State of Emergence 
Rethinking the Application Process & Systems of Support
October 1, 2021 via Zoom

11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Panel & Breakout Groups
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | Conversation/Exploration
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm | CPAMO Publication launch

New funding models need to include investing in artists and humans rather than investing primarily in constantly producing. As the diversity of artists’ presentation and processes increases, current funding models are still rooted in a colonial structural approach and favour presentation culture, revenue generation in the arts. Often successful and sometimes not, the application and funding models have become a game of the haves and the have not. It’s results impact both the wellbeing and validation of an artist’s creativity. Are there shifts required in the application process that can mitigate the challenges faced by many with the application process? Artists and organizations in Canada are faced with a historical dependency on grants. The competition for funding and the lack of investments into funding is suggesting a reformation of the application process. As we examine the idea of how we continue in our practices, funding structures need to be revised by the artists’ and organizations’ ideas and experiences at the center.

• Ever wonder how a grant is developed, structured and priorities placed in them?
• With the focus on digitization, should video components beyond support material be considered?
• Should hybrid application processes be implemented? 
• How can the process of applying, assessments and feedback support artists for the future imaginations of the application process?

In this session we will discuss accountability in funding organizations, developing relationships beyond titles and returning to a focus on storytelling rather than art for commodification and how we sustain such processes moving forward. The session encourages ideas around radical shifts rather than incremental change and seeks to explore challenges but also invitations to possible radical shifts through critical discourse to implementation. 

Registration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/impact-21-festival-conference-how-do-we-begin-again-tickets-163924664083

This session is part of Impact 21 Festival for full performance festival schedule: https://mtspace.ca/impact-21-schedule/

The session is in partnership with Mass Culture and Art of Festival’s “State of Emergence“.