THE GATHERING has been a powerful, positive and supportive convening of arts practitioners geared towards sharing strategies in the engagement of indigenous, racialized, deaf, disabled and mad, women and other historically-marginalized artists and communities. Since it was initiated by CPAMO in Spring 2016, the Gathering has offered an interactive space where arts organizations, artists and attendees dedicated to advancing performance, advocacy and pluralism can share, discuss common interests and strategize towards a better and more equitably inclusive sector.

The Gathering Spring 2020 | Exploring Anti-Black Racism in the Arts / Performance and Thinking Digitally: Integrative Strategies for IBPOC Arts Practice swill in partnership with the City of Toronto’s Anti -Black Racism Unit and Nia Centre for the Arts, host the Major’s Roundtable on the Arts focussing on anti-black racism in the Arts and explore frameworks for understanding the potential of working with digital technologies in IBPOC arts practices.

Held over three days, the convening will feature panel discussions, showcase performances, focus groups and networking opportunities for arts organizations, artists and arts sector professionals asking the same questions about anti-black racism in the arts, digital technology, its intersections with one’s artistic / organizational practices all grounded within the EDIP (Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity towards Pluralism) lens. The sessions will be aimed at investigating systemic challenges, providing professional development while building organizational and artistic capacity. We aspire to enlivening the many ways in which the arts will support cultural impact, civic engagement and deeper understanding of emerging digital frameworks.
What is the overall concept?

Why are we doing it?
We believe systemic change is more effectively achieved through collective, creative action, and seek to create, support and learn through open source resources, toolkits and strategies to understand how we are influenced, relate to anti-black racism and digital technology in and out of our artistic practices and administrations.

What we hope to achieve? We hope that everyone arrives at a better understanding of the many ways in which we support, create from and within the Arts sector as indigenous / ethno-racially identified artists with a pluralist lens.

Deadline: March 6, 2020

When & where is the event?
Early – Mid May 2020 (dates to be confirmed)

Location: TBC (Toronto, ON)

What we offer:

•  Opportunity to display/showcase your work to a wide range of artists/ audience, publicity, copy of the performance. (No more than 20 minutes in length)

•  Compensation Range:

1. Dance / Theatre Showcase Honorariums $300 – $1000 (based on the number of artists)
2. Literary Readings up to $200
3. Visual Artists fees will be based on CARFAC Standards (types of exhibition curated)

Required for consideration:

•  Brief explanation of how your proposed work relates to ONE OR BOTH of the Gathering’s Theme:

1. Anti-Black Racism in the Arts
2. Thinking Digitally: Integrative Strategies in IBPOC Performance

•  Works where the major contributors / artists or otherwise self-identify as Black or IPOC

•  Works created by Black / IBPOC artists and Organizations

•  Artist / Organization Website URL, Social Media Info, Biography (150 words)

•  Headshot / Company Image 300 dpi

•  Links to previous work(s) or work proposed.

•  Visual Arts submissions MUST include:

1. set up requirements
2. estimated time for set up and striking of work
3. whether assistance is needed or included

Selection Process: 
Administered by a Selection Committee (CPAMO Board member(s), Program Manager, Executive Director, and Pluralism in Organizational Change (CPAMOPOC) members. The committee will consider the following:
1.    Artistic Merit and with overall connection to CPAMO’s mandate and objectives
2.    The Focus on the Gathering’s themes
3.    Viability (overall programming cost, # of artists proposed, range / breath / depth of the submission)

What should I put in the submission subject line?
“Submission:The Gathering Spring 2020: Anti-Black Racism / Digital Strategies”
Please make sure to also include a link to your folder with required support material.

An important notice: CPAMO operates in a Cloud-based platform. Documents MUST be submitted via (Google Drive, Box, One Drive, Dropbox etc.)

Where to send your submission? programming@cpamo.org

Successful applicants will be notified Friday, April 3rd, 2020