John Boyle, RL207, 1982, serigraph in baked porcelain on steel, Gift of the artist, 2003. Collection of the Art Gallery of Peterborough. Featured in the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, which returns this fall.

In case you missed it, here is a roundup of some of what the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) has been sharing online in the past two weeks.

Be sure to follow EC3’s Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, and @ec3ptbo on Instagram, where we’re posting updates every day.

From the Electric City Culture Council

Join the conversation on Peterborough Arts Alive on SLACK, a digital space where artists can meet to discuss and share ideas and resources. In the past two weeks, conversations have included Ann Jaeger on how artists can reclaim autonomy after COVID, and Elizabeth Jenkins with a powerful poem on feeling unsafe during ‘safe at home.’

Registration is now full for EC3’s Digital Uplift program of digital consultations for artists and arts organizations. We would like to thank all the participants, and Sofie Andreou of 123DigitalPower for her hard work!

Donate today to the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund, a fundraising effort to provide grants for local arts organizations.

On July 6, the newly formed Alliance of Arts Councils of Ontario, co-chaired by EC3’s Executive Director Su Ditta submitted a presentation to the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs in response to the provincial government’s COVID 19 Economic Update. Read the delegation, and feel free to get in touch with your feedback, or contact our local MPP Dave Smith to let him know that the arts are important to you.

Local Spotlight

The Canadian Canoe Museum is reopening its doors, starting Saturday, July 25. Read their announcement here.

The First Friday Art Crawl may not be crawling right now, but they currently have a call for proposals for a mural for the Commerce’s Building’s alley.

A hotly anticipated annual event, the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour is happening this year, albeit in a modified term. Check out the website to find out more.

Artspace held their first exhibition since the pandemic earlier this month. Company Town explores the complex legacy of General Electric in Peterborough. The exhibition is still up online for your perusal. And read more about it in The Peterborough Examiner.

Trent students: if you’re interested in getting involved in campus media in September, Trent Radio and Arthur Newspaper are holding a weekly Zoom gathering every Thursday at 2pm. Chat, meet the staff, find out about opportunities.

Local musician Evangeline Gentle released a video for their beautiful song “Sundays,” off their self-titled debut album, produced by Jim Bryson:

News and Information

The Government of Ontario has announced that Peterborough, and most of the province, has officially entered Stage 3 of reopening. Most businesses are now permitted to open, and gathering sizes have increased to 50 for indoor gatherings and 100 for outdoor gatherings.

75,000 artists across Canada, including the Electric City Culture Council, have signed A Public Letter from the Arts Community for a Basic Income Guarantee. There will be an upcoming webinar about the letter on July 29 at 2pm – register here.

The Ontario Arts Council has released initial results from their Audience Outlook Monitor survey, exploring the attitudes of Ontarians about returning to the arts.

The Government of Canada released details of Phase 2 of their plan to distribute $500 million to the culture, heritage, and sport sector. This includes funding for independent media and radio, live music, and other sectors not covered by Phase 1 funding.

Voices of Today is an online poetry competition happening August 11 to 15. Check out the events online, or sign up to be a volunteer!

Today, artists, writers, technicians and performers are calling on Prime Minister Trudeau to create a permanent basic income guarantee.

Link to: “A Public Letter from the Arts Community for a Basic Income Guarantee”

The pandemic’s wrath on lives has been swift. Millions are still out of work, venues shuttered, and livelihoods lost. In this new precarious reality, poverty can become a reality for all of us, abruptly, without warning.

“As stakeholders of the arts and culture sector, we ask you to give Canadians the chance not only to survive, but to live.”

“A Basic Income Guarantee would build on existing programs, including CERB, and provide financial security to meet people’s basic needs, regardless of their work status.”

This public letter, signed and endorsed by many of the largest arts and culture organizations in Canada and many prominent talents [link to list], calls on the government to think outside the box and implement a “basic income program that guarantees an income floor to anyone in need.”

