Emergent change in the Arts
February 8-March 1st 2021
Mondays from noon-1:30
An invitation to study systems change and examine our roles in the emerging arts landscape.
Do you work in the arts in British Columbia as an artist, administrator, or funder?
Are you struggling with how to reimagine your practice, livelihood, or organization in our new reality?
Is it possible to change a system while you are inside it?
How is your participation in a colonial system perpetuating inequality?
Introduction
This course is part of the Rural Arts Inclusion Lab- a social innovation lab that is funded by the Vancouver Foundation to explore systems change, equity, and inclusion in rural arts.
We realize that many arts professionals are needing time and space to reassess, mourn, reenvision, and figure out how to continue in this new reality.
This course will build on foundational ideas that were covered in the first RAIL cohorts. It is recommended that you were in one of the first cohorts in order to participate.
A note on equity and belonging
This course welcomes everyone, however the work that we have to do towards equity varies depending on the bodies we inhabit. There will be different assignments and spaces held for “people of many beautiful colours”* I am a mixed race woman, the perspective I offer in my work is though that lens.
*this phrase is from the wonderful Bina Patel you can see here work here
We know that artists are creative thinkers and that we will need each other to move forward. We also feel that we have a unique opportunity to create a future in which the BC arts ecosystem is more equitable and inclusive. Our hope with this offering is to create a space where we, as arts workers, can begin to heal together and vision what those spaces might look like.
How will this be structured?
This course will be 4 -two hour sessions on Mondays from 12pm-1:30 beginning on Februrary 8th 2021 - March 1st 2021
The quality of the conversations is determined by the contributions of the people in the room. We ask that you make the commitment to attend the sessions as they are the space where we build community and practice being togther. It is important that as we move forward we look at co-creating a new reality, not being extractive. This requires your commitment to attend the sessions.
The course is structured so that you will be able to access suplimentary material at any time. It is a reflexive, introspective process.
We recognize that many of us are experiencing varying degrees of uncertainty at this moment. This course is designed to allow you to be able to take as little or, dig in as deeply as you feel able to. There are no deadlines or assignments, but there are are many opportunities to engage with others and to share ideas if you wish.
There will be journalling, videos, articles, guided questions, and activities that you can do alone and share with your organizations.
Topics include: deeper work in systems thinking, with opportunities to explore; anti-racism; community building; emergent strategy thinking; and creativity in leadership.
Please note this is not an “equity” or “anti-racism” course. There will be many resources available for you to do self study on these topics.
This course has been created to provide a space for self-reflection.
Our intention is that by working through this material togehter we will begin to have common language and understanding to move forward with deeper conversations.
This is an opportunity to practice being together in brave space as we address co-creating a new ecosystem of our imagining.
There is no cost to register for this course and all of the information is part of the creative commons.
Instructor: Carla Stephenson with guest speakers
We are very grateful for the support of the Vancouver Foundation that makes it possible to offer this to our community.
Registration is now closed for this session
If you would like to hear about the next cohort or if you have any questions please reach out here.