News and Information

COVID-19 Health Regulations Loosening, Local Arts Events, New Research, Grant Grant Deadlines, and More

Hello Everyone,

It’s March, and as days start to get longer and temperatures start to rise, we are also seeing perhaps the most dramatic loosening of COVID-19 restrictions since the beginning of the pandemic, as the Government of Ontario ends (at least for now) vaccine mandates and capacity limits.

As restrictions lift, we are also seeing more and more arts events happening in the community. This Bulletin highlights some of these exciting upcoming events, along with a roundup of news items from the arts and culture sector, and upcoming grant deadlines.

To keep up-to-the-minute on all the latest arts news and EC3 happenings, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the EC3 website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

COVID-19 Health Regulation Changes

March 1 sees perhaps the most dramatic loosening of COVID-19 public health regulations since the beginning of the pandemic.

Keith Beecroft, Health Promoter at Peterborough Public Health (PPH), provides the following updates on the new rules, and other topics as well:

“Well, here we are. After nearly two years, the Regulations have changed to permit most activities from happening again, the way we remember them happening before the pandemic was declared. As of 12:01 this morning, we are officially in O. Reg. 364/20, Schedule 4 – “General Rules at the Roadmap Exit Step”. In all iterations of the pandemic response (frameworks, colour coded zones, steps, etc.) – we’ve never come this close to ‘normal’.

That’s not to say that the pandemic is over, and that’s not to say there still isn’t risk in the community – but starting today, these are the general rules that will needed to be followed:

• Capacity limits have been lifted in all indoor public settings,
• Proof of vaccination requirements have been lifted,
  • businesses and organizations may choose to require proof of vaccination upon entry,
• Other protective measures, such as mask/face covering requirements and passive screening of patrons remain in place, and
• Businesses and organizations that are open must continue to have safety plans in place

The repeal of these measures signals that we have reached a turning point of this pandemic such that our health system is not at risk of being overwhelmed. Unfortunately, however, COVID-19 is still very much present in our community and transmission is still occurring. Due to the high number of people with 2-doses of vaccine, and many of these with their booster dose, the threat of severe illness and disease caused by COVID-19 has been reduced. There are still many prevention measures individuals will need to consider to protect themselves from COVID-19 transmission.

• Does this mean we can serve food and beverage again? Yes.
• Does everyone indoors, still need to wear a mask? Yes. With limited exceptions.
• Does this mean that we don’t need to physical distance at our arts space? Yes.
• Do we need to do contact tracing? No.
• Do we need to actively screen staff and volunteers and document the passing of their screening? It’s encouraged, but not required. (At the very least, they would be subject to passive screening requirements)

You get the idea!

The changes are likely welcome for some, and scary for others – wherever you land on that spectrum is fine – and PPH remains committed to helping you navigate ‘whatever comes next’; we’ll continue to be in touch as things change/evolve/get updated.

Workplace Outbreak Reporting Tool
The goal of outbreak management is to identify the source of illness, control the outbreak, and limit secondary transmission. This reporting tool will also add to our local data set, and allow PPH to monitor trends such that we can make informed decisions about COVID-19 in our community.

Our goal is to:

• provide a mechanism for workplaces to officially report outbreaks to PPH,
• provide a mechanism to help PPH staff follow up with Infection Prevention and Control supports (if needed), and
• reinforce employers’ awareness/knowledge of existing resources

The purpose of the reporting workplace outbreaks is not punitive or to demonstrate fault. The information collected is done voluntarily and will be kept confidential. It is our aim to protect the health of residents and visitors in our region, while at the same time protecting the economy – workplace reporting allows us to do both.

Please report workplace outbreaks here: PPH COVID-19 Workplace Reporting.

Booster Doses for 12-17 Year Olds

Ontario has expanded booster dose eligibility to youth aged 12 to 17. Appointments can be booked through the provincial booking system and the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre, as well as at select pharmacies administering the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments will be booked for approximately six months (168 days) after a second dose.

Engagement Survey

As the pandemic shifts, so to must our pandemic response; Peterborough Public Health (PPH) is always striving to work in the best interest of the community we serve. As such, we are looking to you, to help inform and guide our work. The feedback you provide in this five-minute survey will help us improve our engagement efforts during our on-going response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please note throughout the survey we will use ‘workplace/setting’ to refer to the sectors PPH has been engaging with throughout the COVID-19 response. We welcome your response, and we encourage you to share this survey with others in your workplace/setting that would like to provide their feedback too.

