The Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival & Conference
Moulding The Future:
Rethinking Strategies for the Arts Sector Now

May 10 – May 13, 2022
Via Zoom and Small World Music Centre (Toronto) 

This year, Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival & Conference Spring 2022 | Moulding The Future: Rethinking Strategies for the Arts Sector Now will address emergent ways of rethinking the sector as we emerge out of the pandemic, focusing on the responsibility of the sector to strategize, implement supportive systems that benefit IBPOC artists / organizations and the Arts Sector at large.

We are excited to showcase these talented artists:

Artist Showcase: Jody Chan
Date & time: Tuesday May 10, 2022 at 11:45 AM

Jody Chan is a writer, drummer, organizer, and therapist based in Toronto/Tkaronto. They are the author of haunt (Damaged Goods Press), all our futures (PANK), and sick, winner of the 2018 St. Lawrence Book Award and 2021 Trillium Award for Poetry. They are also a Performing Member of Raging Asian Womxn Taiko Drummers (RAW). They can be found online at www.jodychan.com

WORKSHOP: Chill N Do Art facilitated by Alia Ettienne
Date and time: Tuesday May 10, 2022 at 12:45 PM

Chill N Do Art is a workshop series geared towards self-identified Black and Indigenous women. This workshop is geared toward those who may have less access to art supplies and/or creative spaces, Chill N Do Art is intended to offer self-identified women an opportunity to explore multiple art forms in an uninhibited space. Each workshop includes meditative practices and resources connections. Chill N Do Art welcomes women who deal with mental illness who may benefit from creative coping strategies. Previous workshops have included calm jars, cartooning and sensory bags.

About the facilitator:

Alia Ettienne is a Black, Afro Caribbean, multidisciplinary performer, writer and  facilitator from Toronto, ON. After graduating from the Sheridan College Performance Program she has since gone on to study Creative Writing and Arts and Entertainment Marketing. As a member of both the Workman Arts and VIBE Arts artist roster, she recently completed the VIBE Arts: Desire Lines Residency. Her first solo piece, YellowZoned premiered in The 2016 Toronto Fringe Festival. Going on to remount as a part of Hamilton’s Mental Health Theater Festival MindPlay. Leading to her being featured in Hamilton’s Views Magazine on two separate occasions.

In 2017 Ettienne founded the creative wellness program, Chill N Do Art which is geared toward Black and Indigenous women. Later expanding to the Creative Coping Kits Initiative, founded to support Black and Indigenous single parent families. Currently, she is working on her second full length piece Allow For Release: The Xiety Complex.

Artist Showcase: Liliona Quarmyne
Date & time: Tuesday May 10, 2022 at 2:00 PM

Based in Kjipuktuk (Halifax), on the powerful, unceded and unsurrendered land of the Mi’kmaq people, Liliona is a dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, community organizer, and activist. Originally from Ghana and the Philippines, she has an eclectic background that has taken her through many performance styles on four different continents.Liliona performs across the country and internationally, creates original works as an independent artist, facilitates community programming, and is the Artistic Director of Kinetic. The scope of Liliona’s artistic work is broad, but is particularly focused on the relationship between art and social justice, on the body’s ability to carry ancestral memory, and on the role the performing arts can play in creating change. Liliona loves to work in collaboration and community, and is mom to two wonderful kids.

Plus Day 1 will feature:

• SESSION: Organizational Development and Pivoting for the Emerging Arts Sector
• PUBLICATION SPOTLIGHT: An Anthology of Visioning Canadian Cultural Transformation

The full schedule is available here.

Registration:  Tickets: $15 a day or PWYC
Day 1: Tuesday, May 10 via Zoom | 9:30 am – 2:00 pm
Day 2: Thursday, May 12 via Zoom | 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Day 3: Friday, May 13 in-person and live stream via Zoom | 11:00am-5:30 pm
Location: Small World Music Centre
Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St, Toronto, ON M6J 2W5
 
Pleas note we have a limited number of Pay What You Can (PWYC) tickets to enable price accessibility for low income individuals to attend.

Covid protocols: People attending the event in Small World Music Centre need proof of vaccination or negative test within 24 hrs before the event. Masks are recommended in Artscape common areas. No food or drink in common areas and hallway.

Register online: https://the-gathering-divergence-spring-2022.eventbrite.ca

If you have any questions email: info@cpamo.org

As you know we have been fundraising for both — our last Gathering Divergence in December 2021 and for our upcoming Gathering Divergence in May 2022. Help us showcase more IBPOC artists and arts administrators by contributing today!
https://gofund.me/3f9402a9