Artist Development

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The Business of the Arts (BOA) program gives local artists an opportunity to build their capacity to compete and thrive. With the right resources, they can flourish as entrepreneurs as well as artists, and create a sustainable living from their artistic practice.

Please email us at programs@artscouncilwb.ca with any ideas for workshops you would like to see.

Creative Connections (C²) focuses on artistic practice, creative work and networking — by artists, for artists.

C² exists to help artists develop skills relevant to their discipline, feel more confident in their artistic practice and creative work, and connect with each other and leaders in their disciplines. ACWB will develop meaningful partnerships with local and visiting artists and arts organizations to present the program.

Calling all artists and art groups! Do you have an idea for a workshop, master class or event? ACWB wants to help you make it happen! We could provide a variety of resources to assist you in bringing your concept to life. Learn more about how ACWB can help with your arts initiative through our Creative Connections Process.

After completing the Post Wildfire Recovery in the Arts Strategic Plan (conducted by the Arts Recovery Working Group), ACWB gained funding from the Canadian Red Cross to manage a two-year arts recovery project. The goal of the project is to create opportunities for artists to collaborate and heal through their art, ultimately supporting recovery and resiliency in our community.

Learn more about the Art Recovery Project and Arts Recovery Working Group.

The ACWB Artist in Residency program follows the traditional residency model, in which non-local or local professional artists spend time creating work inspired by the environment, culture and people of Wood Buffalo. These Residency artists will engage with the community in a variety of ways, showcase their work through a final event and, most importantly, spend time mentoring a selected group of emerging, established and professional artists from this area. The program will be open to artists in any discipline.

There are so many benefits with this type of program, including bringing new perspectives, techniques and networking opportunities to our arts community, and giving non-local artists a new lens on the Wood Buffalo region.

In past years, the Municipally operated Residency program focused on master classes and mentorship. This type of artistic development is available through Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s Creative Connections program stream.

If you have questions or would like more information about our Artist in Residency program, please contact us at programs@artscouncilwb.ca.

Market Your Artwork as a Tax Benefit

Are you looking for ways to market your artwork? Have you thought of selling or renting your work to local businesses?

Businesses can enhance their office space and support artrepreneurs by shopping local, but there’s an added bonus: the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) has created a tax deduction for the cost of buying or renting Canadian art.

Businesses are often looking for ways to stand out with their customers. As an artist, you can stand out with the local business community by framing your artwork as a tax benefit and a smart investment. After all, buying or renting local art is becoming one of the most popular types of investment

Not every work of art qualifies, but here are a few tips. To qualify, artwork must:

  • Be a print, etching, drawing, painting, sculpture, or other similar work of art that is greater than $200 in value.
  • Be created by someone who was Canadian at the time (whether a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident).
  • Be created less than 100 years ago.

The CRA has also confirmed that a taxpayer can deduct the cost of renting art as long as the expense was made for business purposes.

Before marketing your artwork as tax-deductible, be sure to review this article from Kefi Art Gallery and check with a Chartered Professional Accountant, because not all works of art qualify for this tax deduction.

You can make it easier for businesses to find you by marketing your artwork online. List your work on Arts Council’s online Marketplace, which features dozens of pieces by local artists. Join this online art community to sell your art and make it THE destination for buying local art online. 

All you need is an active membership with Arts Council Wood Buffalo, and you’ll get access to Marketplace as one of your member benefits. It’s a great place to start or expand your online empire and market your work to the local business community. 

Contact the Fort McMurray Chamber of Commerce to learn more about the local business community. To get your art listed on Arts Council’s online Marketplace, contact us at info@artscouncilwb.ca.

October 24, 2021

The Artrepreneur Series — Building Your Business

Do you practice art as a side-hustle? Are you looking to build your business skills, so you can be more independent as an artist?

Register today for “The Artrepreneur Series — Building Your Business,” a 6-week workshop series from April 29 – June 3, 2021.

About the Workshop Series

With the right resources, artists can flourish as entrepreneurs as well as artists, and create a sustainable living from their artistic practice. 

The Artrepreneur Series — Building Your Business gives artists an opportunity to build their capacity to compete and thrive through a 6-week “Building Your Business” workshop series, including topics such as “Pitching with Confidence,” “Understanding Cash Flow,” and “Creating a Business Plan.”

