The Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival and Conference 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. This year, Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival & Conference Fall 2021 | Art in the Time of Healing: The Importance of IBPOC Arts in Planetary Renewal will explore the role of IBPOC artists and organizations in the time of healing and renewal as our society emerges and reopens from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Held over three days, the festival and conference will feature panel discussions, showcase performances, workshops 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). The sessions will be aimed at investigating systemic challenges, providing professional development while building organizational and artistic capacity. We aspire to explore the many ways in which the arts and healing will support cultural impact, civic engagement and deeper understanding of emerging digital frameworks with a focus on planetary renewal.

What is the overall concept? 
Gathering  Divergence Multi – Arts Festival and Conference offers an interactive space where arts organizations, artists and attendees dedicated to advancing performance, advocacy and pluralism in the arts can share, dialogue on common interests, purposes and strategies towards a better more equitable and inclusive arts sector.

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: November 1, 2021 by 5pm

When & where is the event?
December 8-10, 2021

Location: Online / We may be able to offer a hybrid online and in-person events depending on public health guidelines.

What we offer:

•  Opportunity to display / showcase / facilitate a workshop to a wide range of artists/ audience, publicity, copy of performance. (No more than 15 minutes in length)

•  Visual Arts / Workshop RFP’s MUST include:

1. Set up requirements 
2. Estimated time for set up and striking of work
3. Whether assistance is needed or included

•  Compensation Range:

1. Dance / Theatre  / Music Honorariums $400 – $1000 (based on the number of artists)
2. Literary Readings up to $300
3.  Exhibition fees for Visual Artists will be based on CARFAC Standards 
4. Workshops $250 (1 hour maximum, all disciplines)

Required for consideration:

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

1. IBPOC Art supporting healing, the arts role in planetary renewal, art / healing / the environment 
2. Workshops specific to the needs of the IBPOC Artists / Arts  Organizations and the Festival / Conference’s theme
3. Digital Applications, Support and Thinking 

•  Works where the major contributors / artists or otherwise self-identify IBPOC

•  Works created by 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:

• Artistic Merit and with overall connection to CPAMO’s mandate and objectives
• The Focus on the Gathering’s themes
• 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 Divergence Fall 2021″
Please make sure to also include a link to your folder with the 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 by Wednesday, November 10, 2021