The Newsletter of the English-Language Arts Network
President's Message
It was one year ago that ELAN launched its monthly Schmoozer. During the past year, hundreds of ELAN members have come out to the monthly 5 à 7 to meet other artists, share ideas, seek collaborators, and hand out promo material for up-coming shows. We have moved the Schmoozer around to make it accessible to people in different parts of town: from NDG to the Old Port, to lower St-Denis, and this month we are back on the Plateau at le Divan Orange on Tuesday February 12. All members are invited to combat the mid-Winter blues at ELAN's 1st anniversary Valentine's Schmoozer. Whether you're a regular or have not yet attended a Schmoozer, check out the About Elan/Archives section of the website to see photos of memorable evenings.
ELAN is busy with a variety of projects and activities, including growing pains that are unavoidable in a young organization. It is always good for staff and the board to spend time with members to remember why this network was formed in the first place and why it matters.
Guy Rodgers
President
What's New?
The Schmoozer
schmooze \'shmüz\ vb 1: socialize: talk to people: mill about: have a drink: meet new people: see old friends: forget about work for a few hours
February 12, 2008 is ELAN's 1st anniversary Valentine's Schmoozer. We will be meeting at the Divan Orange (4234 St-Laurent, metro Mont-Royal) from 5 to 7pm. Stop by for a post-work drink and relax with fellow ELAN members. Founded in 2004, the Divan Orange has seen enormous success as a cozy, popular, hang out spot. "It resembles nothing less than a telescoped version of the Casa del Popolo, and it shares a lot of the Casa's cozy, homemade vibe." (Mark Slutsky, Mirror).
The ELAN Schmoozer is a great opportunity to support a new local venue and meet other ELAN members in a relaxed and social setting. If you have any favourite bars that you would like to suggest for a future Schmoozer location (must be near a metro), please contact the ELAN office. To help us prepare for the next Schmoozer, please RSVP to the ELAN office by sending an email with "Schmoozer" in the subject line.
ELAN seeks volunteers to help with transcription
ELAN extends a heartfelt thank you to Momoko Allard for volunteering her time to transcribe the Fall 2007 Grant Writing Workshop. This is an invaluable document that, once complete, will be posted on our website for all to access. We are still looking for volunteers. If you are interested in lending a hand, please contact the ELAN office or call (514) 935-3312.
ELAN Database of Performing Artists
Separate from our website, ELAN will begin formulating a mini-database of performing artists interested in touring out to the regions. This database will be used as a guide by affiliated associations throughout the province who are mandated to present 2 performing artists per year (artist fees are paid as well as some financial aid offered with regards to travel and accommodation). Interested artists are to submit their names, contact information and short description of what you are proposing in terms of performance. For example, an apt description might be small theatre troupe consisting of 5 members producing Canadian classics or solo dance artist performing original contemporary dance works. Be concise but comprehensive. There is no current deadline and the database will be compiled over the next six months. Interested members can forward information c/o Executive Director Michael Toppings.
English Writing from the Heart of French Canada
The Quebec Writers' Federation (QWF) and Association of English-language Publishers of Quebec (AELAQ), with the participation of the English-language Arts Network (ELAN), will be kicking off a national campaign in 2008 to promote Quebec minority language writers. We are looking for a mix of young and established authors with books coming out next year to reflect the remarkable literary work being created in English-language Quebec. Our promotional efforts will focus on an attempt to increase coverage at Canadian literary festivals and in the national media and to offer publishers additional support.
A special jury will select a representative mix of books most suitable for this project. Please note that self-published titles are not eligible. If you are a Quebec author with an English-language book of poetry, fiction or literary non-fiction coming out in the Spring or Fall of 2008—or the publisher of such a book by a Quebec author—email the following info to Maria Francesca LoDico: author, title, one-line description of the book, publication date, publisher, and publisher contact info (publicist's email and telephone).
back to topDid You Know?
With so many artists in ELAN, there are bound to be plenty of people participating in, planning, and producing exciting artistic events. And the place to promote, and publicize these events is ELAN's Arts Calendar. I encourage all ELAN members to visit the Arts Calendar regularly to check out what other active members are up to. This is your tool to communicate with each other and with the public at large. So, use it! Go today and post an event that you are a part of or would like to promote. And when you are planning your next publicity campaign, think of the Arts Calendar as a free, online, public venue for communicating with your audiences in Quebec, Canada, and internationally. The Arts Calendar can help raise the profile of Quebec's English-language artists. Simply fill out the submission form and forward your audiences to visit the Arts Calendar for updates on local Quebec culture.
back to topOpportunities for Artists
Calls for Submissions
Dance
Vernissage Dance
Studio 303 is currently seeking artists for the Verni #138 on April 12th 2008. The evening's theme is Big Apple. The submission deadline is February 8th 2008. Info and application form are available on the Studio 303 website.