This series is co-hosted by Arts Council Wood Buffalo in partnership with Community Futures Wood Buffalo. Powered by Project Gazelle.

Workshop Details

  • When: Thursday evenings from April 29 – June 3
  • Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Where: Zoom
  • Fee: $25 (plus administrative fees) — Those who attend 100% of the workshop series will receive a total refund and a certificate of completion.
    • That’s right! Get a refund for attending all six workshops.

Register through Eventbrite

Certificate of Completion 

Those who attend all six workshops will be given a Certificate of Completion.

Made available for pick-up from the Arts Council Wood Buffalo office located at Keyano College, or can be mailed, with shipping fees charged to you.

Who Can Participate?

Open to local artists in the Wood Buffalo region, as well as participants from across Alberta.

20 participants maximum – waitlist available through Eventbrite.

Registration Deadline

Registration closes at 6 p.m. on April 29.

Waitlisted participants will be notified by email if a space opens up, and will be given 24 hours to register before the opportunity is given to the next person on the list.

Workshop Dates & Descriptions

April 29 — Entrepreneurship? (6 – 8 p.m.)
Facilitated by: Glenys Reeves-Gibbs

This session will explore what it means to be an entrepreneur with a focus on the ten talent areas that successful entrepreneurs need to develop to be successful. We will explore some of the research behind these talents and discuss some ways to enhance the natural talents that entrepreneurs have. Following the session any participants who are interested in exploring their own personal talents will have the opportunity to do this through the completion of the Gallup Builder Profile 10 assessment.

May 6 — Side Hustle (p.1) (6 – 8 p.m.)
Facilitated by: Kelly Harris-Martin, CF Fawatinaw

Side Hustles are fun. Side hustles are distracting. It can be difficult to manage your full-time job and your side hustle at the same time. This workshop will take you through the ins and outs of what works, what doesn’t work, and important lessons to keep with you to consistently crush your full-time and side hustle duties.

May 13 — Side Hustle (p.2)  (6 – 8 p.m.)
Facilitated by: Kelly Harris-Martin, CF Fawatinaw

Description TBA

May 20 — Creating a Business Plan  (6 – 8 p.m.)
Facilitator: Michelle MacNeil

A goal without a plan is just a wish – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

So, what’s the plan? A business plan is one of your best tools as an entrepreneur; it is vital to your business, and writing one is easier than you think it is! This session will walk you through the process of developing a business plan – a strategic roadmap towards your entrepreneurial goals. From concept and framework, to SWOT analysis and market research, it’s time to plan for your success.

May 27 — Understanding Cash Flow  (6 – 8 p.m.)
Facilitator: Corrine McGirr

Cash is Queen! Having a clear multi-year cash flow projection can help you and your business manage seasonality, slow times, and the busy times. It can help you prepare for big capital or inventory purchases, or to better manage inflow of revenues. Join us to learn the basics of cash flow and how to manage it effectively.

June 3 — Pitch with Confidence (6 – 8 p.m.)
Facilitator: Wendy Plandowski

Wow your funders, customers and followers with a POWERFUL Pitch. Every entrepreneur launching a new business, needs to have their “pitch” down pat. What to say and how to say it, how to position your unique offer, how to communicate your story, from start to scratch. This workshop will review the steps, delivery methods and provide you with the tools necessary to succeed and “pitch with confidence”.

What Makes this Series Special?

There are plenty of business workshops out there, but this series is targeted specifically to artists looking to grow as artrepreneurs. 

“Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art. Making money is art, and working is art – and good business is the best art.” – Andy Warhol

Getting good at your art is one thing, but turning it into a business is a different adventure. Tie the two together, and take your art to your audience, make sales, get hired, and achieve a new level of success.

Bringing Entrepreneurs Together

This series is hosted in partnership with Community Futures Wood Buffalo, an organization dedicated to helping people just like you turn business ideas into reality. Their small business specialists connect entrepreneurs with the skills, financing, and resources needed to succeed.

This series is powered by Project Gazelle, who believes in the rainforest philosophy, where bringing entrepreneurs together creates opportunities for sharing and new ideas to emerge.

About Business of the Arts

ACWB’s Business of the Arts (BOA) program gives local artists an opportunity to build their capacity to compete and thrive. With the right resources, they can flourish as entrepreneurs as well as artists, and create a sustainable living from their artistic practice. 

