News and Information

Are you between 18 and 30 years old? Do you want to help plan and execute one of the true highlights of the Peterborough arts calendar? It’s a rewarding and fun project to work on, and we need a couple of dynamos to make it shine.

The Peterborough Arts Awards and Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts are returning in 2022, and EC3 is hiring two positions to make it a reality: a Production Coordinator and a Marketing & Communications Associate. These are 8-week positions supported by the Canada Summer Jobs program, that will help EC3 staff and Board to make this iconic Peterborough event happen once again.

Peterborough Arts Awards and the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts 2022: Production Coordinator

A Canada Summer Jobs Employment Opportunity

Introduction

Join the EC3 team and help organize one of the most inspiring and uplifting events of the year: The Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts and the Peterborough Arts Awards ceremonies. It’s an afternoon to honour and celebrate Peterborough’s outstanding arts community and the people who make it all happen. Check out the photos on our website.

Application Deadline: Tuesday, November 30 at 5:00 pm

Eligibility

Under the Canada Summer Jobs guidelines, this opportunity is for people who are aged 15 to 30 years (inclusive) at the start of employment. Candidate must be Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a person upon whom refugee protection has been conferred, and who is legally entitled to work in Ontario. This position is being funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program, a component of the federal Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

Job Description

The Peterborough Arts Awards is an annual recognition program organized by the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) that celebrates high artistic achievement in the local arts scene and recognizes extraordinary contributions in and to the arts. Local artists and arts supporters are nominated by the community, and a peer jury selects the shortlist and winners in six categories, who receive their cash awards at the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts, a gala luncheon with special guests, performances, and presentations.

Reporting directly to EC3’s Program Coordinator, the Arts Awards Production Coordinator will perform a variety of administrative and production duties supporting the planning and delivery of both the awards program and the gala event.

All activities surrounding the Peterborough Arts Awards and Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts will be completed in compliance with the relevant COVID-19 public health protocols.

Duties will include:

• Supporting the EC3 Program Coordinator in advance event planning (workplans and schedules), on-site production and presentation activities, and administrative record keeping.
• Assistance with the intake of nominations and technical aspects of the Jury process.
• Communications with venue, performers, presenters, nominees, and staff around delivery of the Luncheon event.
• General production management support, including: receiving and delivering contracts, updating budgets, filing and printing.
• Volunteer recruitment, training and recognition plans.
• Support sponsorship and donations campaign.
• Organizing the venue and amenities such as catering, seating, signage, decorations, health and safety protocols, box office etc.
• Developing and maintaining event photo/video documentation and archives.
• Assisting with program analytics and evaluation.
• Planning and organizing event follow-up, returns, thanks yous, etc.

Skills and Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, plan and organize arts or arts related event projects from beginning to end.
• Good writing and oral communications skills.
• Good judgement and flexibility.
• Ability to work effectively independently, as well as in a team.
• Experience/demonstrated success in achieving performance deadlines and coordinating crew and tasks.
• Creative capacity in design, decor, box office, and/or crowd management.
• Passion for and knowledge of the arts and the Peterborough community a definite asset.
• Attention to detail and strong strategic fore-sighting capacity.
• Capacity to work from a home office and onsite in different venues.
• Driver’s licence and regular access to a vehicle an asset.

The Electric City Culture Council is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from self-identified members of marginalized/racialized communities (visible and invisible) including Indigenous people, Deaf people, people with disabilities, new Canadians, and those identifying as 2SLGBTQ+.

Hours

35 hrs. per week, including some evenings and weekends (flexible)

Duration of Contract

January 3 to February 25, 2022

Rate of Pay

$16.50 per hour

To Apply

Applications accepted by email only to ec3.jobs@gmail.com with subject line ‘PAA Production Coordinator.’ Please include resume/CV, cover letter explaining why you are interested in and qualified for this position, and the names and contact information of three references.

Contact

Gabe Pollock
EC3 Program Coordinator and Research Lead
ec3.jobs@gmail.com
(705) 749-9101

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 5:00 PM ON NOVEMBER 30, 2021

For more information please visit www.ecthree.org.

Peterborough Arts Awards and the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts 2022: Marketing and Communications Associate

A Canada Summer Jobs Employment Opportunity

Introduction

Join the EC3 team and help organize one of the most inspiring and uplifting events of the year: The Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts and the Peterborough Arts Awards ceremonies. It’s an afternoon to honour and celebrate Peterborough’s outstanding arts community and the people who make it all happen. Check out the photos on our website.