Writing
Ascent Aspirations Magazine Fall 2008 Poetry/Flash Fiction Contest
Ascent Aspirations Magazine is holding a Poetry/Flash Fiction Contest, open from January 1st to July 31, 2008. Winning entries will be included in their sixth print edition; a perfect-bound 120-page book with a glossy art designed cover. Since Ascent is a non-profit publication, offering the print edition as a contest will provide the funding for the book. For this issue Ascent Aspirations is looking for ardent, amorous erotica, soft and sensual, full of longing and desire that will titillate their readers. Maximum length of each poem is 60 lines. The maximum length for flash fiction is 800 words. For more information on contest fees, rules and regulations, visit the Ascent Aspirations website.
Cahoots Magazine for Women
Cahoots is a Canadian magazine freshly re-designed for the web for women who want more than the "same old same old" from a women's magazine. Cahoots magazine is seeking submissions of articles, visual art, creative writing, and proposals for regular reviews and columns about things that really matter. For full submission guidelines, visit the Cahoots Magazine website. The deadline for the Herstory issue is February 15th, 2008.
Black Heart seeks tales of forbidden love
Black Heart magazine is looking for your tales of forbidden love for their upcoming "Lolita" issue. Surely you've got one hidden away in the darkest corners of your mind. Think of Humbert Humbert and his nymph Lolita. Think of all the students seduced by their professors. Think of the ways in which our society tells us who we can (or SHOULD) love. Think, too, of how homosexuality was once characterized as a mental illness, or how loving significantly older (or younger) companions is often frowned upon. Submissions may be fiction OR non-fiction. Please send 1,000 words or less on any of the above listed or related topics to Black Heart Magazine by February 29, 2008.
Calling writers and artists—Les Fleurs du Mal magazine issue 4
Calling all writers and visual artists! Les Fleurs du Mal, Montreal's youngest art magazine, is going undercover. In their fourth issue, they are seeking art and articles about the hidden, the private, the covert, the secret—and, by extension, about the open, the public, the popular, the celebrated. If you make art or write about art that might fit into one or more of the following themes or ideas, then Les Fleurs du Mal is the place for you:
- Personal or group secrets, and/or exposure of secrets.
- Infiltration of physical or organizational structures.
- Exposition or examination of things ordinarily hidden from view.
- Celebrity and society's gaze.
- The divide between the public and private realms.
- Covert operations—or overt operations.
- The popular and the underground in the mediated world.
- Anything else that draws upon similar concepts or ideas.
Les Fleurs du Mal welcomes even the most problematic, challenging submissions in any of the following formats: journalistic feature articles, profiles of artists and their work, and reviews of important festivals, shows and events. Submissions for publication may be in French or English. The print submission deadline is Friday, February 15, 2008. Please send submissions to the editors.
Spring Issue carte blanche
carte blanche is looking for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction for its spring issue. Send in your odes, sonnets, free verse, short stories of all types and genres, memoirs, personal essays, book reviews, literary journalism, musings on the writing process—as long as it's well written (and within the 3500 word limit) they'll consider it. For submission guidelines, visit the carte blanche website. The deadline for the next issue is March 15th. Quebec writers who are published in carte blanche will be eligible for the carte blanche prize (amount to be confirmed); awarded once a year to the best local submission. carte blanche is the online literary review of the Quebec Writers' Federation.
Film & Television
What is your revolution?
Video Party wants to know how you would change the world. If you have big dreams about a better world, if someone you know is making a difference in your community, if you're involved with an organization that is affecting positive change, then Video Party wants your visual stories. This spring, Video Party, in association with Art Matters 2008 and Apathy is Boring, will be presenting a selection of films about creating a world that we want to live in.
The deadline for submissions is February 7th. Selected films will screen at an official Art Matters party and may be featured on the Apathy is Boring website. For more information, visit the Video Party website or contact Josh Usheroff, Video Party Coordinator.
Call for films
Independent film producer is accepting short video and film submission for Focus on Canada: Independent Exposure, which he will be presenting at several European festivals later this Summer. For more information, please contact Zoran Dragelj.
Theatre
HARVEST V Festival submissions of productions and projects
Submissions for productions and projects for HARVEST V (October 1 to 18, 2008) produced by Village Scene Productions are being accepted from now until mid-March. HARVEST is a celebration of the contribution made by LGBT culture in the performing arts: theatre, dance and music. There is no submission fee. Material should either contain themes related to LGBT culture or be of particular entertainment and interest to the community. For more information on the submission process and what Harvest can do for you and your production, please visit the Village Scene Productions web site or email.