Responses to this survey are anonymous and information provided will be kept confidential. Participation is voluntary and you can withdraw at any time. The services you receive from PPH will not be affected by your responses or participation in this survey.

We thank you in advance for your invaluable feedback.”

Arts Sector News Roundup

CARFAC has released a new resource, Indigenous Protocols for the Visual Arts, providing practical guidance for respectful engagement with Indigenous Peoples. The guide is designed for the visual arts, but these ideas and protocols are well worth a look for all Canadian artists and arts organizations.

Hill Strategies’ latest research initiative, Artists in The Pandemic: Recent and Long-Term Labour Force Trends, is an instructive look at the outsized impact the pandemic has had on artists. You can also read a previous research report, Innovation and Resilience in the Arts, Culture, and Heritage, Canada and attend their upcoming webinar, Arts Research in Canada – Insights and Absences.

Nominations are open for the National Gallery of Canada-administered Sobey Art Award. Open to artists across Canada, the Sobey Art Award is recognized as one of the world’s most generous privately funded prizes for contemporary visual artists, with over $400,000 in prize money this year.

Locally, KawarthaNOW put out an excellent article, It’s ‘now about survival’ for the Peterborough arts community as pandemic takes a heavy toll, which includes personal accounts from local artists and arts leaders about the impact of the pandemic on the local scene and what is needed for recovery.

Local Arts Events

With the changing COVID-19 health rules, we are seeing a return to more and more arts events in town. Here is a small selection of some of what’s coming up:

After a winter/lockdown hiatus, the First Friday Art Crawl returns to downtown Peterborough this Friday, March 4. Watch the Crawl’s website and social media for announcements about exhibitions, performances, and special events taking place as part of the crawl.

Artspace’s Book and Zine Fest returns this month, with a slate of panels, performances, and digital vendor booths taking place March 7 to 13. The gallery also reopens its doors this month, with the exhibition José Andrés Mora: The Mornings in Reverse, running March 12 to May 14.

The Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival is offering a virtual workshop for Indigenous artists on the NIFF-specific tech process on March 15 from 11-12pm, hosted by managing director, stage manager and project/production manager Deborah Ratelle. Email indigenousfringefest@gmail.com for details and registration.

Peterborough Performs returns to Showplace on March 20. This benefit concert featuring over 15 local bands and musicians is raising local awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness, and raising funds for the United Way of Peterborough & District. Tickets available online.

See also the slate of events coming up at Market Hall, Theatre on King, and Showplace.

Black History Month Resource List

Black History Month may be over, but educating ourselves about Black history and celebrating Black voices and creators is a pursuit worth continuing all year long. In case you missed it, EC3 has released a Black History Month Resource List to help us honour and inform ourselves about the legacy of Black Canadians, to support Black causes and Black creators, and to celebrate some of the memorable art being created by Black artists in Peterborough and across Canada. We encourage everyone to take a deep dive into some of the websites, books, documentaries, and events listed within.

Also, watch for the return of EC3’s Spotlight on Local Black Artists later this year.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Here are important grant deadlines coming up soon:

• Mar 09: Music Organizations Operating (everyone except festivals) (OAC)
• Mar 31: Arts Organizations in Communities and Schools: Operating (OAC)
• Mar 31: Major Organizations: Operating (OAC)
• Apr 01: Canada Arts Presentation Fund: Programming(Canadian Heritage)
• Apr 01: Canada Travelling Exhibitions Indemnification Program (Canadian Heritage)
• Apr 07: Media Artists Creation Projects (OAC)

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

Help is Available!

Hello Everyone,

As the seemingly never-ending winter and pandemic drag on, we are hearing from artists, arts administrators, and board members alike that they are beyond weary, stressed out, burnt out and anxious. That’s a tough climate to make art in, and we all need art more than ever. So, EC3 has put together a list of resources that might help if you are in crisis or are looking for some on- going support. Hopefully it helps to know that you are not alone and that there are supports available. Please let us know if you have found other sources of help that you want to share.

Take care of yourselves.

Check out the resource list HERE.

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

Featuring Artists, Events, Organizations, And Social Justice Resources

Hello Everyone,

Every February, people and organizations across Canada participate in Black History Month. It’s an opportunity to focus on the legacy and contributions of Black Canadians in our society. The theme for Black History Month 2022 is “February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day,” a reminder that supporting and including Black voices and Black creators is something we can do every day, and not just during the shortest month of the year.