In the pandemic’s wake, Canada can rise from the disease, hardships, and ruptures in social behavior with a basic income. “The opportunity for change is here and now,” write the letter’s co-authors: Craig Berggold, Zainub Verjee and Clayton Windatt.

“It’s time for a basic income,” say Canadian talent from coast to coast to coast: from the North’s Gwaandak Theatre; the Acadian artists in New Brunswick; the Conseil québécois du théâtre; Toronto’s South Asian Visual Arts Centre; Alberta’s celebrated Kehewin Native Dance Theatre; I.A.T.S.E. stage and film technicians; the Canadian Federation of Musicians, the visual artists of CARFAC; the francophone Fédération culturelle canadienne-française; the Canadian Actors’ Equity; to opera singer Adrianne Pieczonka, O.C., writer Judy Rebick, filmmaker John Greyson, and many more…

George Elliot Clarke, the 7thParliamentary/Canadian Poet Laureate composed On Basic Income for our campaign. The poem’s opening lines provide a dark glimpse of the solitude and unexpected hardship, through no fault of their own, felt by many Canadians: [link to poem]

“The economy’s an abyss whose bottom is a grave,

And each tightrope walker wobbles as a mere wage-slave.

And those who freefall, screaming, screeching, as they go,

Clutching for handholds or toeholds, only hope to slow, …”

Join the co-authors of the public letter at the webinar The Case for Basic Income for the Arts, on July 29th, at 2pm EST, hosted by Basic Income Calgary and Ontario Basic Income Network.

Register here [link].

For more information visit: www.obin.ca/the_case_for_basic_income_for_the_arts

– 30 –

For media enquiries and to arrange interviews please contact:

Craig Berggold, m: 647-328-9383 e: craigberggold@gmail.com

We are facing a critical time for the arts, culture, and heritage (ACH) sector. As the pandemic creates global economic instability, governments at all levels are facing significant deficits in the current fiscal year, and are starting to look at their budgets for 2021.

As municipal deficits climb, municipalities across Canada have been lobbying federal and provincial governments for COVID-19 relief and recovery funds. All across the country, arts councils and other advocacy organizations are fighting to ensure that funding for the ACH sector will be forthcoming, both for recovery aid, and to ensure that ongoing operating funding remains stable and is not on the chopping block for the upcoming fiscal year.

The Electric City Culture Council’s (EC3) Executive Director Su Ditta is currently Co-Chair of the newly formed Alliance of Arts Councils of Ontario and served on the task force that developed a presentation to The Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, in response to the provincial government’s COVID-19 Economic Update. This was a written delegation submitted to Queen’s Park on July 6, 2020.

Read a copy of the delegation HERE (PDF).

Please feel free to get in touch with your feedback and to contact our local MPP Dave Smith if you support the recommendations included in the delegation. The ACH sector, frequently cited as “lifeline” of community recovery has also been identified as the “first to close and the last to open” during the pandemic. Strategic support from the provincial government is essential to a successful recovery and successful relaunch.

For more information on presentations and delegations from other ACH organizations in the province, check out this link.

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.

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

“Premier Doug Ford praises Peterborough drive-thru testing” (EC3 at bottom) by Joelle Kovach, The Peterborough Examiner.

“Town Ward: If you pedal to work or school in Peterborough, B!KE wants to hear from you” (EC3 discussed at bottom) by Naomi Stock, The Peterborough Examiner.

“Electric City Culture Council assisting arts groups dealing with COVID-19” by Steve Guthrie, CHEX/Global.

“A potpourri of topics for a sunny June day in Peterborough” by Rosemary Ganley, The Peterborough Examiner.

A Message from EC3

Hello friends,

As the COVID 19 situation around the world continues to develop, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) has been speaking to arts, culture, and heritage (ACH) workers and organizations, artists, and other stakeholders about how best to serve our community.