Call for artists for theatrical production: R. Murray Schafer
Jerrard Smith will be giving a presentation on the theatrical piece "Asterion", which is currently under construction at Schafer's farm in rural Ontario. Artists from all disciplines are invited to attend the talk, find out about the project, and to submit a proposal to develop an aspect of the piece. The presentation will take place at the Conseil des arts de Montreal building at the Corner of St.Urbain and Sherbrooke (3450 rue Saint-Urbain). The Theatre studio (with about 30–35 chairs) is booked from 8:00–10:30 PM, Tuesday, February 19th.
Based on a text and concept by Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer and being realized under the direction of Jerrard Smith, professor of theatre design at the University of Guelph, Asterion is a complex series of theatrical events in the form of a labyrinth. It is in part a workshop and place where participants in the creation of the individual events can collaborate with others from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. To find out more about Asterion, consult the Patria website and attend this presentation.
Job Opportunities
Studio 303 Emerging Artists' Residency
Studio 303's annual Emerging Artists' Residency serves the needs of artists who have recently entered the professional contemporary dance arena. Each summer two selected artists or artist-groups are provided with resources toward the creation and development of new works, as well as a performance opportunity. The submission deadline is February 15th, 2008. For more information and the applcation form, visit the Studio 303 website.
2008 Edgy Women Festival Coordinator (winter)
But et tâches : Offrir une opportunité d'acquérir de nouvelles connaissances en communications et en production en travaillant sur le festival de A à Z, c'est-à-dire du recrutement d'artistes jusqu'au post-mortem.
Pour une description des fonctions complète, cliquez ici.
2008 Edgy Women Festival Press Agent (winter)
But et tâches : Offrir une opportunité d'acquérir de nouvelles connaissances en relations de presse en entretenant celles-ci aurpès des journalistes et des diffuseurs (appels téléphoniques, suivi aux réunions, gestion de la table presse).
Heures de stage: Les heures ainsi que l'horaire de travail seront très flexibles et probablement irrégulières lors des semaines de spectacles en mars 2008. Pour une description des fonctions complète, cliquez ici.
Professorship at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts
At the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts' School of Visual Arts, a position as professor of painting is open for appointment as of October 1, 2008. The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts' School of Visual Arts is a higher education institution who, through a two-year Basic Studies programme and a four-year study course at the professor's schools, offers a six-year integrated first and second cycle study programme. The School of Visual Arts' new professor of painting is expected to build an innovative platform for research and teaching, which, by tracing lines in the art of painting throughout its history and up to the present, can contribute to the development of a current discourse on painting. For a complete job description, consult the Art & Education web site.
Tableau d'Hote Auditions
Tableau D'Hôte will be holding auditions for its season closer Seven Stories by Morris Panych to be mounted in the Spring. The company is seeking to cast four males and four females aged 20 and up. Auditions will be held Saturday, February 9th, 2008 from 10am–6pm. Call backs on Sunday, February 10th from 12pm–4pm.Candidates will receive excerpts from the play from which to prepare. Please send CV and headshot via e-mail with the subject line "Seven Stories Audition".
Alan's Search for Two Non-Union Actresses
Seeking two non-union stage actresses for new sexy comedy entitled Alan's Search for the Best Girl in All of Montreal. Roles (2): Mom: (late 40s–early 60s) Good comedic timing, ability to play musical instrument(s) an asset. The Girls: (mid-twenties) Approx. 16 different roles to be played by one actress; excellent acting, physicality, strength with dialects an asset. Please contact Adam Kelly or call (514) 272-7738.
Quint Productions Auditions
Quint Productions are seeking committed and energetic people to perform an exciting one hour extravaganza of dance, theatre and music (professional dancers not required). Auditions will be held February 23 & 24th from 10am–6pm. They ask that you prepare a short movement piece, a song, and a contemporary monologue (comedic or dramatic). Please also be prepared to do a cold read. Headshots and resumés are required. Please contact Robyn or call (514) 991-3846 to schedule an audition, and for any further questions.
CASTING: Male age range mid to late twenties
Artistic director Davyn Ryall is currently seeking a male actor for the Village Scene Production of the play by Joseph Bembridge & Bryn Symonds: DAVID en français; a solo multi-media performance, award winning production Harvest 2006, and winner of one of the top 5 plays in Montreal 2007 Mirror poll.
The actor should be male, age mid to late twenties, 5'8"–6' tall, excellent physical shape, proficient in French, strong creation-improvisational talent. Partial nudity required—limited. Auditions start mid-February, pre-production period occurs in the Spring, and rehearsals begin in the Summer. Performances will take place September–October 2008. Please RSVP with HS/CV for interview/audition to info@villagescene.com. This is a UDA production—profit share.
