc.

Adopt a constitution and incorporate.

Hold a General Assembly.

Build Links with the Francophone Arts Community

Objective 1: Initiate key contacts.

Actions Year 1:

Become a member of MAL (in progress)

Establish and maintain dialogue with all Quebec arts associations (UDA, UNEQ, RAAV, CQT etc.)

Establish and maintain close relations with CALQ and MEQ.

Objective 2: Promote ELAN to the Francophone Arts Community

Actions Year 1:

Use ELAN's website (sections translated into French) to raise the profile of English-language artists in Quebec.

Disseminate interesting stories about the English-language arts community to French media.

Actions Years 2—5:

Support cross-cultural showcases/festivals, such as the Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival and Voix d'Amériques.

Engage in Research Empower through information

Objective 1: Secondary data: Create a centralized body of knowledge.

Actions Year 1 (June—December):

In addition to the information generated by ELAN's website (FAQ, bios, etc.), begin to build a centralized depository (resource centre) of documentation concerning the English-language arts community in Quebec. Ensure adequate physical space. Make the information accessible.

Actions Years 2—5:

Maintain, expand and promote the resource centre.

Objective 2: Primary data: Seek out essential information.

Year 2 (and ongoing):

Study models, plans and strategies used by other arts organizations across the country, with a particular focus on francophone minority groups.

Document the facts on how minority artists are funded in other provinces and how francophone artists are funded in Quebec.

Adopt and Celebrate an Identity

Objective 1: Facilitate a dialogue within the arts community.

Actions Year 1:

Using the website (e.g., cybersummits), ELAN will take a leadership role in exploring identity issues raised at the Arts Summit (e.g., How do English-speaking artists see themselves? How does the English-speaking community at large see them?).

Actions Years 2—5:

Maintain the dialogue on identity. Keep the conversation going. Share the dialogue with the francophone arts community and the arts community across Canada.

Objective 2: Promote greater visibility outside the community. Sensitize potential audience members who have an interest in the English-language arts.

Actions Years 1—2:

Organize an English/French media campaign (June 2005) to promote ELAN's network (website, etc.) to the greater community. Organize press conferences. Seek project funding from Tourism Quebec.

Encourage/facilitate cross-promotion between arts companies and disciplines. Encourage the network to share mailing lists, piggyback on mailings, etc.

Share the community's discussions regarding identity with the general public.

Actions Years 3—5:

Encourage qualified English-language arts journalism throughout the province (e.g., explore the possibility of an electronic arts review to profile productions or events of particular interest).

Encourage disciplines to piggyback art forms (e.g., dance and theatre).

Encourage involvement in art and cultural festivals across the province.

Actions beyond Year 5:

Establish a multi-disciplinary arts event/festival dedicated to English-language arts celebration (Les Anglofolies).

Promote more recognition for artists inside Quebec through awards, festival participation.

Objective 3: Show respect to English-speaking audiences, who, as a minority community, may feel removed from the development of the arts.

Actions Years 2—5:

Encourage arts events geared to an English audience which may offer, for example, pre- or post-performance discussions in English.

Objective 4: Promote visibility outside Quebec. Showcase Quebec artists across Canada.

The current QWF/AELAQ research project examining the profile of Quebec English-language writers across Canada represents a pilot project for developing a strategy to increase visibility for all disciplines. ELAN will monitor this project and build recommendations into the Development Plan.

Recognize and Support Individual Artists and Organizations

Objective 1: Lobby for various measures to improve the quality of life for individual artists and to ensure sustainable (and proportional) funding for organizations.

Actions Year 1:

Initiate and maintain contact with provincial and national associations (MAL, CCA ) and government agencies.

Define funding needs based on research (target proportional levels).

Pursue greater government funding support to ease translation cost burden (immediate need).

Actions Years 2—5:

Appoint an individual/committee to take on the lobbying/funding dossier.

Develop imaginative and creative funding approaches (including arm's-length support)

Prepare and present briefs

Participate in key meetings, government hearings, etc.

Channel findings/results back to the network through the website.

Objective 2: Facilitate professional development.

Actions Year 1:

Pull together a directory (for the website) of qualified business professionals offering services to the arts.

Examine opportunities for sharing translation services to defray costs.

Clarify and communicate provincial and municipal requirements for grant applications to be translated into French or submitted in English.

Actions Years 2—5:

Seek project funding to sponsor workshops.

Actions beyond Year 5:

Provide shared professional resources (e.g., full-time grant specialist, national publicist).

Objective 3: Pursue the quest for a permanent Montreal space. Build on previous efforts.

Actions Year 2—5:

Inventory current space used and rents paid by English-speaking arts organizations.

Establish a portrait of community needs for a shared space: offices, rehearsal, performance, exhibition, storage space for sets and props etc.

Visit potential spaces.

Seek additional funding for optimal space.

Rent or buy community space to create a synergy of artists and creative activities.

Build Links with Education Partners

Objective 1: Engage in dialogue with education partners to determine how to most effectively communicate, inform and lobby.

Actions Year 1:

Add information about education to ELAN website's FAQs.

Appoint a standing committee to take on the Education file. This Committee will develop a plan of action to be incorporated into the Development Plan and focusing on the following points, which were raised at the Summit:

Promote Community Arts in the Regions (Rural and Remote)

Objective 1: Establish a regional network.

Actions Year 1:

Identify the regions and contact resource people (ELAN members) in each region.

Establish an active dialogue between these contacts (through a regional committee).

Objective 2: Respond to regional priorities.

Actions: Years 2—5

Identify existing spaces and resources in the regions — and where there are gaps.

Work with regional media to promote artistic activity and artists (QCNA).

Identify other regional needs and respond to priorities (e.g., extended residencies for visiting artists, assisted touring, etc.)