During last year’s Black History Month, EC3 launched Spotlight on Local Black Artists, presenting profiles of Black artists living and working in Peterborough. These six profiles were shared on social media and have a permanent home on our website. This is an ongoing project for EC3 and a resource for anyone looking to learn about, program, work with and support Black artists in our community. This program continued throughout 2021, and will return with more artist profiles again in 2022.

To mark Black History Month, EC3 has put together a list of resources to help us honour and inform ourselves about the legacy of Black Canadians, to support Black causes and Black creators, and to celebrate some of the fantastic art being created by Black artists in Peterborough and across Canada.

We encourage everyone to take a deep dive into some of these great websites, books, documentaries, and events: click HERE to access the resource list.

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

COVID-19 Health Regulations Loosening, New Research Projects, Local Home Viewing, Grant Deadlines, and More

Hello Everyone,

Between COVID-19 shutdowns, school closures, winter storms, and pandemic illnesses, it’s been a challenging start to 2022! Thankfully, we’ve made it through January, and starting today, public health restrictions are beginning to ease, and many arts and culture organizations will be able to reopen their doors, at least partially.

This Bulletin provides information on the new provincial COVID-19 health and safety regulations that go into place TODAY, as well as a roundup of arts and culture news and info that’s come across the EC3 desk, an updated grant deadlines calendar, and some local viewing recommendations for the “at-home times.”

To keep up-to-the-minute on all the latest arts news and EC3 happenings, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the EC3 website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Ontario Loosens Public Health Rules

Earlier this month, the Government of Ontario announced plans for a gradual relaxing of COVID-19 public health rules, starting January 31 (today) and continuing in February. Particularly relevant to our sector, as of today, concerts venues and theatres will be able to open at 50% capacity (up to 500 people), and museums, galleries and movie theatres will all be able to open at 50% capacity, with no upper limit.

The government’s website has a full list of rules, and you can also read below the latest information from Keith Beecroft, Health Promoter at Peterborough Public Health, sent late last week, which does an excellent job of breaking down the latest version of the rules, as well as rules around vaccine passports, safety plans, and more.

Peterborough Public Health Update

“Good afternoon Arts Community –

We hope your week is shaping up to be a good one….

Last week, the province outlined steps that will be used to gradually and cautiously ease current public health measures. The press release announcing the measures is available here.

We do not have the updated regulations nor the accompanying guidance documents that will guide these reopening steps yet, but it is expected that starting January 31, 2022 the go-to regulation will be O. Reg 364/20. Ministry officials have said that the amendments are being worked on and they should be released sometime this week. (Additionally, this page will be updated when the new Regulations come into force next week: COVID-19 public health measures and advice: Find out about the latest public health measures, advice and restrictions).

Enhanced vaccine certificates with QR codes
In settings that require proof of vaccination, (i.e. live entertainment venues, cinemas, and theatres) patrons must present an enhanced vaccine certificate with a QR code prior to entry. Businesses and organizations must scan the QR code using the Verify Ontario app. The enhanced vaccine certificate is a more secure and convenient way to have your proof of vaccination verified. Vaccine receipts without a QR code are no longer accepted.

Additionally, owners and operators have an obligation to manage lines and reduce ‘bottle necks’ at their facilities. Communication to all of your user groups about this requirement in advance of January 31 will prevent people from downloading their QR code while they are in line waiting to enter your facility. PLEASE ENSURE YOUR USER GROUPS ARE AWARE OF THIS NEW REQUIREMENT.

As facility owners and operators, it is your responsibility to ensure the Verify Ontario App is being used by your user groups and that everyone entering the facility is doing so by presenting an Enhanced vaccine receipt:

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• How to get your COVID-19 vaccine certificate
• Download the Verify Ontario mobile app

With COVID, and especially the Omicron variant, there is not going to be one single intervention to reduce the risk of infection, but rather multiple layers of protection that are needed. Think of it like a piece of Swiss Cheese – each layer is imperfect, therefore multiple layers of protection are needed:

While the specifics of what will and won’t be allowed will be outlined in the Regulations, there are some ‘basics’ that we know will be required – details of which can be found in the attached ‘primer’. Please take this time to update your safety plan; much has changed over the last several weeks due to Omicron and your plans likely need to be refreshed.

We know this is scant on specifics – capacity limits, food sales, etc. – but we wanted to give you something to get started with in hopes that you can ‘plunk’ the specifics in when they are released by the province.

