News and Information

Click HERE to see all COVID-19 Bulletins.  See our COVID-19 Updates page for a list of resources and up-to-date information.


EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #49: It’s Summer and EC3 Has Hot News

July 2nd, 2021

New Federal Funding, Artsweek SHIFT², and EC3 is Hiring!

Hello everyone,

As Ontario enters Step 2 of its Reopening Ontario plan (see yesterday’s Bulletin) and the steamy hot weather breaks, EC3 wanted to provide some other good news for the arts.

In this Bulletin, we’ll provide a breakdown of new funding coming in from the federal government for the arts, a Call for Applicants from EC3 for a Production Coordinator for the Artsweek 2021 festival (which is coming this September!), and an updated slate of events coming in July as part of the Artsweek SHIFT² pocket festival.

Federal Funding Updates

Earlier this year, as part of the Federal Budget, the government announced it would be investing $1.9 billion for the tourism, arts, culture, and sport sector over the next five years. This week, we got a bit of a clearer picture of what some of that funding will look like.

It includes:

  • Recovery Fund for Arts, Culture, Heritage, and Sport Sectors: $300 million administered through Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, and Telefilm Canada, broken down into:
    • Stream 1: Reinforcing Recovery Foundations, to provide additional relief to arts, culture and sport organizations that are still struggling with operational viability due to the pandemic.
    • Stream 2: Investing in the Recovery, to provide organizations and Canadians working in these sectors who are ready to lead recovery in the arts, culture and heritage sectors with the financial means to help build organizational resilience and pursue business innovation and transformation. Also include funding for green measures and equity and diversity measures.
  • Reopening Fund: $200 million over two years through existing programs to support in-person events and experiences, to help jumpstart tourism.
  • Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative: $200 million for Canada’s major, recurring festivals.

Here is a full breakdown of the funding and where it’s going.

In addition, Karen August from Peterborough-Kawartha MP Hon. Maryam Monsef’s office has provided some notes highlighting some opportunities that may be of particular interest to local organizations:

Canada Council Funding

  • Recovery Fund Stream 2 Investing in the Recovery: $50 million in 2022–23: $20 million for the research, creation, and production of work, $5 million for domestic touring activities and market development, and $25 million for sector innovation.
  • Reopening Fund: $25 million in 2021-22 to enable recipients of core funding to invest in activities aimed at re-engaging existing audiences and building new ones.

Canada Arts Presentation Fund

  • Recovery Fund Stream 1 Reinforcing Recovery Foundations: $5 million in year 1 (2021-22) to support not-for-profit organizations in the professional arts presentation sector experiencing significant viability and business continuity challenges, specifically those organizations that own or operate presentation venues with greater financial risk
  • Reopening Fund: $5 million in year 1 (2021-22) to support not-for-profit organizations in the professional arts presentation sector experiencing significant viability and business continuity challenges, specifically those organizations that own or operate presentation venues with greater financial risk; and $25 million in year 2 (2022-23) to support not-for-profit organizations in the professional arts presentation sector for costs to encourage the return of audiences.

Telefilm Canada

  • Reopening Fund: $10 million over two years (2021-22 and 2022-23) to help film festivals recover and enhance their online and in-person activities

New funding applicants: For certain programs, new funding applicants will be able to submit proposals through an application-based online portal.

Details about eligibility and this application-based portal will be available in the coming weeks.

Call for Applications: Production Coordinator

Are you passionate about the arts in Peterborough? Well-organized? Interested in helping EC3 put on the best arts festival possible?

EC3 is hiring a Production Coordinator for the upcoming Artsweek 2021 festival. Apply before Friday, July 9 at 5pm to infoartsweek@gmail.com. Full details can be found HERE.

Artsweek SHIFT²

As we continue work on Artsweek 2021, we also continue presenting events as part of Artsweek SHIFT², EC3’s special pandemic-era ‘pocket festival.’

Tonight, Benj Rowland will present a live-stream concert on YouTube. Next week, the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts presents aLIVE Circus at Peterborough Square. Then later in the month we have the Borderless Music & Arts muti-disciplinary live-stream festival, and The Nervous System’s puppet play Vertep.

Check out the just-released UPDATED schedule for Artsweek SHIFT², which includes the latest information on all these productions. (Click images to see full size.)