April 29, 2021

Q&A Livestream — “it’s past midnight somewhere” — Jan. 29

Join contemporary poet Jamal-e-Fatima, and mixed-media artist Hira Noor on January 29 in an online discussion surrounding their debut collection of poetry called “it’s past midnight somewhere.”

This virtual Q&A will dive deep into who Jamal and Hira are as artists, what the poems and illustrations they have created mean to them, and what their artistic process has been like. There will be opportunities for attendees to submit their own questions to be answered by the artists, as well.

Event Details

Date: January 29, 2021

Time: 7 p.m. (approx 45 minutes)

Locations: Facebook

Fees: FREE

Learn More About “it’s past midnight somewhere”

The imagery is deep, the essence is strong, and the value is healing. Jamal-e-Fatima and Hira Noor’s collection of poetry, “it’s past midnight somewhere,” is all about revisiting pain, reclaiming heritage and rediscovering bliss in solitude.

Zarqa Nawas, writer and director of CBC’s hit comedy show “Little Mosque on the Prairie” called the book “An emotional journey that’s both fantastical and relatable.”

Purchase a copy of “it’s past midnight somewhere” on ACWB Marketplace.

January 30, 2021

Introducing Marketplace

Are you interested in selling your arts or craft? Maybe you’re in the market to buy unique, handmade local art. 

Marketplace is a page on the ACWB website where you can sell your art, or shop local from Wood Buffalo artisans. 

All Arts Council Wood Buffalo members are able to set up a free Marketplace profile to sell their arts and craft. If you’re not an ACWB member, all you need is an active membership to become a Marketplace vendor.

Already a Registered Vendor?

To go directly to your login page as a vendor, you can also follow this link: https://marketplace.artscouncilwb.ca/my-account/

Become a Marketplace Vendor

ACWB Members – If you’re already an ACWB member, just visit our Marketplace Account Request page, and fill out the form. We will send you all you need to create your Marketplace profile and begin selling your arts and craft.

Not an ACWB Member? Become an ACWB member, and your membership fees will get you access to Marketplace and much more. Learn about the benefits of membership you’ll be able to access in addition to Marketplace.

When filling out your membership registration, be sure to check “I want to participate in ACWB’s online Marketplace.”  Two things will then happen:

  • You will receive a follow up email from ACWB to walk you through all the benefits of becoming a member.
  • The Marketplace team will send you all you need to create your Marketplace profile and begin selling your arts and craft.

Artist Directory

Did you know that ACWB Members also have free access to participate in the Artist Directory? If you’d like to participate, be sure to check “I want to participate in ACWB’s online artist directory” when filling out your membership registration.

Buy Arts & Craft on Marketplace

You don’t need to be an ACWB member to shop in Marketplace, and you don’t even need to live in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo.

Get to Marketplace by clicking here: artscouncilwb.ca/marketplace. This will take you to the main shop.

Also on any page on Arts Council’s website, you’ll see categories along the top. Click on Community, scroll down to Marketplace and click.  This will take you to the main Marketplace page where you can shop, check out, or login to your store.

Marketplace for Entrepreneurs

You’ll be able to sell your arts and crafts, track sales, enhance your brand, build your following, and realize your dream of getting your art to market. You can also view other artists’ profiles, shop, and support local artisans just like you.

Are you new to the online world? Not sure if you have the experience or skills to manage an online Marketplace?

Don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of support from the Marketplace team, including lots of FAQ’s, a tutorial document, access to the Marketplace Google Drive where we’ll be sharing resources and updates, and more. Did you know that all ACWB members can book free consultation sessions with ACWB staff?

Marketplace for Shoppers

Search, sort and shop for local arts and crafts that have been made with community spirit. As an added bonus, you’ll be shopping local, supporting local, and participating in the arts community.  You might even be inspired to set up your own shop in Marketplace.

Questions? For any questions about Marketplace, membership, or the Artist Directory, please contact us at marketplace@artscouncilwb.ca.

August 13, 2020

Workshop: Make it Weird – Creating Outside the Box – Dec. 6

Artist in Residency & Mentorship Program

Join Louise Casemore on December 6 for Make it Weird – Creating Outside the Box.

Tickets available through Eventbrite for this FREE workshop.