Application Deadline: Tuesday, November 30 at 5:00 pm

Eligibility

Under the Canada Summer Jobs guidelines, this job opportunity is for people who are aged 15 to 30 years (inclusive) at the start of employment. Candidate must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or a person upon whom refugee protection has been conferred, and who is legally entitled to work in Ontario. This position is being funded by the Canada Summer Jobs program, a component of the federal Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

Job Description

The Peterborough Arts Awards, organized by the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is an annual recognition program that celebrates high artistic achievement in the local arts scene and recognizes extraordinary contributions in and to the arts. Local artists and arts supporters are nominated by the community, and a jury selects the shortlists and winners in each of six categories, who receive cash awards at the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts – a gala luncheon with special guests, performances, and presentations.

The Arts Awards Marketing and Communications Associate will work with EC3’s Program Coordinator, Executive Director, staff, volunteers and Board members to assist in marketing, promotions, and sponsorship development for the Peterborough Arts Awards and the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts.

All activities surrounding the Peterborough Arts Awards and Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts will be completed in compliance with the relevant COVID-19 public health protocols.

Duties will include:

• Developing and executing a comprehensive marketing and communications plan surrounding the Peterborough Arts Awards (including call for nominations process) and the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts event.
• Creating specific vehicles, cross-sector networks and opportunities that welcome the following groups into Awards activities and adopting tools and approaches for effective engagement and inclusion: persons with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, Indigenous peoples, members of visual/racialized minorities, youth, 2SLGBTQ+ community, people with social or employment barriers including literacy and numeracy and mental health challenges.
• Updating and maintaining databases for broadcast and social media campaigns.
• Developing and delivering on-site promotional tools and peripheral marketing tools.
• Organizing media conferences (media kits, teasers, etc.) and social media campaigns.
• Supporting the production of video documentation and other digital promotional vehicles.
• Assisting with the design and delivery of these campaigns across multiple digital, broadcast/narrowcast and print platforms (developing plans, editing text, sourcing and selecting photos, establishing release schedules, making videos, managing databases, organizing volunteers) and documenting and archiving campaign materials in both digital and print formats.
• Manage ticket sales and reservations.
• Support stewardship of event sponsors.

Skills and Qualifications

• Excellent written and oral communications skills
• Familiarity with marketing tools and social media campaign design
• Familiarity with simple database management: Excel, Mailchimp, etc.
• Solid knowledge of using social media platforms particularly Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, as well as video and other graphic tools
• Experience with other promotion tools in marketing campaigns
• Ability to work independently or in a team
• Capacity to plan and deliver multiple small projects from beginning to end
• Ability to work effectively independently, as well as in a team
• Passion for and knowledge of the arts and the Peterborough community a definite asset
• Attention to detail and strong strategic fore sighting capacity
• Capacity to work from a home office and onsite in different venues
• Driver’s licence and regular access to a vehicle is an asset

The Electric City Culture Council is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from self-identified members of marginalized/racialized communities (visible and invisible) including Indigenous people, Deaf people, people with disabilities, new Canadians, and those identifying as 2SLGBTQ+.

Hours

35 hrs. per week, including some evenings and weekends (flexible)

Duration of Contract

January 3 to February 25, 2022

Rate of Pay

$16.50 per hour

To Apply

Applications accepted by email only to ec3.jobs@gmail.com with subject line ‘PAA Marketing and Communications Associate.’ Please include resume/CV, cover letter explaining why you are interested in and qualified for this position, and the names and contact information of three references.

Contact

Gabe Pollock
EC3 Program Coordinator and Research Lead
ec3.jobs@gmail.com
(705) 749-9101

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY 5:00 PM ON NOVEMBER 30, 2021

For more information please visit www.ecthree.org.

EC3 is Hiring, City Grant Programs, OAC Funding, and More

Hello Everyone,

It’s November, and there’s lots brewing at EC3 and across the arts sector. EC3 is hiring for two Canada Summer Jobs positions and getting prepped for our AGM, the City of Peterborough has opened their Community Investment and Project Grants programs, the Ontario Arts Council has new funding, 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.

EC3 is Hiring

Are you between 18 and 30 years old? Do you want to help plan and execute one of the true highlights of the Peterborough arts calendar? It’s a rewarding and fun project to work on, and we need a couple of dynamos to make it shine.