The Independent Media Arts Alliance seeks an: Administrative Coordinator
Founded in 1981, the Independent Media Arts Alliance is a non-profit national arts service organization that promotes and advances the interests of a vibrant media arts community. The Administrative Coordinator assists the National Director and the IMAA Board of Directors in the daily activities of the association. The Administrative Coordinator is primarily responsible for communicating with the membership and the general public, and assisting with office administration.
The deadline for application is Wednesday, February 20th, 2008, with a start date of March 1st 2008. This is a 12 month contract. Salary starting at $16/hour, 30 hours/week. For a complete job description, consult the IMAA website.
Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
Le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec cherche à combler les postes suivants pour son bureau de Montréal :
Directeur ou directrice de la musique et de la danse
Adjoint ou adjointe administratif(ve)
Le Conseil invite les personnes intéressées à consulter les offres d'emploi sur son site Web pour plus de renseignements concernant la nature des postes, les exigences requises, les conditions d'admissibilité et les renseignements pour soumettre leur candidature. Le Conseil accepte les candidatures jusqu'au 1er février 2008.
One Limited-Term Appointment Position in Intermedia/Cyberarts
Concordia University's Department of Studio Arts invites applications for one limited-term appointment position in Intermedia/Cyberarts at the rank of Lecturer or Assistant Professor, effective August 15, 2008 to May 31, 2009. The successful candidate will be expected to teach six courses (18 credits). Candidates must have a strong cross-disciplinary background in Electronic, Video and Performance practice, and possess familiarity with the socio-cultural and critical histories of these practices including their relationship to current art production. Bilingualism (English and French) will be considered an asset. The deadline for application is February 15, 2008. For a complete job description, consult the Akimbo website.
WANTED: Primary Assistant for KoSA 13!
KoSA International Percussion Workshops and Festival is a non-profit organization which specializes in producing educational percussion events, musical events and running a world-music academy. KoSA is presently seeking qualified candidates to apply as (a) project coordinator's assistant and (b) artistic director's assistant to assist KoSA in preparing the up-coming musical event in Vermont July 30 to August 3 2008. The position would commence immediately and run through the end of August 2008, with the possibility of extending further if mutually agreed upon. Location: KoSA Communications, Int'l Main office: 5457 St. Jacques West, Montreal (Metro Vendome). Qualified candidates please apply to KoSA or call (514) 482-5554. For a complete job description, consult the KoSA website.
Volunteer Opportunities
Creative Volunteers Needed
Apathy is Boring's mission is to use art and technology to re-engage young Canadians in the democratic process and in their communities. Apathy is Boring is celebrating their fourth birthday this year, and would like to thank their former and current volunteers, and invite new people to help out! The volunteer program has been revamped, and volunteers are needed in the following areas:
- Facebook & MySpace updating, promotion, and design
- Writing and researching website Content
- Translation
- Graphic design Working events
- Throwing AisB parties
For more information about any of these (and other!) volunteer opportunities, contact Adrienne or call (514) 844-2472.
Upcoming Grant Deadlines
These are the upcoming deadlines for applications at the Canada Council for the Arts. Please check the Canada Council website for more information on the programs listed below, or call (800) 263-5588 ext. 5060.
All Disciplines
Artists and Community Collaboration Program(ACCP)
Dates vary
Audience and Market Development
Grants to Agents, Managers and Artists' Representatives in the Performing Arts (annual and Multi-year funding in Theatre, Dance and Multidisciplinary)
1 March 2008
Dance
Production Project Grants in Dance
15 March 2008
Inter-Arts
Travel Grants to Inter-Arts Professional Artists
Any time (at least 6 weeks before departure date)
Music
Music Festivals Programming Project Grants
(for festivals taking place between 1 June and 30 November 2008)
15 February 2008
Music Festival Travel Grants
(for festivals taking place between 1 June and 30 November 2008)
15 February 2008
Aboriginal Peoples Music Program
1 March 2008
Grants to Professional Musicians (Individuals) Classical and Non Classical
1 March 2008
New Music Program
(annual funding and project funding)
15 March 2008
Media Arts
Grants to Film and Video Artists
1 March 2008
Grants to New Media and Audio Artists
1 March 2008
Grants to New Media and Audio Artists: New Media Residencies
1 March 2008
Theatre
Theatre Production Project Grants
(for productions taking place after 1 September 2008)
1 March 2008
Operating Grants to Professional Theatre Organizations
(annual and multi-year funding)
1 March 2008
Grants for Translations of Canadian Works
Any time
Visual Arts
Travel Grants to Professionals in the Visual Arts
1 March 2008
Assistance to Contemporary Fine Craft Artists and Curators (project grants)
1 March 2008
Assistance to Practitioners, Critics and Curators of Architecture
1 March 2008
Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture
1 March 2008
Ronald J. Thom Award for early Design Achievement (architecture)
1 March 2008
Jean A. Chalmers Fund for the Crafts
1 March 2008
Writing and Publishing
International Translation Grants
Any time
Grants to Literary and Art Magazines
1 March 2008
Literary Readings, Literary Festivals and Author Residencies Program
(Readings between 1 July 2008 and 30 June 2009)
1 March 2008
Writing and Publishing Residencies
1 March 2008
Co-operative Projects in Writing and Publishing (annual project grants)
15 March 2008
Governor General's Literary Awards
15 March 2008
Public Lending Right Commission registration period of special interest to published writers
15 February to 1 May 2008
Travel Grants
Any time (at least 6–10 weeks before departure date; varies with each section) for all disciplines except Visual Arts, which has four precise deadline dates: 1 January, 1 March, 1 June, and 1 October. Please check Canada Council website for more information.