Through these discussions, EC3 continues to roll out Peterborough Arts Alive, our suite of COVID-19 response and recovery programs and services. Earlier this month, we announced the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund for Strategic Recovery and Resilience Grants for organizations (read more here).

Today, EC3 is excited to announce two more initiatives: Peterborough Arts Alive on SLACK is a new, artist-led, artist-focused digital space for peer to peer discussion on the social messaging platform SLACK, and Digital Uplift provides free consultation sessions about all things digital (technical skills development and advancing on-line presence) or local artists arts, culture and heritage organizations.

Read on for more information about both initiatives.

Peterborough Arts Alive on SLACK

During this crisis, EC3 has heard from artists who sometimes feel they are not being consulted properly or enough when it comes to relief and recovery programs. Others have said they are still trying to figure out exactly what their needs are at this time and what support they need. Others have expressed a basic and urgent desire to reach out and connect with others who are going through similar things as they are as professional artists, citizens and human beings.

Peterborough Arts Alive on SLACK is a new digital space where artists can have these kinds of conversations: speaking about their challenges and opportunities during this strange time, sharing resources and ideas, and helping each other out. This space, which EC3 will be hosting on the social messaging platform SLACK, will be artist-focused and artist-led.

Local artist Christy Haldane will curate and moderate the SLACK discussion workplace. In addition to freeform conversation, every week Christy will post a topical question. EC3 has also commissioned artists Annie Jaegar, Victoria Ward and Esther Vincent to produce micro-essays, to help stimulate conversation and get the ball rolling, and we hope many of you will join in as well.

Join the Conversation: Click this link and sign up for a SLACK account. It’s free to use, and you can access it through your browser, or through the SLACK iOS or Android mobile apps.

Digital Uplift

[Update July 23, 2020: Please note that registration for Digital Uplift is now full. Thanks to all the participants!]

Right now, many artists and arts and culture organizations are recognizing the need to get online in a more robust way and improve their digital capacity. Through EC3’s new Digital Uplift program, individuals and ACH organizations can sign up for free, minimum, one-hour consultation sessions with digital marketing specialist Sofie Andreou of 123DigitalPower. Some of you have already worked with Sofie as part of the DBIA’s very successful Digital Main St. program.

These one-on-one sessions, which will take place over Google Meet, Zoom, or by phone, will be tailored to the specific needs of the particular individual or organization, whether that’s establishing or improving an online presence, selling products online, improving digital workflow, or whatever else the participants need. Andreou will assist participants with defining their specific digital needs, and will offer strategies, solutions, services, and products to help them achieve them.

Here are some of the areas where Digital Uplift can provide advice and assistance:

• Digital strategy
• Putting products/activities online
• Putting menus online
• Google my business
• Selling online
• Video or photo techniques
• Simple websites
• Virtual social media help
• Virtual social media training
• Virtual team meetings steps
• Setting up virtual services
• Online scheduling tools
• Online gift certificates
• Online contests

Sign Up for This Free Program Consultation: To sign up, click this link and book a free session. Appointments are available until July 30, 2020.

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.

It’s a tough time for sure. Everyone is feeling the pressure. Hope these tools help along the way. 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

Guides and Advice for Reopening Arts and Culture Organizations

A Message from EC3

Hello friends,

It’s official: our region of Ontario has now entered Stage Two of the Reopening Ontario program.  Many businesses and organizations have reopened or are in the process of reopening, and more are getting set to reopen as soon as they’re able to. It’s a strange time and our hearts are heavy to see that so many festivals and theatre companies have had to cancel their seasons while others hover nervously on standby.

In the arts, culture, and heritage (ACH) world, some art galleries and museums in the country have already opened their doors, and there are even some concerts happening south of the border. However, opening safely, cost effectively and with artistic integrity intact, is a huge challenge for most local arts groups and this is being felt and experienced all across the country.