The Peterborough Arts Awards and Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts are returning in 2022, and EC3 is hiring two positions to make it a reality: a Production Coordinator and a Marketing & Communications Associate. These are 8-week positions supported by the Canada Summer Jobs program, that will help EC3 staff and Board to make this iconic Peterborough event happen once again.

Head to our website for the full job description, then send your resume and cover letter to ec3.jobs@gmail.com. Application deadline is Tuesday, November 30 at 5:00pm.

Save the Date: EC3 Annual General Meeting 2021

EC3’s Annual General Meeting is coming up December 2. Full announcement and per-registration for the online event coming later this week, but mark it in your calendars.

And, if you are interested in voting at the AGM, make sure your membership is up to date.

Community Investment and Project Grants

The City of Peterborough has opened applications for its Community Project Grants and Community Investment Grants programs for 2022. The Project Grants provide $250 to $1,000 for specific projects in the community, and the Investment Grants provide $1,000 to $15,000 to local organizations for more general support, including events and operating funds. The deadline for both programs is Friday, December 3, 2021 at 3 p.m. Details here.

New OAC Funding Programs

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) has announced Career Catalyst: Project Grants for New Generation Artists, a new, one-time, $1-million grant program for professional artists aged 18 to 30. Grants are set at $2,000 each, and the application deadline is December 16, 2021. Details here.

Also keep an eye out for OAC’s Indigenous Arts Support Program, which will provide $4 million in project grants for Indigenous artists. This was announced as part of the same announcement as the young artists grant, but isn’t yet available. We will have more updates as they come in.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Here are some important grant deadlines coming up soon:

• Nov 09: Music Recording Projects (OAC)
• Nov 09: Northern Arts Projects (OAC)
• Nov 10: Supporting Artistic Practice: Sector Innovation and Development – Project Grants (Canada Council)
• Nov 17: Media Arts Equipment Acquisition Fund (Canada Council)
• Nov 18: Chalmers Professional Development Projects (OAC)
• Nov 24: Visual Arts Projects (OAC)
• 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)

Further Reading

Trying to keep up to date on the latest arts sector news? Of course you are – you’re currently reading a newsletter titled ‘Arts Sector News Roundup.’ But if you’re looking for even more information, we suggest subscribing to the following newsletters. These are excellent resources, put out by interesting and relevant national arts service organizations, that are always packed full of useful advice, news, grant opportunities, webinar announcements, think-pieces, and more:

• Mass Culture
• Village Vibes (from Charity Village)
• Akimbo
• Business/Arts

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

Read “How the arts built a better Peterborough” by Gabe Pollock, published in The Peterborough Examiner as part of EC3’s Arts in the Examiner series.

Read “Reopening, recovery and resilience in Peterborough” by Gabe Pollock, published in The Peterborough Examiner as part of EC3’s Arts in the Examiner series.

Capacity Limits Lifted, Enhanced Vaccine Passports and App, Borderless Arts, Portfolio Workshops, and Grant Deadlines

Hello Everyone,

The past couple weeks have brought some dramatic announcements about COVID-19 public health and safety measures, with an increase in capacity limits for performing arts and other facilities, and the introduction of the new vaccine passport and scanning app.

This Bulletin includes details about both of these announcements, as well as some other pieces of news that have come across our desk. This includes some excellent arts programming from the local Borderless Music & Arts Festival, portfolio clinics at OCADU, and a list of upcoming grant deadlines.

Capacity Limits Lifted

The Ontario government has officially raised capacity limits in a number of categories of organizations, including concert venues, theatres, cinemas, meeting and event spaces, and commercial film and television productions. As of Saturday, October 9, capacity limits have been lifted to allow 100% capacity, up to 20,000 people.

The requirement for physical distancing in these spaces is also being lifted, but note that all other requirements are still in place, including: masking, proof of vaccination, active screening, the need to take advance reservations from all patrons, and the implementation of a safety plan. Still, this should make a huge difference for the performing arts and other cultural sectors.

Keith Beecroft, Health Promoter, Family & Community Health at Peterborough Public Health, provided the following explanation of the change:

“We wanted to provide some clarity and insight into the Provincial announcement that was made late on Friday October 9, 2021.

As it relates to the Performing Arts sector, O. Reg. 364/20, Schedule 2, Section 22 will be updated shortly to reflect the new requirements, until then, we are referring to the Order in Council– the technical document that will be used to amend the Regulations – to provide you with direction.