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

Posted in Bulletin, EC3 Announcement, COVID-19

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #48: Step 2 and the Arts

July 1st, 2021

Clarifying the Public Health Regulations for ‘Step 2’ of the Reopening Ontario Plan

Hello everyone,

Today, Ontario enters into Step 2 of its Reopening Ontario plan. While Step 2 still includes heavy restrictions for many arts and culture organizations, it does allow for increased gathering limits and outdoor events, and it paves the way for museums, galleries, and performing arts organizations to be able to reopen in Step 3.

In this Bulletin, we will provide some clarification about what Step 2 means for the arts. If you’re looking for general information about Step 2, including gathering size limits and rules for businesses, this CTV article does a great job of breaking it down, and you can find more on the provincial government’s official Reopening Ontario page.

Peterborough Public Health Updates: Reopening Rules and Regulations

As Peterborough enters Step 2 of its Reopening Ontario Plan, Keith Beecroft, Public Health Promoter at Peterborough Public Health, has put together a fantastic explanation of how these new regulations work for the arts:

Indoor Concert Venues, Theatres and Cinemas (Schedule 2, Section 24)

Plain language:

  • No live audiences indoors
  • Rehearsing, broadcasting, live streaming, and recording indoors, is permitted

Legalese from the Regulations:

24. Indoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance if they comply with the following conditions:

1. No spectators may be permitted in the concert venue, theatre or cinema.

2. Every performer and other person who provides work for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person, except,

i. if it is necessary for the purposes of the performance or rehearsal that the performers or persons who provide work for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must be closer to each other, or
ii. where necessary for the purposes of health and safety.

3. The person responsible for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must,

i. record the name and contact information of every performer and other person who provides work for the concert venue, theatre or cinema who enters an indoor area of the facility,
ii. maintain the records for a period of at least one month, and
iii. only disclose the records to a medical officer of health or an inspector under the Health Protection and Promotion Act on request for a purpose specified in section 2 of that Act or as otherwise required by law.

Outdoor Concert Venues, Theatres And Cinemas (Schedule 2, Section 25)

Plain language:

  • Up to 25% capacity of the outdoor space’s usual seating capacity may be in attendance for live performances
  • Staff and performers at the venue do not count towards capacity limits (i.e. staff + 25% capacity would be fine, though ‘less is best’)
  • Reservations must be made
  • Guests must remain seated at all times; no ‘standing room’ permitted
  • Capacity limits for the venue must be posted
  • A safety plan must be developed for the space:
    • The safety plan must describe how the requirements of this Order will be implemented in the location including by screening, physical distancing, requiring masks or face coverings, cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces and objects, the wearing of personal protective equipment and preventing and controlling crowding.

Legalese from the Regulations:

25. Outdoor concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open if they comply with the following conditions:

1. The number of members of the public in the outdoor area of the concert venue, theatre or cinema at any one time must not exceed 25 per cent capacity, determined by taking the total square metres of the outdoor area accessible to the public in the concert venue, theatre or cinema, dividing that number by 16 and rounding the result down to the nearest whole number.

2. The number of members of the public at a seated concert, event, performance or movie within the concert venue, theatre or cinema at any one time must not exceed 25 per cent of the usual seating capacity for the concert, event, performance or movie.

3. 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.

4. No member of the public may be permitted to enter the indoor premises of the concert venue, theatre or cinema, except,

i. to access a washroom,
ii. to access an outdoor area that can only be accessed through an indoor route,
iii. to engage in retail sales, or
iv. as may be necessary for the purposes of health and safety.

5. The person responsible for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must post a sign in a conspicuous location visible to the public that states the capacity limits under which the concert venue, theatre or cinema is permitted to operate and the capacity limits of any seated concert, event, performance or movie within the concert venue, theatre or cinema.

6. The person responsible for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must prepare a safety plan in accordance with section 3.3 of Schedule 1.

Live Entertainment (Schedule 1, Section 6)

Plain language:

  • Dancing is not permitted at any venue (O. Reg. 263/20, Schedule 2, Section 1 – Restaurants and Bars – Subsection 11)
  • A minimum distance of 3m is required between spectators and performers or an impermeable barrier

Legalese from the Regulations:

6. (1) The person responsible for a business or place that is open shall ensure that, if live entertainment is performed for spectators at the business or place, the performers maintain a physical distance of at least three metres from any spectators or are separated from any spectators by plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier.