back to topMember News
Want to know what your fellow ELAN members are up to? This month, we have info about the following members:
Dino Giancola
Dino Giancola was invited to compose a work for the Victoria Symphony as part of their 2008 season. The new work was premiered on the evening of January 26th, 2008 in Victoria, B.C. for which he was present. He was awarded this prestigious honour as part of a nationwide competition for Canadian film composers.
Zoran Dragelj
Zoran Dragelj's short, Moving Plates was screened on January 22 at Pacific Cinematheque in Vancouver, British Columbia as part of Optical Allusions. He will also be screening his recent short video, Recollection at EMERGEANDSEE in Berlin on February 2–6.
Susan Coolen
Susan Coolen will be presenting her work in an exhibition titled The Language of Nature, at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa from February 22 to May 4, 2008. The Language of Nature is an exhibit of photographic works and display that explores the visual shapes and forms of nature specimens. Using the theme of her "collections" as a starting point, Susan Coolen enters into her interests in pattern and repetition, graphic forms and mark making by organizing imagery and developing links and relationships that highlight our impulse to "read" forms and make visual language. Susan Coolen would like to thank and acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.
Hunt Hoe
Hunt Hoe's Thai-Can feature film, "1st Bite," will be presented at the AMC Forum (2313 Ste-Catherine Ouest, Montréal) starting Feb 15, 2008. Boasting an international cast (David LeHaye, Leah Pinsent, Mamee, Dr Mohan Agashe, Michael Ironside), Hunt Hoe's film is a bold and introspective mix of fantasy, comedy & horrors. An Asian fable with the Western sensibility. On a Thai island paradise, a Montreal chef romances a mysterious woman and discovers the diabolical Zen of cooking. Following a hair-raising escape, he returns home a changed man, ready to take the "1st bite" of true love and face the spiritual consequences …
back to topWorkshops & Seminars
All Disciplines
Strategies for Success: Effective Grant Writing
This seminar, facilitated by Yves Agouri, will provide concrete examples of effective grant writing and practical advice on putting your project proposal together and applying for funding and support. Get the edge you need to jumpstart your work in this highly competitive industry! This seminar will take place at the Conseil des Arts de Montreal on March 7th, 2008, from 1:00–5:00 PM. The cost is $40 for QDF Members, $50 for Non-QDF Members. For more information, visit the QDF website contact Julia Ainsworth, or call (514) 875-8698.
Find out why democracy is sexy … and more!
Apathy is Boring's mission is to use art & technology to re-engage young Canadians in the democratic process and in their communities. Come learn more about the work that they do, meet the team, and check out volunteer opportunities at their orientation session. All are welcome Wednesday, February 27th 2008, from 5–7 pm at the Apathy is Boring offices, 10 Ave des Pins West (corner St. Laurent), suite 412. For more information, or to RSVP, contact Adrienne, call (514) 844-2472, or visit their website.
Getting the Word Out: Publicity for the Self-Employed Artist
Publicity and media play a major role in shaping an artist's career. Here is your chance to learn everything there is to know about how to publicize your work. Learn how to construct an effective press release, where to send it, and how to follow up. Get the word out, quickly and effectively, with stellar results. YES Montreal presents a publicity workshop on Tuesday February 5th, 2008, from 6:30-8:45 PM. The cost for this workshop is $10. For more information or to register, please call (514) 878-9788 or visit the YES Montreal website.