From the Artistic Director of Defiance Theatre, Louise Casemore offers an exploratory workshop about creating performances outside of the norm.

In the world of theatre creation, traditional spaces are becoming increasingly out of reach. In addition to the pandemic pause on large gatherings, our stories and audience are changing.

So what do we do?

We get creative. From the realities of offering plays in non-traditional spaces to the wonderful world of immersive theatre, this workshop will address the curiosities, questions, and process behind creating theatre in unexpected spaces from two perspectives: Producer-Brain and Artistic-Brain.

“Built for emerging artists to professionals alike – find the fantastic potential in making art in the unexpected!”

Artists of all experience levels are welcome.

Make it Weird – Creating Outside the Box is Louise Casemore’s first workshop in Wood Buffalo as part of ACWB’s Artist in Residency & Mentorship Program (AiR).

Artist in Residency follows the traditional residency model in which non-local or local professional artists spend time creating work inspired by the environment, culture and people of Wood Buffalo.

Event Details

Date: December 6, 2020

Time:  1 – 4 p.m. (approx. 3 hours)

Location:  Virtual event via Zoom

  • Only 10 spaces available for this workshop.

Admission Fees

  • FREE – That’s right, we said FREE.

­­­­Tickets available through Eventbrite.

Consent to Film:  M’Guphynn Media will be attending to film the workshop for the documentary Sparking Creativity, which follows Carla White’s process through the Artist in Residency & Mentorship Program with ACWB. 

When reserving tickets through Eventbrite, participants will be requested to check a box to acknowledge that the workshop is being filmed and consent that they may potentially be included in the documentary footage. 

About the Artist In Residency & Mentorship Program

This iteration of AiR sees Carla White engaging as the Fall 2020 Artist in Residence, and aims to support Carla in developing a script dramatizing the events, demographics, learnings, and community-building that arose out of the 2016 Horse River Wildfire. 

Louise Casemore will direct a staged reading of White’s script to be performed in Fort McMurray with a cast of local actors on December 11. Stay tuned for updates and more information.

Questions and More Information

For questions or more information, please contact the Artist in Residency Project Coordinator Geoff Jones at geoff@artscouncilwb.ca.

December 7, 2020

Workshop: Wit, Wisdom and Writing – November 21

Artist in Residency & Mentorship Program

So, you want to be a writer?

Join Carla White on November 21 for Wit, Wisdom and Writing, an interactive ONLINE workshop where participants will work through exercises and discussions to help find the story inside themselves and feel empowered to tell it.

You have a story, many stories, in fact. It is said that 81% of the population feels they have a book in them and want to write it. However, about 5% actually write it and only 1% publish.

Carla will share her sometimes painful, often relevant, and frequently funny experiences as a writer to encourage participants to step into their artistic, creative self.

“Even if you don’t want to write the next bestseller but feel inspired to be a writer, this workshop is for you to explore all aspects of the literary arts.”

Tickets available through Eventbrite.

Wit, Wisdom and Writing is the second workshop from Carla White as part of her work through ACWB’s Artist in Residency & Mentorship Program (AiR). AiR follows the traditional residency model, in which non-local or local professional artists spend time creating work inspired by the environment, culture and people of Wood Buffalo.

Discussion topics include:

  • What stops people from writing
  • Writing as therapy
  • Creative cures for writer’s block and blank page syndrome
  • Publishing 

Artists of all experience levels and disciplines are welcome.

Event Details

Date: November 21, 2020

Time: 1 – 5 p.m. (approx 4 hours)

Location: Online via Zoom

  • Zoom link to be sent to participants registered through Eventbrite

Admission Fees

  • FREE – ACWB Membership Price
  • $30 – General Public (Fee includes a FREE 1-year ACWB membership)

Tickets available through Eventbrite.

Consent to Film:  M’Guphynn Media will be attending to film the workshop for the documentary Sparking Creativity, which follows Carla White’s process through the Artist in Residency & Mentorship Program with ACWB. 

When purchasing tickets through Eventbrite, participants will be requested to check a box to acknowledge that the workshop is being filmed and consent that they may potentially be included in the documentary footage. 

Health & Safety – With consideration for everyone’s health and safety, participants will be required to wear masks for the duration of the workshop and maintain six feet apart.