Understanding Capacity Limits

  • If the live entertainment is being offered at a business that does not primarily offer this service (e.g., restaurant patios, farmers’ markets, retail stores, etc.), the capacity limits for that business will apply.
  • If live entertainment is being offered as part of a private social gathering in a private space (backyard, etc.) or at an outdoor municipal space (with approvals from the municipality) the social gathering limit of up to 25 people will apply.
  • If a live entertainment event is being offered at an outdoor concert venue, theatre, or cinema, the capacity limit can be up to 25% of that space.
  • Please note: in all settings, a minimum distance of 3m (or an impermeable barrier) is required between performers and spectators.

Final Words from Keith

The chorus from this family favorite seems apt right now – “And we will come back home; Home, again!” – we’re getting there, and we are so appreciative of you helping us support this sector.


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

Posted in COVID-19, Bulletin

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #47: On Fair Rules for Reopening Art Spaces and Venues

June 22nd, 2021

Public Health Regulation Updates, Fairness for the Arts Campaigns, and More

Hello everyone,

It has been a relief these last couple of weeks to see our city and our province start to reopen after COVID-19 lockdowns, with the downtown coming back to life and some stores and organizations permitted to welcome limited numbers of people back through their doors.

However, the arts remain notably quiet, as public health regulations continue to force the closure of rehearsal and performance spaces, galleries and museums, and continue to prevent even small outdoor gatherings; all while the guidelines about what will be permitted going forward remain unclear.

In this Bulletin, we will attempt to provide some clarity with updates from Peterborough Public Health about exactly what is and isn’t permitted for the arts, now and as we move into Step 2 and 3 of the Reopening Ontario Plan. The Bulletin also provides information on some campaigns arguing for fairer treatment for the arts as these plans move forward.

We encourage everyone to follow these campaigns, take part, help spread the word, and argue for better, fairer treatment for our arts organizations.

Peterborough Public Health Updates

Uncertain about how the various steps of reopening will affect your arts organization? Keith Beecroft, Public Health Promoter at Peterborough Public Health, has put together some useful clarifications.

Keith says, “With regards to all that will be offered/available/allowed in Step 2 – we are still waiting on the specifics detailed in the Regulations; we hope to have the Regulations before we enter Step 2, but that has not always been the case. As you’ll note for Step 1 – very little is permitted right now in the arts sector, with the exception of rehearsals, and or recorded/broadcasted events.”

Step 1

In plain language:

  • No live audiences
  • Only those that are essential to the rehearsal or broadcast are permitted on site
    • Only 10 may be on the premises/property
  • You must remain outdoors
  • You must record the names and contact info of everyone who is involved in the rehearsal or broadcast
  • Drive in performances are allowed, however:
    • Everyone must stay in their vehicle
    • Vehicles must be at least 2m from the next vehicle
    • Vehicles can only be occupied by members of the same household (and one support for a person if required)
Step 2 (more details TBA)
  • Indoor closed, permitted only for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted event – spectators not permitted
  • Outdoor open, including live music, with spectator capacity and other restrictions
Step 3 (more details TBA)
  • Indoor open, including live music, with spectator capacity and other restrictions
  • Outdoor open, including live music, with spectator capacity and other restrictions

We will work with Peterborough Public Health to provide further details as we find out more.

For those who are interested in more information about the Step 1 regulations, here is the specific language from the law, O. Reg. 82/20, Rules for Step 1, Schedule 7 Section 65, with sections relevant to the above in bold.

Entertainment
65. (1) Concert venues, theatres and cinemas that meet the conditions set out in subsection (2) or (3).

(2) Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open for the purpose of rehearsing or performing a recorded or broadcasted concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance on outdoor premises if they comply with the following conditions:

1. No spectators may be permitted anywhere on the premises.

2. Only persons who are essential to the rehearsal or performance are permitted anywhere on the premises.

3. No more than 10 performers may be permitted to participate in the rehearsal or performance.

4. Every performer and other person who performs work for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must maintain a physical distance of at least three metres from every other person.

5. No performer or other person who performs work for the concert venue, theatre or cinema may be permitted in an indoor area of the concert venue, theatre or cinema, except,

i. where necessary to use a washroom,
ii. where necessary to access an outdoor area that can only be accessed through an indoor route, or
iii. as may otherwise be required for the purposes of health and safety.