Jump-Start Your Art & Artist Grants and Loans
In this workshop, participants will learn about funding options available through YES. Information is also available about different community programs, including eligibility criteria, targeted sectors and industries, as well as levels of funding available. To be held Thursday February 14th 2008, from 2:00–3:30 PM. This is a free workshop. Handouts cost $1. Another session is scheduled for February 28th, from 2:00–3:30 PM. For more information or to register call (514) 878-9788 or visit the YES Montreal website.
Artist Grant Writing Lab
YES Montreal offers a FREE grant writing lab on Tuesday February 19th, 2008, from 2:00–4:00 PM. In this hands-on lab participants will not only learn about funding options and criteria, but they will have an opportunity to work on their proposals and get answers to questions before sending out their request. Artist and business coaches will be on hand to guide participants with their applications and give advice on things such as financial assessments, budgets and timelines. So, bring your documents and let's get writing! For more information or to register call (514) 878-9788 or visit the YES Montreal website.
Film & Television
Aspiring Filmmaker's Boot Camp
Veteran Hollywood Producer Larry Meistrich offers the opportunity of a lifetime to learn the trade and pitch ideas at the Aspiring Filmmaker's Boot Camp in Ottawa, from February 22–24, 2008. This exclusive event is designed by filmmakers, for filmmakers. Learn how to write, produce, cast, direct and sell your own feature step by step. Get practical, hardnosed strategies for navigating the movie business. A highlight of The Aspiring Filmmakers Boot Camp is the rare opportunity for an exclusive pitch session. A number of ideas have been so strong that Larry has made deals with participants at the camp. Are you next?
The cost for this camp is $395 Regular admission. Take Advantage of the Special Discount exclusively for Montrealers! Before registering on the official website, contact Ani Gurunlian, for details on this promotional discount. Anyone signing up from Montreal is eligible! For general questions, contact Jason Daley or visit the Film Boot Camp website. Don't miss this exclusive event!
Writing & Publishing
Poetry Workshop
Just as a tennis clinic helps one with a serve or forehand stroke, this workshop would function as a literary clinic to help participants explore the subtleties of poetical construction. Topics to be discussed include image (including metaphors or similes), form and sound (including line break, meter, rhythm, alliteration, assonance, rhyme, repetition). This workshop will take place Saturday, February 2, from 1:00–4:30 PM at the Westmount Library (4574 Sherbrooke Street West).
Facilitator Jan Jorgensen, editor of sitting duck press and host of the lawn chair soirée, holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Bard College, and a M.A.R. from Yale Divinity School. The cost is $35—materials included. Pre-registration is required. Contact Jan or call (514) 721-8420. Submit one or two poems that you'd like to edit ASAP via email. This workshop is offered under the auspices of the Canadian Authors' Association.
"Love Haiku"
The Black Tea Haiku Group presents "Love Haiku" just in time for Valentines' Day. The workshop will take place on Monday, February 11th, at 7PM in "The Yellow Room" of Le Commensal, 1720 St. Denis. Bring three of your own haiku or just come to learn more about this unique poetry form. Everyone welcome. For more information contact Angela Leuck at 514-766-3782.
Visual Arts
Centre St-Ambroise Artist Workshops
The Centre St-Ambroise presents a series of Artist Workshops by Melanie Matthews, Golden Paints Working Artist. Space is limited. For more information and reservations contact Dave Cool or call (514) 939-3060, ext. 231.
Sunday, February 3rd: Image Transfers Made Easy (10:00AM–4:00PM)
Through a very simple process, participants will learn how to integrate technologically gathered images or photocopied old photographs into their artwork. Using color and texture you can alter them even further. $90/person, ALL materials provided.
Sunday, February 17th: Mixed Media (10:00AM–4:00PM)
In this 1-day workshop participants will combine many elements and materials including wood, fabric, drawing media, acrylic paints, gels and mediums, and transfers to arrive at a finished final product by the day's end. $90/person, ALL materials provided.
Studio 303: Beg, Borrow or Steal
Studio 303, in collaboration with OBORO New Media Lab and 2boys.tv (Stephen Lawson & Aaron Pollard), present a two week workshop series called Beg, Borrow or Steal; to be held February 18–29, Mon–Fri, 9:30am to 12:30pm. This workshop, will look at the integration of video, sound and action into live art works and the use of "collage" techniques. Video projection, sound creation, disguise, props, physical score and the theatrical use of space are all tools that will be employed. 2boys.tv will guide participants, both individually and in groups, at Studio 303 and the OBORO New Media Lab, through a series of creative exercises that will culminate in the construction of their own short transmedia performance art. The cost for this workshop is $140 (Emploi-Quebec, please verify your elligibility). To register, contact Studio 303.