About the Artist In Residency & Mentorship Program

This iteration of AiR sees Carla White engaging as the Fall 2020 Artist in Residence, and aims to support Carla in developing a script dramatizing the events, demographics, learnings, and community-building that arose out of the 2016 Horse River Wildfire. 

As part of Carla’s journey in the AiR program, she is offering this workshop that support humour, creativity and writing.

Carla’s iteration of AiR will end in a scripted stage reading of her final script. Stay tuned for more updates and details about the stage reading anticipated for December 2020.

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Questions and More Information

For questions or more information, please contact the Artist in Residency Project Coordinator Geoff Jones at geoff@artscouncilwb.ca.

November 21, 2020

Making it in Music Part 2: A Conversation with Modern Times Trio & Dan Gillies

In early February 2020, Arts Council hosted a two-part series for the Business of the Arts (BoA) program entitled Making it in Music. The first part featured a songwriting workshop with pianist and composer, Denis Nassar, held at The District Recording Studio; the second part was to be a jazz concert and conversation with professional Alberta jazz musicians Modern Times Trio and Dan Gillies.

Part 1 was a blast as Denis Nassar took songwriters through a number of tips and tricks for getting songs from imagination to reality. While we don’t have video of that adventure, you can now watch Part 2 on YouTube.

Unfortunately, the concert was cancelled, but we were able to record an in depth conversation with Modern Times Trio and local guitarist, Dan Gillies, on what it takes to be a professional – not only from an artistic perspective, but also with a focus on the music business.

Watch the Conversation on YouTube

Now you can watch the entire interview on YouTube, which was facilitated by ACWB newbie, Will Collins (Communications Coordinator), on his second day working for Arts Council.

Making it in Music panel discussion with Alberta musician Modern Times Trio hosted by Arts Council Wood Buffalo.

Modern Times Trio brings together three of Alberta’s most in-demand performing and recording artists: guitarist, Ryan Davidson; bassist, Mike Lent; and drummer, Thom Bennett. The group is inspired as much by film music, drum n’ bass, and contemporary sounds as it is by classic and modern jazz music. Their repertoire ranges from inventive originals to reimagined updates of classic material – including bands like Radiohead. Modern Times Trio’s music is fun, compelling, melodic, and accessible. Learn more about Modern Times Trio in this Business of the Arts blog post.

Local professional musician and instructor Dan Gillies also joined in the discussion about the music business to add a local perspective. Dan released his first instrumental album in 2014. The album featured styles ranging from classic rock to modal jazz to Celtic mandolin, and was hailed as a “brilliant fusion of styles.” Dan’s various groups have shared stages with The Trews, George Canyon, Bachman & Turner, The Road Hammers, and many others. Dan is also an author and regularly contributes to Canadian Musician Magazine.

August 25, 2020

Getting to Sold

Taking Artisans Step by Step Through the Process of Getting their Craft from a Hobby to Market

For two weeks in August 2020, ACWB will be hosting a series of four online workshops designed for crafters, artisans and new artists looking to get their products to market.

Led by Arts Recovery Project Coordinator, Sharon Heading with the support of experienced local artisans, they’ll deliver information that they have used in setting up their successful businesses. You’ll be taken step by step through the process of getting your craft from a hobby to market.

Register through Eventbrite today.

This project has been funded by the Canadian Red Cross as part of the Arts Recovery Project.

Event Details

Dates: (This is a series of four online workshops.)

  • Tuesday, August 11
  • Thursday, August 13
  • Tuesday, August 18 
  • Thursday, August 20

Time: 6 – 8 p.m.

Location: Zoom classroom.

(Registrants for the workshops will be sent a Zoom link and specific details as the workshop dates approach.)

Fees

  • ACWB Members – FREE. A promo code has been sent to members in their monthly e-newsletter. If you are a member and have not received a code or can’t find it, please contact us at hanna@artscouncilwb.ca.
  • Non-Members – Pay $20 for the workshops and get a free one-year individual membership. Not only will you have access to the four Getting to Sold workshops, ACWB membership also allows you access to the soon-to-be-released online Marketplace and much more. Learn more about the benefits of becoming an ACWB member.

Register through Eventbrite. Register today and take your first step in becoming the artisan/entrepreneur that you’ve been dreaming of.