The Order notes that –

1. (1) Section 3 of Schedule 1 to Ontario Regulation 364/20 is amended by adding the following subsection:

(7) Subsection (1) does not apply with respect to the following areas:
1. Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres and convention centres.
2. Areas for spectators in facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities.
3. Concert venues, theatres and cinemas.
4. Horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues.
5. Places where commercial film and television production takes place

And then we cross reference that with the section to be amended in O. Reg. 364/20 which strikes out these capacity limits:

Capacity limits for businesses or facilities open to the public
3. (1) Subject to any other requirements set out in this Order with respect to capacity limits, the person responsible for a place of business or facility that is open to the public shall limit the number of members of the public in the place of business or facility so that the members of the public are able to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person in the business or facility.
(2) For the purposes of this Order, the maximum number of members of the public permitted in a business or facility that is operating in an outdoor setting at 75 per cent capacity is determined by taking the total square metres of area accessible to the public, dividing that number by 1.33, and rounding the result down to the nearest whole number.
(3) For the purposes of this Order, the maximum number of members of the public permitted in a business or facility, or part of a business or facility, that is operating in an indoor setting at 50 per cent capacity is determined by taking 50 per cent of the maximum occupant load of the business or facility, or part of a business or facility, as applicable, as calculated in accordance with Ontario Regulation 213/07 (Fire Code), made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.

Plainly – in theatres and concert venues – there is no longer any capacity limit and you may operate at 100% capacity.

That said, our advice is:

• Maintain previous capacity limits until such a time that you are able to safely create the space and systems needed to accommodate an increase in patrons, and
• Ease your way into increasing capacity limits, taking a progressive approach to reaching new maximums, you are not obligated to enact these changes immediately

If you chose to increase capacity limits, you will also need to update your safety plan to account for:

• New/additional staff coming onboard,
• Increased traffic/decreased flow and how you will manage pinch points,
• Decreased space in common areas like hallways, aisles and lounges,
• Etc.

Please note, the only thing that has changed is the capacity limit; these requirements specific to the Performing Arts sector still apply:

• Developing, maintaining, and posting a safety plan is required (conveniently, the Ministry of Health just released this Safety Plan builder)
• Actively screening staff and volunteers before they begin their shift is required
• Actively screening patrons and guests before they arrive is encouraged
• Masks must be worn indoors by staff and guests, with some exceptions
• No member of the public may attend a seated concert, event, performance or movie within the concert venue, theatre or cinema unless they have made a reservation to do so
• Proof of vaccination (2 doses + 14 days) required for all eligible patrons, unless medically exempt

If your performance is happening in an unconventional location (i.e., outdoors, over a meal, at a farm, or at another rural setting), or location other than a theatre or concert venue, please connect with us to discuss additional requirements.

We know that ‘simple’ announcements often come with logistical questions; should you have any questions, or need any clarity on anything – please don’t hesitate to be in touch.

With continued thanks,

Keith”

New Vaccine Passports and App

Ontario has entered the next phase of its rollout of the vaccine passport program, with the new QR code-enabled enhanced vaccine passports available for anyone in Ontario to download, and the new Verify Ontario app that businesses and organizations with a vaccine mandate can use to scan and verify these passports.

The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, working with Peterborough Public Health, have put together an excellent guide to everything that businesses and organizations need to know. Here you go:

“The province released the new enhanced vaccine certificate last week. This enhanced vaccine certificate has a QR code on it so that it can be easily read by businesses and organizations who use the free Verify Ontario App to check proof of vaccination. (Patrons can download the advanced QR code vaccine certificate to their phone, businesses and organizations would download the Verify Ontario App to scan the enhanced QR codes).

With this announcement, also came some BIG changes to the proof of vaccination requirements that we wanted to flag for you:

• There have been updates to the implementation documents – many of the businesses you support may find the answers they are looking for: Ministry of Health Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations under the Reopening Ontario Act (UPDATED Oct. 15), Ministry of Health Question and Answer document (UPDATED Oct. 15)
• The Regulation AND the Guidance document now clearly state the following. This means that proof of vaccination should not be kept for any reason.: No person shall retain, record, copy, modify, use or disclose any information provided for the purpose of section 2.1 of Schedule 1 of O. Reg. 364/20 under the ROA…. A business or organization may use information provided as above solely for the purpose of confirming that a patron is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or is entitled to an exemption
• Anyone who is verifying proof will need to be aware that there is a new exemption: Patrons who provide documentation that confirms they are currently participating in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial authorized by Health Canada and specified in this guidance, including Appendix C.
• The ONLY app that is allowed to be used to check QR codes is the Verify Ontario App – this is stated clearly in the Guidance document (pg. 9) AND the regulation.
• The app allows you to use 2 methods for checking proof, but paper copies must still be accepted. If there is a failed screen with the QR code, you must see proof via another method (e.g., paper copy) in order for the person to be granted access.
• Click here for any person wishing to download their QR code
• Individuals can also call the Provincial Vaccine Contact Centre at 1-833-943-3900 to have their enhanced vaccine certificate emailed or mailed to them.
• If patrons or businesses ask for more information, please refer them to Using your Enhanced Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions or they can call the provincial call centre at 1-833-943-3900.

As a recap, it is the higher risk indoor settings that require proof of vaccine to be shown.

What is the full list of settings (i.e., businesses or organizations) where patrons must provide proof of identification and proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19?

• Indoor areas of restaurants, bars, and other food and drink establishments without dance facilities
• Indoor and outdoor areas of food or drink establishments with dance facilities, including nightclubs, restoclubs, and other similar establishments
• Indoor areas of meeting and event spaces with limited exceptions
• Indoor areas of facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including waterparks, and personal physical fitness training with limited exemptions o Includes gyms, fitness/sporting/recreational facilities, pools, leagues, sporting events, waterparks, and indoor areas of facilities where spectators watch events
• Indoor areas of casinos, bingo halls, and other gaming establishments
• Indoor areas of concert venues, theatres, and cinemas
• Indoor areas of bathhouses, sex clubs and strip clubs
• Indoor areas of horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues
• Indoor areas where commercial film and TV productions take place with studio audiences
• Any of the following outdoor areas that have a usual capacity of 20,000 or more people (i.e., where 75 percent capacity would be equal to or greater than 15,000 persons):
• Outdoor meeting and event spaces, with limited exemptions
• Outdoor facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities, including waterparks, and personal physical fitness training with limited exemptions (Includes gyms, fitness/sporting/recreational facilities, pools, leagues, sporting events, waterparks, and indoor areas of facilities where spectators watch events)
• Outdoor concert venues, theatres, and cinemas
• Outdoor horse racing tracks, car racing tracks and other similar venues”

Borderless Music and Arts Festival

Over the summer, EC3 and Artsweek SHIFT² were proud to be able to assist with a virtual version of the Borderless Music & Arts Festival. This multidisciplinary arts showcase brought us four days of online events, centering women, BIPOC, intersectional identities, and inclusive community-building with an eclectic mosaic of music, dance, visual art, drag, poetry, comedy, circus, and film, all streamed online for free. Now, Borderless has started releasing a ton of these performances to their YouTube channel. Watch along and discover some of the best young talent in town.

Borderless will be returning soon with another livestream festival and are currently raising funds to make it happen – donate to their GoFundMe campaign.

OCADU Portfolio Clinics

Registration is open for OCADU’s Portfolio Clinics at Home. This is a series of virtual studio art and design workshops designed for learners ages 15 and up who are interested in sharpening their technical skills, learning new concepts, and exploring different methods of creating an artwork. Each workshop is taught by OCAD U faculty who are professionals in their field. Participants will come away with a better understanding of how studio-based research and creative process work can come together to support a strong portfolio piece.

There are workshops on a range of topics, each three hours, to take place over Zoom. Register here.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Here are some important grant deadlines coming up soon:

• Oct 26: Artists in Communities and Schools: Projects (OAC)
• Oct 27: Literary Creation Projects: Works for Performance (OAC)
• Oct 31: Canada Book Fund: Support for Organizations (Canadian Heritage)
• Nov 01: Indigenous Languages and Cultures Program: Indigenous Languages Component (Canadian Heritage)
• Nov 01: Museums Assistance Program (multiple streams) (Canadian Heritage)
• Nov 01: Peterborough Foundation grants (local grant program)
• Nov 03: Visual Artists Creation Projects (OAC)
• Nov 05: Theatre Organizations: Operating (OAC)
• Nov 09: Music Recording Projects (OAC)
• Nov 09: Northern Arts Projects (OAC)
• Nov 10: Supporting Artistic Practice: Sector Innovation and Development – Project Grants (Canada Council)

Please stay well and let us know how we can help.
TRACK THE IMPACT.