6. The person responsible for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must,

i. record the name and contact information of every performer or other person who is present at the rehearsal or performance,
ii. maintain the records for a period of at least one month, and
iii. only disclose the records to a medical officer of health or an inspector under the Health Protection and Promotion Act on request for a purpose specified in section 2 of that Act or as otherwise required by law.

7. The person responsible for the concert venue, theatre or cinema must ensure that individuals are actively screened in accordance with the advice, recommendations and instructions of the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health before they enter the premises.

(3) Concert venues, theatres and cinemas may open if they comply with the following conditions:

1. The movie, concert, artistic event, theatrical performance or other performance must be provided in a drive-in or drive-through format.

2. Each person in attendance at the drive-in cinema or the drive-in or drive-through concert, event or performance, other than persons who perform work for the drive-in cinema or the drive-in or drive-through concert, event or performance, must remain within a motor vehicle designed to be closed to the elements except,

i. where necessary to purchase admission,
ii. where necessary to use a washroom, or
iii. as may otherwise be required for the purposes of health and safety.

3. Every motor vehicle at the drive-in cinema or the drive-in or drive-through concert, event or performance may only contain members of a single household plus a maximum of one additional person from outside that household who lives alone.

4. The driver of a motor vehicle at the drive-in cinema or the drive-in or drive-through concert, event or performance must ensure that it is positioned at least two metres away from other motor vehicles.

Fairness for the Arts

#FairnessForArtsON

As you may notice from the above, the restrictions on arts organizations remain incredibly strict, particularly when compared to other cultural industries, and many arts organizations won’t be able to reopen until well into Step 2 or Step 3. CBC Radio program Ontario Today devoted an entire episode last week to Why people in the arts feel overlooked in Ontario’s reopening plan. It’s well worth a listen.

We also wanted to draw your attention to two campaigns currently underway that aim to change this:

The Canadian Live Music Association’s #FairnessForArtsON campaign advocates for clearer and fairer guidelines for the performing arts, and changes to the regulations that would help Ontario artists to get back to work, and allow performing arts venues to reopen as soon as possible.

The Ontario Association of Art Galleries#SupportVisualArtsON similarly argues for clearer and fairer guidelines for museums and galleries, and argues these institutions should be able to reopen in Step 2.

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Here are some important grant deadlines coming up soon:


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

Posted in ACH Roundup, COVID-19, Bulletin

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #46: Shine a Spotlight

June 18th, 2021

EC3 Project Highlights Black Artists in Peterborough

Hello everyone,

Today, we wanted to draw your attention to a project EC3 has been working on over the past few months. Spotlight on Local Black Artists was launched in February, during Black History Month, as a way to highlight the work of Black artists living and working in Peterborough. We’ve been sharing these profiles on social media, and the full series is now archived on our website. This series includes six profiles so far, and EC3 will continue to work on expanding this series and releasing more profiles into the future.

This is a great opportunity to learn about these talented artists, include them in your programming and be sure to catch their work, whenever and wherever you can.

Many thanks to all the participating artists for their time and effort, and their thoughtful responses!

Take a look at the full series below, or check it out on the Spotlight on Local Black Artists page:


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

Posted in Bulletin, EC3 Announcement

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #45: Indigenous History Month and Pride Month

June 16th, 2021

Marking the Month

Hello everyone,

June is turning into a very busy time at EC3, as we continue to roll out the events of Artsweek SHIFT², the Respectful Arts Workplace workshop series, and our Spotlight on Local Artists project – among other projects still to be announced!

We will have updates about all of those coming soon, but this Bulletin highlights two important occasions that fall in the month of June: National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month. It’s so important to mark these events, and to take time to formally acknowledge the outstanding contributions that Indigenous and LGBTQ2+ people and artists make to our community, our culture and our lives. This is also an opportunity to listen, learn, think and talk about their struggles for equitable and just treatment in our country and our local community.

Indigenous History Month

June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 is National Indgenous Peoples Day. This year, these occasions carry extra weight, coming as they do with the discovery of the bodies of 215 Indigenous children on the grounds of the Kamloops Indian Residential School.  This is a sobering reminder of Canada’s deeply troubling colonialist history with Indigenous peoples, and the importance of recognizing this history, its long-term consequences, and the need to redress the past.

EC3 is grateful to have the opportunity to work with Indigenous artists and community partners in Nogojiwanong. We value these relationships and the work we do together.