Donations are Welcome: 

Donations of $20 and above will go towards the free Membership Bank to help make memberships barrier-free, so anyone in the region can have access to the benefits of ACWB membership and be a part of the unified voice for the arts in Wood Buffalo. Donations of $50 and above are eligible for a tax receipt.

Additional Details

As part of the Arts Recovery Project, we have been listening to the arts community.  Many local artisans would like to know how to get their products to market, make sales, and have their own legitimate businesses.

In the current economic situation, keeping art alive is vital. Community markets, virtual markets or websites are just a few of the opportunities to sell your product. Get the answers to important questions to make your business more competitive in the artisan marketplace.

As part of this online workshop series, these are some of the questions we’ll be discussing:

  • How do you find your place? 
  • Do you need a business license and insurance? 
  • How do you package your product? 
  • Where can you sell your products: online, in markets, at stores? 

Marketplace – Coming Soon

Stay tuned, artisan/entrepreneurs!  After the series of Getting to Sold workshops in August, we will show you how to set up your own profile on the Marketplace, an online sales/shopping platform to be hosted on the ACWB website. 

You’ll be able to sell your products, track sales, enhance your brand, build your following, and develop your dream of getting your art on the market.

Getting to Sold Manual – Coming Soon

ACWB is working with a local artist to create a learning manual for tactile or visual learners and for use in communities where training technology or traditional workshop delivery may not be available.  

The manual will support Getting to Sold workshops, so they can be delivered to an audience of a wide variety of ages and learning styles. The manual will be available in both digital format and printed formats, and shareable through online platforms. 

Register through Eventbrite today.

Questions and More Information

For questions or more information, please contact Sharon Heading, Arts Recovery Project Coordinator, at sharon@artscouncilwb.ca, or 780-381-6898.

August 11, 2020

Around the Campfire: Music, Stories & Songs

Join us on Friday, May 29 starting at 7 p.m. for “Around the Campfire: Music, Stories & Songs.” It’s a night of music, stories and songs presented by the Friends of Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts (FoSECPA), in partnership with Arts Council Wood Buffalo and Country 93.3.

Nashville-style Virtual Guitar Pull

Inspired by the traditional Nashville-style guitar pull, “Around the Campfire: Music, Stories & Songs” will see singer-songwriters taking turns playing songs, and swapping stories and personal recollections. They’ll also be interacting with their audience virtually from the live stream. This free event will be streamed online via Facebook live. See live stream details below.

Who will be Performing?

Local singer-songwriters Eva LaPrairie, Shantelle Davidson, Dan Gillies, Max Noseworthy, Aaron Deslandes, and Mychela will perform in the style of a traditional guitar pull, sharing stories about their songs, their playing style, and engaging with the audience in between performances of their original music. The presentation will be hosted by Dan Gillies and Mike Jones.

Event Date & Time

  • Date: Friday, May 29
  • Time: 7- 9 p.m.

Where to Watch this Free Performance

This event will be live streamed to the Country 93.3 Facebook page, and shared on the SECPA and ACWB Facebook Pages.

May 29, 2020

ACWB AiR – Directing Script to Stage with Michelle Thorne

UPDATE: All spaces have now been filled, but residents of Wood Buffalo can still visit the Eventbrite page and sign up for the wait list. Thank you to everyone who registered.

 

Arts Council Wood Buffalo’s Artist in Residency & Mentorship Program, presented in partnership with Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre, through eight group sessions with Michelle Thorne. Participants will be provided with in-group, and one-on-one opportunities for participants to learn the “ins and outs” of creating theatre from a theatre directorial point of view.

 

Workshops will include such elements as script analysis, design concepts and collaborations, stage management, auditions, casting, marketing and publicity and will culminate in their own Director’s Proposal by the end of the workshop series.

 

This workshop series will have a minimum required enrollment of four people, up to a maximum of 12, ages 16 and older.

 

Program updates: Workshops will be offered in an online platform to support social distancing and those that are quarantined or self-isolating. ACWB will be contacting registrants with details.

 

Registration is now FREE: In an effort to keep Arts Council (ACWB) programming accessible, the ACWB team has decided to make registration for this program free for Wood Buffalo residents.  A fee will still be charged for those outside of the region.