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

Peterborough, ON – The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) announces the completion of Art Loves Pride 2021, a series of three commissioned works by local 2SLGBTQ+ artists presented on Instagram as part of Peterborough Pride. This year’s commissions feature works by three trans/nonbinary and BIPOC artists, Sahira Q, Carlo José Quinones, and Ále Suárez.

EC3 has organized Art Loves Pride as part of Peterborough Pride since 2018, to celebrate the close interconnections between art and queerness and to showcase some of the City’s outstanding 2SLGBTQ+ artists and their work. Typically taking the form of a float in the Pride Parade and activities around Pride in the Park, Art Loves Pride has moved to Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This online version of Art Loves Pride provides an opportunity for EC3 to support and promote some of the city’s talented 2SLGBTQ+ artists, to provide a platform for them at a time when many venues for performance are closed off, and to provide audiences with free access to great new art works.

Art Loves Pride 2021 includes three projects that are available on EC3’s Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/ec3ptbo/) and are archived on EC3’s website (https://www.ecthree.org/program/art-loves-pride-2021/). Audiences can access them any time, at no cost.

Sahira Q, a quirky yet lovable drag queen and “Peterborough’s punk princess,” presents a music video lip-sync performance of “Magnets” by Disclosure ft. Lorde as an anthem reclaiming pride and self-worth.

Spoken word poet and visual artist Carlo José Quinones offers “Open letter to Aries (born March 21-April 19),” a poem about slowing down and taking time, accompanied by a self-portrait photo collage.

Musician and expressive arts therapist Ále Suárez performs a cover of “Una Vez Mas” by Ximena Sariñana, a jazzy guitar song with Spanish lyrics, reflecting Ále’s personal story as a diasporic child who fuses different cultures within themselves.

If you would like to interview any of these three artists, please contact EC3 Program Coordinator Gabe Pollock (ec3.research@gmail.com).

The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is a not-for-profit service organization supporting the arts and culture community in Peterborough and the surrounding region. EC3 provides strategic leadership, research, resources and connections that build and strengthen the sector.

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For Further Information Contact:
Su Ditta
Executive Director, EC3
705 749 9101
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org

Read “EC3: Peterborough artists awarded Bierk Art Bursary Fund,” by EC3 Staff, published in The Peterborough Examiner as part of EC3’s Arts in the Examiner series.

EC3 and Peterborough Poet Laureate Release New Videos to Mark the Occasion, Plus Other Resources

Hello Everyone,

Tomorrow, September 30, marks the first-ever National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities, and marks the tragic and painful legacy of colonialism and the ongoing process of reconciliation

Last week, EC3 and the City of Peterborough announced Sarah Lewis as the first-ever Peterborough Poet Laureate. Earlier this week, Sarah performed for the first time as Poet Laureate, at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Sarah Lewis performs at City Council this past Monday.

Today, to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, EC3 has commissioned Sarah to create videos of the two pieces she performed at City Council. “Warrior Cry” and “Take Them Home” speak to the painful legacy that colonialism and residential schools have had on this country, and the strength and indefatigable resiliency of Indigenous peoples.

Watch the videos here:

More Resources

Local performing arts presenter Public Energy has released an excellent list of suggestions for more ways you can mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

• Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, Niijkiwendidaa and Lovesick Native Women’s Association are holding a Sacred Fire from 12 pm to 3 pm tomorrow, September 30. There will be two readings of Phyillis Webstad’s book, The Orange Shirt Story, at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Space is limited to 20 people including staff at a time, so they ask that you limit your time and reserve a space with Rebekah, wellness@nogofc.ca.
• Join the Memory, Truth and Justice event at Confederation Park (across from City Hall). This event takes place every Thursday from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. While walking in a circle, each person gathered will read, one-by-one, the actions recommended by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the names of the missing and murdered women and girls in Canada, and, as they become known, the names of those buried at residential schools. They continue each week where they left off the previous week. When they are done, after many weeks, they will begin again.
• Read and contemplate the [94 calls to action of The Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
• Donate to Indigenous charities (This link includes local organizations, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre and the Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle).
• Listen to and watch the CBC’s special programming to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

Please stay well and let us know how we can help.
TRACK THE IMPACT.

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

“Peterborough: Sarah Lewis, the city’s first Poet Laureate,” Global News Morning.

“New Peterborough poet laureate makes first presentation to city council” by Joelle Kovach, Peterborough Examiner.