As always, please be in touch if there is anything we can help with.

With continued thanks,

Keith”

Arts Sector News Roundup

• The Ontario government has approved Working for Workers Act, enshrining the ‘right to disconnect’ as well as other rules that will affect how workers are treated. Charity Village offers an excellent breakdown of how the new legislation affects workers and employers.
• Check out the Canada Council for the Arts’ new Stats and Stories page, which explores the impact of Canada Council funding over the past year. Did you know the Canada Council gave out $309.8 million in grants across Canada, impacting 572 communities?
• Check out the latest edition of Business/Arts’ Arts Response Tracking Study, a regular survey gauging Canadians’ attitudes on returning to indoor and outdoor arts and culture events. It confirms that audiences remain apprehensive due to the ongoing pandemic.
• Is your non-profit addressing workplace mental health? Charity Village just added a new program to their website, a Certificate in Workplace Mental Health and Psychological Safety, and have just put out a new podcast episode on the topic as well.

Local Home Viewing

On now until February 4, it’s the ReFrame Film Festival, Peterborough’s annual festival celebrating the best in social and cultural documentaries from Peterborough, Canada, and around the world. As with last year, the festival has moved online this year, which means you can enjoy films from the comfort of your couch. Check out the coverage the festival has received, including film recommendations, in KawarthaNOW and Akimbo.

It’s the second edition of 4th Line Theatre’s Festival of Light and Dark, an online exhibition of ten five-minute videos by local artists showcasing their work. There’s a great lineup of artists prodcuing tremendously varied video works, and it’s all available for free on 4th Line Theatre’s website and YouTube channel.

For more home viewing, the Peterborough Singers have started an excellent video series, Choral Music History, hosted by Shannon McCracken, exploring the history and variety of choral music. There’s three episodes so far, viewable on the Peterborough Singers’ YouTube page.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Here are important grant deadlines coming up soon:

• Jan 31: Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage: Local Festivals (Canadian Heritage)
• Feb 11: Event Support (Peterborough DBIA)
• Feb 15: Ontario Arts Presenters Projects (OAC)
• Feb 17: Dance Organizations: Operating (OAC)
• Mar 03: Visual Arts Artist-Run Centres and Organizations: Operating (OAC)
• Mar 09: Music Organizations Operating (everyone except festivals) (OAC)

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

New Restrictions and Expanded Benefit Programs

Hello Everyone,

We once again find ourselves starting a new year with rising COVID-19 infection numbers and increasingly restrictive public health regulations, resulting in many arts and culture organizations closing their doors or reducing capacity, and many employed in our industry with canceled gigs and reduced hours. Thankfully, these restrictions come with a (temporary) expansion of government COVID-19 support programs for both organizations and individuals.

This Bulletin provides information on the new public health restrictions as they apply to the arts and culture sector, and some of the government benefit programs that will continue to support organizations and individuals during lockdown and beyond.

To keep up-to-the-minute on all the latest arts news and EC3 happenings, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the EC3 website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Ontario Tightens Public Health Rules

On January 3, 2022, the Ontario government announced that the province is temporarily returning to a modified version of Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen. The new measures went into place as of 12:01AM on January 5, and will be in place for at least 21 days (until January 27).

A full list of measures can be found here, but the Toronto Arts Council has put together an excellent summary of the major points for the arts and culture sector:

• Concert venues, theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries, zoos, science centres, landmarks, historic sites, botanical gardens and similar attractions, amusement parks, waterparks, tour and guide services including boat tours, fairs, rural exhibitions and festivals must operate under the following conditions:
  • indoor areas of concert venues, theatres and cinemas are closed. However, rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted performance, artistic event or performance is permitted, with restrictions.
  • outdoor events may remain open with restrictions (such as masking).
  • spectators at seated outdoor events limited to 50 per cent capacity.
  • drive-in and drive through events permitted with restrictions, such as distancing between cars, only permitted to leave a vehicle in limited circumstances, etc.
• Indoor meeting and event spaces are closed with limited exceptions but outdoor spaces are permitted to remain open with restrictions.
• Outdoor events have no limits on number of attendees, but face coverings and/or masks must be worn when distancing (two metres or more) cannot be maintained.
• Businesses and organizations are required to ensure employees work remotely unless the nature of their work requires them to be on-site.
• Businesses that provide in-person teaching or instruction (such as music classes) must operate under the following conditions:
  • indoor areas are closed, except for organizations that provide health and safety training (with conditions).
  • outdoor areas may remain open with restrictions in place, such as physical distancing.
• Social gathering limits are reduced to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors.