From Tangible to Intangible and Back Again
OBORO presents an Open Laboratory on Sounding Artefacts with Karmen Franinovic and Yon Visell, from February 14 to 17, 2008 at OBORO's New Media Lab. This event is a collaborative exploration of interactive sound in sculptural and everyday artefacts. Participants will create interactive sculptures that respond to human action through sound. Everyday artefacts will be used for new creations in which they are repurposed as experiments in form, material, behaviour and sound in an open studio setting. Critical focus will address issues regarding the interaction between people and such sonic artefacts, with topics drawn from participants' interests and from theoretical texts. For more information view the press release.
Get into the Loop: Hairpin Lace
Learn to apply basic crochet stitches to yarn that is wound around a hand-held loom. The resulting strips are joined to make lacy scarves or shrugs. Hairpin lace is easy to learn even if you have never crocheted. With this technique you can work up lengths of fabric fast—ideal for those who would like to make a quick gift or use up the yarn in their stash. This workshop will take place at Effiloche; 6252, Saint-Hubert, Montreal, QC on Sunday, February 3rd, from 11am–5pm. Future dates: March 16, April 13, May 18, June 22. Admission is $50 + tx / loom available for $7.50 + tx. To register, contact Colette van Haaren, visit the Effiloche website, or call (514) 276-2547.
Casting on for Mobius knitting in the round
A Möbius scarf is named after the Möbius strip - a tube with a twist. In this workshop you will explore provisional cast-on methods that can be used to start Möbius knitting in the round—cast-ons that create the Möbius twist. Once you have knitted a few rows, you cannot go wrong—the work just grows and grows. When you're done, you cast off the stitches along its only edge. This workshop will take place Sunday, January 20, from 11 AM to 5 PM, at Effiloche; 6252, Saint-Hubert, Montreal, QC. Future dates for this workshop include February 24, March 30, April 27, June 1. Admission is $50. To register, contact Colette van Haaren, visit the Effiloche website or call (514) 481-7375.
Crocheting with T-shirt yarn @ La Gaillarde
Are your t-shirts falling apart? Learn learn how to cut them up and crochet the "yarn" to create new, unique accessories. You can choose two out of the four following, three hour workshops, for the price of $72, at La Gaillarde, 4019 Notre Dame West (a few steps from metro Saint-Henri).
- January 16 & 23; 1 PM–4 PM (Wednesdays)
- February 9 & 16; 1 PM–4 PM (Saturdays)
- April 2 & 9; 1 PM–4 PM (Wednesdays)
- May 3 & 10; 1 PM–4 PM (Saturdays)
Please bring crochet hooks 5 mm or larger. For more information contact Colette van Haaren, visit La Gaillarde's website or call (514) 989-5134. To view a list of other workshops offered by Colette, visit her website.
Pinhole Camera Workshop
Benoit Dhennin offers a photographic workshop based on pinhole camera photography. This is a great opportunity to approach photographic sensibility without technical headaches. Pinhole cameras, as rudimentary as they are, produce amazing pictures. Participants will work on technical processes as well as creative gesture. Materials are included, but you can bring your own box. This workshop will take place on Saturday and/or Sunday 9/10 of February, 2008, from 10 AM to 4 PM (bring your own lunch and we will eat together.) For more information on costs, location, and registration visit Benoit Dhennin's website.
Médiations
OBORO is proud to present the Médiations project as a follow-up to the Momentum cycle of events launched in 2007. Developed in collaboration with DAM (Diversité artistique Montréal) and MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels), Médiations offers a program of highly inspiring conferences, workshops and customized clinics to artists in the cultural communities of Montreal, from February to May 2008. This is a chance to discover committed artists and commissioners while exposing your own artistic approach to the many possibilities of media arts. All activities are free of charge and everyone is welcome. For complete Médiations program, see the Press Release.
Dance
Dance Classes
Hip Action has a new session of classes starting the week of January 27th. Classes include Hip Hop, Salsa, Hips Don't Lie, Danse Melange for Women, Argentine Tango, Stomp/Stepping, and African Dance. For more details visit the Hip Action website, email or call (514) 966-1363.
Theatre
Academy for Performing Arts at the Segal Centre
The newly renovated Segal Centre is happy to announce their all-new Academy for Performing Arts. Starting Feb 4, 2008, a variety of courses will be offered in the disciplines of theatre, circus arts, music and media. Courses include: theatre performance catered to toddlers, children, or teens; circus arts for toddlers and their parents; voice, saxophone, guitar, and drum lessons taught by award winning musicians; lunch time music history workshops for adults; and a state of the art media workshop program for young filmmakers and animators, with and without experience. For a full course description and schedule, visit the Academy for Performing Arts website.