To mark Indigenous History Month, EC3 has put together a list of resources to explore Indigenous art and Indigenous history, and to support Indigenous causes:

Michelle Good’s book Five Little Indians is a Governor General Award-winning novel that “chronicles the desperate quest of these residential school survivors to come to terms with their past and, ultimately, find a way forward.”

Kent Monkman’s “provocative interventions into Western European and American art history” recontextualize classical European art styles to tell the true stories of Canada’s history with its Indigenous peoples.

Peterborough-based scholar, writer, and musician Leanne Betasamosake Simpson just released a new album, Theory of Ice, which was just longlisted for a Polaris Music Prize. Simpson uses her art to create “spaces where you can build the alternative, you can dream alternatives, you can amplify certain aspects of things and generate knowledge in a different way.

Graphic novel anthology This Place collects 10 stories by Indigenous creators that tell 150 years of Canadian history from an Indigenous perspective.

Read Bryson Sili’pay‘s excellent and insightful tips on allyship for non-Indigenous people.

Read CBC’s article “Resilience and belonging: 7 artists reflect on National Indigenous History Month.”

The Group of Ontario Emerging Museum Professionals has put together an excellent resource list around Indigenous Residential Schools, including helplines and supports, as well as an extensive reading list about the topic.

We also wanted to give special mention to the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival, the first-ever Indigenous fringe festival, which is taking place in our community from June 21 to 27. There will be six shows by Indigenous creators over the course of the week, all performed live at Trent University. Tickets are available now. Don’t miss this fantastic new festival!

Pride Month

June is also Pride Month across the country, though in town, Peterborough Pride is celebrated in September.  That includes Art Loves Pride, EC3’s annual celebration that marks the close interconnections between art and queerness.  Art Love Pride will be back this year, in September, but for Pride Month, we want to encourage you to check out last year’s Art Loves Pride events, which took place online and are archived on our website.

Check out “Sturgeon Point,” a short story and illustration by Derek Newman-Stille, Take-Out Poetry and accompanying art by Ziysah von B and Ronnie Ritchie, and the gorgeous queer love song “Earned” by people you meet outside of bars.


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

Posted in Bulletin, EC3 Announcement

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #44: Arts Sector News Roundup – June 2021

June 3rd, 2021

Reopening Updates, Mental Health Supports, Surveys, Grant Deadlines, and More

Hello all,

We hope this update finds you well, as Ontario moves out of its stay-at-home-order and towards reopening. We have a long way to go yet, but it’s starting to feel like we are turning the corner towards recovery from the pandemic. And along with that comes a lot of news and updates!

EC3 is constantly in touch with organizations at all three levels of government, as well as arts and culture service organizations locally and across the country, to keep you updated on the latest news relevant to our sector. Quite a number of updates have come across our desk in recent weeks, and so we wanted to bring it all together in a Sector News Roundup.

As always, we encourage everyone to keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the EC3 website, where we are providing daily updates relevant to our sector.

COVID-19 Shutdowns and Reopenings

As of June 2, Ontario has officially ended its stay-at-home order. Some details have been announced about Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen (read this letter by Ontario Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod about it), however that plan does not come into effect until June 14 at the earliest.

These guidelines can be confusing, especially in this odd ‘in-between’ stage, but this explanation by Peterborough Public Health’s Public Health Promoter Keith Beecroft does an excellent job of breaking it down:

With the expiry of the Stay-at-Home Order, it does mean that from now until the province announces the start of Step 1 of the Reopening plan (likely the week of June 14th), the entire province will remain in Shutdown. A continuation of Shutdown restrictions means that existing measures will remain in place provincewide, including restrictions on gatherings, businesses, services and activities. This includes, but not limited to:

  • limiting indoor gatherings to households only and outdoor gatherings to up to five people,
  • maintaining a cap of 25 per cent capacity for essential retail where only certain goods are permitted to be sold,
  • restricting food establishments to curbside pickup and delivery only,
  • restricting non-essential retail to curbside pickup and delivery only,
  • allowing outdoor recreational amenities to remain open, subject to restrictions. No team sports or practices. No activities or games that could pose an issue with physical distancing.