While the dates for safely reopening may feel far off for many ACH organizations, the time to start planning for what exactly reopening might look like is NOW. Reopening may require significant adaptations to ensure the health and safety of employees, artists, and audiences alike.

This Bulletin collects resources and guides to best practices for reopening, as well as some examples of the policies and procedures some arts and culture organizations have already put in place. If you are still assessing impact and running recovery scenarios, there are some good tools here too.

EC3 will host a series of webinars on reopening issues in the coming weeks. Please stay tuned. Let us know what is on your mind: questions, concerns, possibilities.

In the meantime, here are two of the best tools we have come across:

Impact Assessment and Scenario Planning: Accounting firm BDO provides a very helpful tool COVID-19 Crisis Management Questions Checklist for Not-For-Profits.

Reopening: Arts and culutre charitable organization Business/Arts hosted a webinar on the topic “What will it take for people to return to the arts?,” which is now available to watch on their blog, and read the NANOS report it was based on.

General Resources

The Ontario government has set up a page with Resources to prevent COVID-19 in the workplace, including industry-specific best-practices guides for reopening.

The Canadian government’s extensive article Risk-informed decision-making for mass gatherings during COVID-19 pandemic provides useful guidance for anyone planning an event or gathering.

The World Health Organization’s document Getting your workplace ready for COVID-19 (PDF) is full of useful advice, including a section on running events and meetings.

Accounting firm BDO provides a very helpful tool COVID-19 Crisis Management Questions Checklist for Not-For-Profits.

The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce has set up the Peterborough PPE Retail Hub, a list of local businesses selling personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves, plexiglass shields, and other supplies necessary for making your space COVID-compliant.

Audience Research

The Canadian Association for the Performing Arts (CAPACOA) has published an excellent review of recent audience surveys and research, What will make audiences feel safe to return to live performances?, as well as a template for audience surveys, particularly for performing arts organizations.

IMPACTS Research & Development has some fascinating research on how the pandemic is influencing perceptions and intentions to visit cultural entities. See for instance their post If You Reopen, Will They Come? Four Factors Driving Attendance.

Arts and culutre charitable organization Business/Arts hosted a webinar on the topic “What will it take for people to return to the arts?,” which is now available to watch on their blog, and read the NANOS report it was based on.

Resources for Museums and Galleries

Canadian Art’s article Art Galleries and Museums Start to Reopen, Where Permitted provides some interesting real-world examples of how galleries and museums in Canada, including the Winnipeg Art Gallery, are managing reopening.

The Canadian Museums Association is collecting reopening best-practices guides for museums from around the world

Resources for the Performing Arts

The Event Safety Alliance has published an extensive Reopening Guide covering everything event and venue professionals need to consider.

The Performing Arts Center Consortium has published an extensive Guide to Reopening Theatrical Venues (PDF).

ActSafe, a BC public safety organization for the arts and entertainment industry, has an excellent resource list for the performing arts, including an Industry Relaunch Framework.

The Canadian Association for the Performing Arts (CAPACOA) held a webinar (now available as a recording) titled A Clean Slate for Reopening about public safety and reopening.

Chorus Connections has an excellent article What Community Chorus Leaders Should be Doing Right Now, which also includes a link to download their document, A Season Planning Guide Amidst COVID-19. Lots of useful advice for anyone planning their upcoming performance season.

Take a look at the Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Pandemic Plan, which the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres has made available online for free.

Other Discipline-Specific Resources

Photography: Professional Photographers of Canada (PDF) and Professional Photographers of America have both released guides for safe photography during COVID-19.

Film and television: Workplace Safety & Prevention Services has released Guidance on Health and Safety for Television Hosts, Technical Crews and other TV and Film Employees during COVID-19 (PDF).

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.

It’s a tough time for sure. Everyone is feeling the pressure. Hope these tools help along the way. 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 Arts Alive Fund will provide $10,000 COVID-19 relief grants to local arts organizations,” KawarthaNOW.