Expanded Government Support

As the Omicron variant continues to spread across Ontario and across the country, the Government of Canada announced a temporary expansion of some of its COVID-19 programs for areas affected by lockdowns (which currently includes Ontario), for both organizations and individuals.

For organizations, the Local Lockdown Program is being expanded to include employers subject to capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more; and reduce the current-month revenue decline threshold requirement to 25 per cent. Eligible employers will receive wage and rent subsidies from 25 per cent up to a maximum of 75 per cent, depending on their degree of revenue loss. The 12-month revenue decline test continues to not be required in order to access this support. Find out more.

For individuals, the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit is being expanded to include workers in regions where provincial or territorial governments have introduced capacity-limiting restrictions of 50 per cent or more. As announced previously, this benefit will provide $300 a week in income support to eligible workers who are directly affected by a COVID-19-related public health lockdown, and who have lost 50 per cent or more of their income as a result. Find out more.

These updated regulations will apply from December 19, 2021, to February 12, 2022.

Other programs for organizations that are worth exploring include:

• Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) is a wage subsidy for employers to encourage bringing back employees who were laid off or had hours reduced due to the pandemic.
• Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program (THRP) includes both wage and rent subsidies for organizations in the tourism, hospitality, arts, entertainment, or recreation sectors.
• Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program (HHBRP) provides wage and rent subsidies for some organizations who don’t qualify under the other benefit programs.
• Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program offers low-interest loans of $25,000 to $1 million to cover operational cash flow needs for businesses heavily impacted by COVID-19.
• Indigenous Business Support offers financial support to First Nation, Inuit, and Métis community or collectively-owned businesses and micro-businesses affected by COVID-19 that do not qualify for other relief programs.

We also encourage individuals who are being affected by pandemic lockdowns to explore the various programs of Support for Individuals offered by the federal government, including the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB).

Meanwhile, the Government of Ontario has announced a new Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program, which will provide rebates to eligible organizations for a portion of property tax and energy costs they incur while under pandemic restrictions. We are still awaiting details on this program and who will be eligible, but watch for that some time this month.

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

Open Call for Peterborough’s Biennial Multidisciplinary Arts Festival

Hello Everyone,

EC3 is very excited to announce the return of Artsweek, which will be taking place June 10 to 18, 2022.

Artsweek is Peterborough’s “festival of the arts” – an extravaganza of music, literary and spoken word arts, puppetry and kid’s programming, media arts, visual arts, circus arts, dance, theatre and multidisciplinary performance of all kinds, unfolding in public spaces and established art venues all across the city.

Artsweek typically takes place every other year. Artsweek 2020 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic (replaced by Artsweek SHIFT). Originally, Artsweek was rescheduled to take place in fall 2021; however, due to the ongoing uncertainties and challenges around COVID-19 health and safety regulations, the EC3 Board of Directors decided to postpone the event until June 2022, and re-open the Call for Proposals. (All applicants to the original 2021 Call have been contacted directly.)

In 2022, Artsweek makes its triumphant return!

Call For Proposals

This is an Open Call for innovative new projects in any artistic discipline, for any location within the City of Peterborough.

• This Call for Proposals includes, but is not limited to: performance (dance, theatre, multi-disciplinary performance), visual art (installations, interventions, projections, exhibitions), media arts, writing/spoken word, and any form of music, concerts, or sound/audio art. Individual artists, collectives, ad hoc groups, or arts organizations may propose projects.
• Conventional presentations, pop-ups, one time, continuous or short-run project proposals are all eligible.
• Curated, educational or community-based projects are eligible. Partnerships and collaborations between arts groups or with other community-based organizations are welcome.
• Artists are encouraged to explore ideas taking place anywhere in the City of Peterborough.

How to Apply

Find the full Program Guidelines and the PDF Application Form HERE. Applications are open now until January 17, 2022 at 11:59pm.

Application Info Sessions

Do you have questions about Artsweek or the application process? Looking for some tips and tricks to help your application?

EC3 and Artsweek are presenting two Artsweek 2022 Application Info Sessions on Thursday, December 16 at 5:00pm and 7:00pm on Zoom. The sessions are FREE and will each last approximately one hour. Both sessions will cover the same material.