 

Format: Online Platform – Zoom

 

Workshop dates: March 22 to April 13, 2020 (Sundays and Mondays only)

 

Workshop times: Sundays: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.  & Mondays: 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

 

NOTE: Minor schedule updates have been made since the original event posting. See schedule below for more details. (Updated March 24, 2020)

 

March 22, 2020

Making it in Music: Concert & Conversation

February 11, 2020

Enjoy a live jazz performance followed by an insightful panel conversation on what it takes to be a musician in this day and age from leading Alberta musicians. Following Making it in Music Part 1: Songwriting Workshop with Denis Nassar, hosted by The District Recording Studio, ACWB hosts Making it in Music Part 2 with professional Alberta jazz musicians Modern Times Trio on February 11, 2020 as part of the Business of the Arts series. Held in Keyano Theatre & Arts Centre Rehearsal Hall, Modern Times Trio will perform an intimate concert, followed by a panel discussion sharing their insights as professional musicians. The panel also includes local musician Dan Gillies to give a local’s perspective on making it in music!

Register today at making-it-in-music.eventbrite.ca

Modern Times Trio brings together three of Alberta’s most in-demand performing and recording artists: guitarist Ryan Davidson, bassist Mike Lent and drummer Thom Bennett. The group is inspired as much by film music, drum n’ bass and contemporary sounds, as it is by classic and modern jazz music.  Their repertoire ranges from inventive originals to reimagined updates of classic material.   Modern Times Trio music is fun, compelling, melodic and accessible.

Members of the group have played together in various formations over the last 10 years and have developed a chemistry and a band sound that is instantly recognizable.  Members of the trio have performed with:  PJ Perry, Kathleen Edwards, Gord Bamford, Dave Brubeck, Wayne Newton, Brad Turner, Tommy Banks, Johnny Reid, K.D Lang, Jann Arden, and hundreds of others.

In addition to their vast performing experience Modern Times trio members have worked at the following post-secondary institutions: University of Alberta, MacEwan University, Concordia University, Alberta College, University of North Texas and Keyano College.  Members of the trio have also appeared on over 200 albums as performers, engineers, producers, song-writers and arrangers.

For this special performance and clinic, Modern Times Trio is joined by local musician and instructor Dan Gillies.  Dan is a Canadian guitarist who released his first instrumental album in 2014. The album featured styles ranging from classic rock to modal jazz to Celtic mandolin and was hailed as a “brilliant fusion of styes”. Dan’s groups have shared stages with The Trews, Geroge Canyon, Bachman & Turner, The Road Hammers and many others. Dan is also an author and regularly contributes to Canadian Musician Magazine.

February 11, 2020

Arts Match 2.0

January 30, 2020

Amazing things happen when the arts get together!

Since the 2019 Arts Match was such a success, we thought we’d bring it back! Don’t be fooled by the name, Arts Match is not just for singles. It’s a networking event for all artists, artisans and arts enthusiasts in Wood Buffalo to meet like minded people, learn about different arts based organizations, arts opportunities, venues and how to get involved! ACWB invites all artists and artisans in Wood Buffalo to our FREE Arts Match 2.0 event on January 30, 5:30 – 8:30 PM in the Keyano Gallery / Theatre Lobby.

Are you an actor, singer, dancer, musician looking for opportunities to perform? Visual artist looking for an opportunity to show and or sell your work? Would you like to volunteer in the arts, find a mentor, or you don’t know what you want except you want to be part of the arts in Wood Buffalo?

Let’s find your magic connection at the ACWB Arts Match!

Claim your FREE ticket on Eventbrite at acwb-artsmatch2020.eventbrite.ca

What should Artists expect?

This fun and engaging event is based on the speed networking model where individuals have 2 minutes to talk directly to organizations/groups at each booth about that orgs/groups’ projects and programs, and how the individual can get involved. Depending on your arrival time, you will be assigned a “round”. The rounds last roughly 30 minutes, with additional opportunities to network with other artists outside of your round.

Looking to host a Booth?

Are you an organization in Wood Buffalo looking to work with artists? Are you an individual or group working on a project and need artist participants? Are you a photographer, filmmaker, visual artist or producer looking for models, actors, or performers? Do you simply have an idea you want to share with creative people who can help you move the idea to fruition? Sign up to have a booth at the January 2020 Arts Match! Contact Sharon Heading, sharon@artscouncilwb.ca to claim your spot.

January 30, 2020

Highlights from past events

What our Artists have to say