The decline in COVID-19 cases across the province as well as the increase in the number of people getting vaccinated means we are getting closer to the province announcing that we can move into their Step 1 Reopening Plan (expected sometime the week of June 14th). Step 1 will allow more outdoor activities to resume with smaller, well-managed crowds where risk of transmission is minimized. This includes but is not limited to:

  • outdoor gatherings up to 10 people
  • outdoor dining up to 4 people per table
  • outdoor fitness classes and personal training and sports training up to 10 people
  • essential retail at 25% capacity and can sell all goods (including discount and big box)
  • non-essential retail at 15% capacity
  • retail stores in malls closed unless the stores have a street facing entrance
  • outdoor religious services, rites and ceremonies with capacity limited to permit physical distancing of 2 metres
  • horse racing, motor speedways without spectators
  • outdoor horse riding
  • outdoor pools and wading pools with capacity limited to permit physical distancing of 2 metres
  • outdoor zoos, landmarks, historic sites, and botanical gardens with capacity limits
  • campsites, campgrounds and short-term rentals
  • overnight camping at Ontario Parks

Mental Health Resources

We know this is a challenging time for many, and we encourage anyone who is struggling with mental health right now to reach out. Help is available.

Following the shocking discovery for 215 bodies in the area around the Kamloops Indian Residential School, the Canadian government has also set up a special National Indian Residential School Crisis Line, available 24/7: 1-866-925-4419.

News and Impact Studies

#FairnessForArtsON

Join the #FairnessForArtsON campaign, organized by the Canadian Live Music Association and supported by arts groups across the province (including EC3), which is demanding revisions to Ontario’s reopening plan that would allow performance spaces to safely reopen:

  • Reopen rehearsals in Step 1 so we can be ready to begin performances in Step 2.
  • Allow filming inside performance spaces in Step 1 so theatres can deliver content digitally.
  • Set capacity limits for outdoor and indoor theatres based on square footage so we can maximize safe audience access in different sized venues.

The Department of Canadian Heritage is asking for responses to the Canadian Artists and Content Creators Economic Survey. This survey, created in recognition that the arts and culture sector has been among the hardest hit by COVID-19, will play an important part in determining government arts policy and funding in the months and years to come, as we move towards reopening and long-term recovery. Fill out the survey, or read more about it.

Charity Village recently published a fascinating report, Human Resources Impact of COVID-19 on Canadian Charities and Nonprofits link, that explores some of the less tangible, more psychological aspects the pandemic has had on organizations. Read their article, While nonprofits remain hopeful about a post-pandemic future, 42% expect further decline in staff morale for an excellent summary.

The federal budget was released back in April, but Mass Culture is encouraging everyone to take part in the Alternative Federal Budget link. This is an annual project from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives to propose alternatives in many areas, such as reconciliation, taxes, housing, healthcare, childcare, the environment – and culture. Read more about this project and how you can include your voice here.

Cultural Resilience: Using Innovation to Stabilize in Times of Crisis is a new new, multi-year research-action initiative from the Creative City Network of Canada, aimed at discovering dynamic examples of cultural innovation and amplifying these success stories. After the past 15 months of being in the arts during a pandemic, we have no doubt you have stories to share! Contribute your responses here.

Artsweek SHIFT²

Last week, EC3 was proud to announce the list of 13 artists who received Artsweek SHIFT² Mini Development Grants.

These grants support a wide variety of creative research, production and professional development activities that aid local artists in expanding and advancing their artistic practice and furthering new work, at a time when sales and public presentation fees have all but disappeared due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects include the transformation of theatre and dance works into film, music album production, mentorships, and work on new novels from local writers.

Also in Artsweek SHIFT² news, have you seen the Artsweek SHIFT² ‘pocket festival’ schedule?

June 28 update: An updated version of the schedule has been released. Schedule below is the updated version.

Click to see full resolution.

We encourage everyone to look through this calendar of events and browse the Artsweek SHIFT website for more details. Many exciting arts events are coming to town, both in-person and online, between now and the end of July!

Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Here are some important grant deadlines coming up soon:


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

Posted in ACH Roundup, COVID-19, Bulletin

Media Release: Electric City Culture Council Tackles Sexual Harassment and Assault Issues with “Respectful Arts Workplaces Project” For Arts and Culture Organizations

June 2nd, 2021

Peterborough, ON — The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) has partnered with the Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre (KSAC) and the Peterborough Community Legal Centre to offer Respectful Arts Workplaces, an arts-community focused series of Professional Development Workshops that address the problem and impact of sexual harassment and sexual assault in arts organizations.