• Pre-register for the 5pm session
• Pre-register for the 7pm session

Follow Artsweek on Social Media

Be sure to follow Artsweek online for regular updates: Artsweek is on Facebook, @ptbo_artsweek on Twitter, and @artsweekptbo on Instagram. And check out the Artsweek website for all the latest.

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

With Links to Video Recordings, PowerPoint Presentations, and More

Hello Everyone,

Thank you to everyone who came out to There’s a New Law in Town: the Ontario Not-for-profit Corporations Act (ONCA), the two-part webinar for nonprofit corporations and groups considering nonprofit incorporation, which EC3 co-presented with Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) and their staff lawyer Benjamin Miller.

EC3 organized this Professional Development Workshop in response to community requests for information on the pros and cons of provincial nonprofit incorporation, and on the impact of the new provincial nonprofit legislation which came into effect in October 2021.

It was an excellent discussion full of useful information for anyone involved in any kind of organization, collective group or association. Part 1: Should You Incorporate? discussed the impact of NFP incorporation, different organizational models that associations can follow, and what is legally required to incorporate as a nonprofit. Part 2: ONCA and You discussed the new legislation that governs nonprofit corporations in Ontario and how it will affect corporate structures and bylaws.

Find Out More

In case you missed the webinar, or if you’re looking to find out more, EC3 has some useful resources to check out.

DISCLAIMER: Nothing below is meant as or should be understood as legal advice tailored to your situation. It is only general legal information. When confronting particular situations, consult your own legal counsel as appropriate.

The information contained in the webinar recordings and PowerPoint presentations are accurate as of November 30, 2021.

• Watch a recording of the webinar on EC3’s YouTube page: Part 1, Part 2
• Legal Considerations in Starting a Nonprofit (PowerPoint presentation)
• Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act 101 (PowerPoint presentation)
• CLEO’s Nonprofit Law Ontario website
• CLEO’s Interactive nonprofit bylaw builder

For more information, contact Benjamin Miller (benjamin.miller@cleo.on.ca) or EC3 (contact details below).

Thank You!!

Thank you so much to Benjamin Miller for all his work putting this webinar together and for sharing his knowledge and expertise. And thanks to Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) for making this webinar possible.

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

Government COVID-19 Relief Program Extensions, Recent Research, EC3 Programming, Grant Deadlines, and More

Hello Everyone,

It’s the end of November, and the countdown to the holidays has begun. It’s a busy time in the arts, with more and more arts programming returning to in-person gatherings, combined with the rush to get things done before the end of the year, and beginning work to prepare for the year to come.

This Bulletin provides a roundup of recent news and updates in the arts sector: new announcements about federal COVID-19 relief programs, new studies and research, grant deadlines, and more.

Read all about it in our latest Bulletin. And to keep up-to-the-minute on all the latest arts news and EC3 happenings, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the EC3 website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Government of Canada COVID-19 Benefits Updates

The Government of Canada has announced some extensions and updates to its COVID-19 benefits programs. There are a number of programs in here worth examining – including extensions of the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit – however two announcements in particular may be of interest to local arts and culture organizations.

First, the Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) is being extended until May 7, 2022. Similar to the dearly departed Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), CRHP is a wage subsidy for employers, but it specifically assists with bringing employees back and increasing employee hours after COVID-19 layoffs and cutbacks. Find out more here.

The government has also announced additional details about the proposed Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program, a series of wage and rent subsidies up to 75% directed at this particularly hard-hit sector. This remains as proposed legislation at this point, but it looks like it will impact many arts and culture-related organizations, as the program would apply to organizations that are involved in “organizing, promoting, hosting, supporting, or participating in events that meet the artistic or cultural interests of their patrons, including live performances or exhibits intended for public viewing” as well as “preserving and exhibiting objects, sites and natural wonders of historical, cultural or educational value, such as the operation of a museum, a historic and heritage site, a zoo, a botanical garden, or a nature park.”

We will provide updates as more details come.

Recent Research in the Arts

A number of interesting research reports have come across our desk recently. Take a look:

• Hill Strategies’ latest Arts Research Monitor collects a number of studies and reports focused on equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization in the arts.
• Hill Strategies also provides a report on Organizational stress and resilience in the arts in Canada, exploring how the pandemic has impacted organizational capacity and mental health.
• Also on the topic of mental health, the Arts for Mental Health conference, co-presented by Mass Culture and the Mississauga Arts Council, took place in October, and you can read the conference report and recommendations.
• January and February is budget season on the federal and provincial levels. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has put together their Alternative Federal Budget 2022, which includes a section on Culture.