Theatre & Dance Review / Criticism Workshop
Experienced theatre journalist Marianne Ackerman and dance writer Philip Szporer are teaming up with the Quebec Drama Federation to offer classes in Theatre and Dance Criticism for emerging arts writers and critics. Sessions begin February 24th and run until the 30th of March. The cost is $200 per participant. Scholarships available. For more information, visit the QDF website, contact Julia Ainsworth, or call (514) 875-8698. Spaces are limited.
Directing & Acting Ensemble
This workshop, facilitated by Roy Surette, serves as a unique opportunity for emerging and professional actors and directors to refine their skills in a professional environment without the pressures of the end product or having the critics to contend with. This workshop will take place at the Conseil des Arts de Montreal, Studio 2 on February 9th & 10th, 2008, from 9:00–5:00 PM. The cost is $250 for QDF Members, $270 for Non-QDF Members. Spaces are limited. Applicants must submit a headshot, resume and cover letter to be considered. For more information, visit the QDF website, contact Julia Ainsworth, or call (514) 875-8698.
Voice-Over: The Demo Encore
As Montreal continues to be recognized as a major gateway for films coming to North America from Europe, demo tapes have become an essential tool for the actor who wishes to gain voice over experience and work. In collaboration with OSS Media Group and the Quebec Drama Federation, Altera Vitae Productions offers recording sessions including scripts to choose from, full editing with sound effects & a CD. Choice of scripts and schedules are available at QDF. The cost is $175 for QDF Members, $190 for Non-QDF Members. Facilitated by Carolyn-Fe Trinidad, sessions last approximately 2hrs and will take place February 11th & 18th, 2008, from 9:00–5:00 PM. Spaces are limited. For more information, visit the QDF website, contact Julia Ainsworth, or call (514) 875-8698.
Playwriting Practicum
Brian Drader assists emerging and professional playwrights in tackling the challenges of refining and defining the craft of theatrical storytelling. This workshop will take place at the Conseil des Arts de Montreal , Studio 2, on March 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th, 2008, from 6:30–9:30 PM. The cost is $250 for QDF Members, $270 for Non-QDF Members. Spaces are limited. Applicants must submit a headshot, resume and cover letter, short bio, and 8–10 pages of script to be considered. For more information, visit the QDF website, contact Julia Ainsworth, or call (514) 875-8698.
Audition Masterclass
In this workshop, facilitated by Dean Patrick Fleming, participants will see the audition process from the director's perspective, while working through their own audition pieces. Topics to be covered include: selecting, rehearsing and staging a monologue and making a lasting impression. This workshop will take place at the Conseil des Arts de Montreal on March 7th, 2008, from 9:30–5:00 PM. The cost is $75 for QDF Members, $90 for Non-QDF Members. Spaces are limited. Applicants must submit a headshot, resume and cover letter to be considered. For more information, visit the QDF website, contact Julia Ainsworth, or call (514) 875-8698.
Alexander Technique Intensive
The Alexander movement technique widely used in theatre companies and training conservatories around the world, is considered fundamental work for the actor. An actor who understands and makes effective use of his instrument will be welcome in any ensemble. This workshop will be facilitated by Robert H Schweitzer Ph.D, and will take place at the Conseil des Arts de Montreal, Studio 2, on March 8th & 9th, 2008, from 9:30–5:00 PM. The cost is $175 for QDF Members, $195 for Non-QDF Members. For more information, visit the QDF website, contact Julia Ainsworth, or call (514) 875-8698.
Registration—QDF Workshops
Registration must be accompanied by a cheque, money order or credit card payment for the total cost of the workshop. A refund of 50% will be issued up until one week prior to the beginning of the workshop. No refund will be issued after this time. QDF members must submit their membership number with their application in order to receive the member discount.
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Room available ideal for touring or visiting artist
Cozy furnished room, bright, clean, quiet; conveniently located on St-Hubert Street near Metro Rosemount (5min) and Metro Laurier (10min). $125 weekly, $400 monthly, all inclusive. In a 5.5 ground floor dwelling shared with a non-smoking married couple, dog and cat. Access to bath/shower, washer/dryer, fridge/stove. Contact Davyn Ryall or call (514) 656-3420.
Studio Space for Rent
Studio for rent located at Suite 412, 10 Pins W. (corner of St. Laurent). 20 feet by 20 feet with hardwood floors. For dance / theatre rehearsals only. Available after 5pm and on weekends anytime. Private bathroom & kitchen in space. $5 per hour (if bought in 30 block / payable in advance + taxes). For more information contact Adrienne or call (514) 844-2472.
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