The Respectful Arts Workplaces series of Professional Development Workshops are intended for staff, employers, board members, parents, volunteers, and independent artists who want to build and maintain safe and respectful environments for everyone involved in their organizations and all the activities they undertake. Whether it’s in the office, the gallery, backstage, at rehearsals, auditions, the editing room, sound booth, or the closing night party, everyone deserves a safe and respectful environment in which to create and enjoy the arts.

All workshops are Free of Charge.

Respectful Arts Workplaces Workshop Schedule

Tuesday, June 8: Workplace Sexual Harassment (4:30 to 6pm) – Register in advance for this session

Thursday, June 17: Stopping Sexual Harassment (4:30 to 6pm) – Register in advance for this session

Thursday, June 24: Reporting Sexual Harassment (4:30 to 6pm) – Register in advance for this session

**After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the session.

Recent media reports on local circumstances and the call of the ME TOO! movement, which has been heard loud and clear, have highlighted that people working or volunteering in the arts and culture sector may be vulnerable to damaging power relationships, sexualized work contexts, and outright sexual assault in arts organizations, in any discipline, at any age, no matter what their experience, position, sexual preference, or gender identity. The Respectful Arts Workplaces Project is, at least in part, a response to recent incidents in arts organizations in Peterborough and the surrounding region. We all need to take responsibility for our organizations, to listen and to learn.

The Respectful Arts Workplaces series of Professional Development Workshops will cover the following topics over the course of three weeks in June to help community members identify, report and prevent sexual harassment in arts work and presentation spaces:

  • The nuances of sexual violence and harassment in arts work and presentation spaces
  • Sexual harassment tied to unequal power relations in arts workplaces, especially for minors, BIPOC, and LGBTQ2+ artists and cultural workers
  • Identify the signs of sexual harassment
  • Practical approaches and resources to prevent sexual harassment
  • Community and legal resources for reporting sexual harassment as both a bystander and a victim
  • How to provide trauma informed care for victims of sexual harassment and community resources for support

A KSAC staff member will be available before and after each workshop to answer questions or further discuss topics, and participants will have access to KSAC’s free and confidential text/online 24/7 Crisis Web Chat and Phone and Text Crisis Support Servicefor those who need additional support:

24/7 Crisis Web Chat: http://kawarthasexualassaultcentre.com/web-chat/

24/7 Phone Support: 1-866-298-7778

24/7 Text Support: 705-710-5234

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

Posted in Media Release, EC3 Announcement

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #43: Check Out the Artsweek SHIFT² Schedule of Events

June 1st, 2021

A ‘Pocket Festival’ of Arts Events to Take You Sailing Through the Summer

Hello everyone,

It seems risky to get too optimistic these days, but as the sun shines, vaccination rates rise each day, and Ontario prepares its “reopening,” it’s starting to feel like we may just get through this thing. And today, we have one more thing for you to get excited about this summer: the Artsweek SHIFT² schedule of events is here!

Artsweek SHIFT² is an EC3 special COVID-19 pandemic project, offering a multidisciplinary ‘pocket festival’ of nine innovative and exciting arts projects that have been specifically designed to meet the challenges of presenting work during a pandemic. It takes place across the city and online, between now and July 31. Don’t miss circus extravaganzas on Armour Hill, spoken word on Instagram, theatrical monologues on Zoom, collaborative audio works on Trent Radio (92.7FM), a multimedia puppet show presented live to one audience member at a time, and more.

All Artsweek SHIFT² events are free!

We are so grateful to the nine arts organizations and groups that have worked tirelessly over the past few months, through the challenges of lockdowns and ever-changing reopening plans, to craft events these unique events. In person and online, we can’t wait to show you what these artists have been creating!

June 28 update: An updated version of the schedule has been released. Schedule below is the updated version.

Click to see full resolution images.

Full details on all Artsweek SHIFT² projects, including times, links, event details, and artist bios, can be found on the Artsweek SHIFT website. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, for more updates and announcements as they come in.

Thank You to Our Wonderful Artsweek SHIFT² Funders and Sponsors

Thank you to The City of Peterborough and the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) for their support of Artsweek and Artsweek SHIFT².


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

Posted in Bulletin, EC3 Announcement

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research
partnerships
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arts awareness
representation
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forums
knowledge sharing
support services
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creative programming ideas
planning
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convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
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professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building