Ontario Arts Council Videos for Deaf Applicants

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has launched a series of American Sign Language (ASL) videos about the grant application and assessment process. They include information about OAC services and supports for Deaf artists and artists with disabilities. Take a look here.

Send us Your Holiday Events!

EC3 is putting together a calendar of local arts and culture holiday events, for publication in The Peterborough Examiner and in an upcoming Bulletin. If you have a holiday event coming up in December that you would like included, please send along the details to EC3 Program Coordinator Gabe Pollock (ec3.research@gmail.com). In-person and online events welcome, in Peterborough and area.

Reminder: Upcoming EC3 Events

EC3 has two events coming up this week, and you’re invited.

Professional Development Workshop:

Tuesday, November 30 at 1pm is There’s a New Law in Town: the Ontario Not-for-profit Corporation Act (ONCA), a two-part online webinar for non-profits and organizations considering incorporating as non-profit corporations, presented by EC3 and Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO).

Part 1: Should You Incorporate? will take you through the rules that apply to you as an unincorporated association, and what would change if you incorporate, the different NFP organizational structures available to you, their pros and cons, and the steps to incorporate, if that’s what you decide you want to do. Part 2: ONCA and You will answer questions about the new ONCA legislation and how it will affect reporting, governance, and other issues.

Find out more and register HERE.

AGM:

Thursday, December 2 at 5pm is EC3’s Annual General Meeting. It’s been an incredibly challenging but rewarding year. Please join us to take a look back, and a look forward! Find out more and register HERE.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Here are some important grant deadlines coming up soon:

• Dec 01: Canada Cultural Investment Fund: Endowment Incentives (Canadian Heritage)
• Dec 03: Community Investment Grants and Community Project Grants (City of Peterborough)
• Dec 06: Recovery Funding for Professional Arts Presentation Organizations (Canadian Government)
• Dec 08: Arts Abroad: Circulation and Touring / Co-Productions / Residencies (Canada Council)
• Dec 08: Arts Across Canada: Circulation and Touring / Foreign Artist Tours (Canada Council)
• Dec 08: Creating, Knowing and Sharing – The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples: Short-Term Projects (Canada Council)
• Dec 16: Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists (OAC)

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

Upcoming Webinar On Not-for-profit Law, And EC3’s Annual General Meeting

Hello Everyone,

As we move through November, EC3 is excited to announce (and invite you) to two upcoming events: our Annual General Meeting is happening on December 2, and EC3 is hosting a Two-Part Webinar on not-for-profit incorporation and the new ONCA legislation on November 30.

Read all about it in our latest Bulletin. And to keep up-to-the-minute on all the latest arts news and EC3 happenings, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the EC3 website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

There’s A New Law in Town: The Ontario Not-For-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA)

Two-Part Nonprofit Webinar
November 30, 2021
1:00 to 3:00 pm
via Zoom
FREE
Register HERE

EC3, working with Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), is proud to present a two-part, two-hour professional development workshop for local arts organizations.

If you are thinking of incorporating so you can access public funding, etc., check out Part 1: Should You Incorporate? (1:00pm). And Part 2: ONCA and You (2:00pm) will teach you all about how the new Ontario Not-for-profit Corporation Act (ONCA) will impact the legal requirements of managing your status as a not-for-profit corporation for community benefit. Both parts of the webinar will be run by expert guest, CLEO staff lawyer Benjamin Miller.

Part 1: Should You Incorporate? (1:00pm to 2:00pm) is aimed at grassroots organizations (collectives, studios, associations etc.) who are considering provincial NFP incorporation. This hour will take you through the rules that apply to you as an unincorporated association, and what would change if you incorporate, the different NFP organizational structures available to you, their pros and cons, and the steps to incorporate, if that’s what you decide you want to do.

• Are you a group thinking about incorporating?
• Worried about paperwork, control, access to funding, and the future of your organization?
• This hour is for you.

Part 2: ONCA and You (2:00pm to 3:00pm) is aimed at incorporated not-for-profit corporations who have questions about the new Ontario Not-for-profit Corporations Act (ONCA). This hour will take you through what is new in the ONCA, steps that NFPs need to take be compliant with the ONCA, and how CLEO’s free resources can help you create ONCA compliant bylaws from scratch or adapt your current bylaws. To learn more about the ONCA visit nonprofitlaw.cleo.on.ca.

• Are you an organization already incorporated under Ontario’s Corporations Act or a special Act?
• Will you need to update your bylaws or change your level of annual financial review to comply with ONCA?
• Wondering if your board positions and elections process still work, or your reporting mechanisms still fit?
• This hour is for you.

Sign up HERE to attend either session (or both sessions). Please note: upon registration, you will be sent a Zoom link and a link to a short survey. Filling out this survey in advance will help us cater the webinar to your specific needs.

EC3 Annual General Meeting 2021

Thursday, December 2, 2021
5:00 pm
Via Zoom
FREE
Register HERE

EC3 cordially invites you to attend the EC3 Annual General Meeting 2021, taking place online over Zoom on Thursday, December 2 at 5pm.

It’s been an incredibly challenging but rewarding year. Please join us to take a look back, and a look forward!

Please register in advance for the Zoom meeting HERE. You will receive a confirmation email with the meeting link after you register.

If you would like to sign up for an EC3 membership, or renew your membership, please do so by Monday, November 29, 2021 to be counted among voting members at the AGM. You can sign up through our website. Payment can be made via PayPal.

KEEP INFORMED, STAY IN TOUCH

As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff

Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101

Individual Artists Make it Happen!

EC3’s proposal to City Hall for a program of Grants to Individual Artists is needed now more than ever. Please let Councillors know this matters to you. Watch the video, check out the proposal and contact your City Councillor now.

Support local artists!

CITY OF PETERBOROUGH BUDGET 2022
FUNDING FOR ARTS PROGRAMS

EC3 Proposal: Program of Grants to Individual Artists: $45,000

We truly appreciate your time and attention to this issue as municipal funding plays such a crucial role in the sustainability of the local arts sector and the arts are critical to a vibrant downtown, a thriving economy and community well-being. Direct revenue investment at the municipal level matters so much in and of itself, and creates an important tool for leveraging additional funds from other sources. This is particularly true at this time, as local arts and culture organizations as well as individual artists struggle to overcome the negative impacts of Covid 19 and stabilize. The City contribution to the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund played a crucial role in stabilizing key arts organizations in our City, keeping the heat and lights on in venues and supporting initiatives that are enabling them to reopen. We are so grateful for that.

Individual artists, facing the financial loss from declining gallery sales, cancelled concert tours and book deals etc. need our support now to get back on their feet, get work made and ready to present to the public. These kinds of grant programs are mainstay in the best of times to ensure a robust ecosystem of public funding for the arts, post COVID 19, they are essential.

As you know, many national and international studies have demonstrated that the already precarious arts and culture sector has been one of the hardest-hit by the Covid 19 pandemic and this negative impact has reverberated through the tourism and hospitality sector as well. It is estimated that “recovery” will take two -three years.

The federal and provincial governments and many municipalities have extended special or supplementary funding programs into 2022, some cities are revamping their ongoing support for arts programs in response to COVID 19 experiences.

So, it remains absolutely essential that the City continues to enhance its support for the arts in very strategic ways both for long term resilience and community benefit, and for city-wide Covid 19 recovery.

OUR ASK
Program of Grants to Individual Artists Designed and Delivered by EC3: $45,000
“Peterborough Arts ALIVE for Individuals”

As you know, EC3 has long advocated for municipal support to individual professional artists in the form of a competitive grant program for research, development, production and presentation of new projects. We note that Kingston developed such a program in 2021 to support artists during the pandemic and will continue the program in 2022. EC3 is prepared to take on the work to develop and deliver that program within our current funding model. We have an excellent track record of creating and managing grants to artists (ArtsweekSHIFT2 etc.).

Such a program should not wait another year given the devastating effect the pandemic has had on the lives and work of local artists. This is definitely the year to get this long overdue program off the ground. If successful, we would hope to see this program continued in the future.

We know it’s not easy, particularly right now, to find funds, but we are confident that these investments will make an enormous difference to local artists and arts organizations in the coming year and beyond. It’s an investment that will act like jet fuel to fire the recovery of the sector and all its impacts.

Keep our award-winning artists here in Peterborough, make sure there is local creative content to fill our own venues and give our children a chance to build a practice here at home. Speed COVID 19 recovery by supporting this proposal.

Many and sincere thanks for all your support for the arts.

Please feel free to call Su Ditta if you have any questions.
705 749 9101

Many thanks
EC3

City Council contact list