EC3 CELEBRATES NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY ON JUNE 21ST WITH A SPECIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PROJECT CURATED BY WILLIAM KINGFISHER!

June 19th, 2026

National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated annually on June 21, coinciding with the summer solstice. It is a dedicated time to recognize and celebrate the rich history, resilience, and diverse cultures of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada.

Each year, as part of our work to recognize National Indigenous History Month (see our Bulletin here), EC3 commissions a social media project featuring the work of two local Indigenous artists. This year distinguished artist and curator William Kingfisher has selected poet Thamer Linklater (Unweave – poem from their upcoming collection The Place I Called Home) and visual artist Ashley Street (She Faces West: The Red Dress) to highlight the outstanding contributions to our cultural like in Nogojiwanong made by local Indigenous artists. Both the artists that William has selected open our eyes to the impact of the past and the history of Indigenous people. We hope you enjoy getting to know these outstanding artists and their work!

NIPD 2026 EC3 Social Media Project

Curator: William Kingfisher

William Kingfisher is an independent arts curator, artist and gardener. He is a member of the Chippewas of Rama First Nation, Rama. Kingfisher is presently the Associate Artistic Producer at Nozhem First People’s Performance Space, Indigenous Performance Initiatives, Trent University.

As curator, for the ongoing project enaawendewin/relationships (2018-present), Kingfisher creates indigenous gardens as spaces of inquiry to explore a variety of themes and ideas such as, anishinaabe history and stories in contemporary times, anishinaabemowin, our relationship to the land and its cycles, the impact of colonialism in present times, the importance of traditional foods, making art materials from plants and the land, and the building of soil for growing healthy food. Recent projects include Cultivating as Inquiry, a performance with Lisa Myers and Thomas Olszewski (Grandfather’s Kitchen) that placed traditional foods and plants as the main actors, Chanie Wenjack Theatre, February 2026, Trent University. Consultant/artist for Lithic Life, a land art, pigment-gathering and paint-making project with Cole Swanson, Art Gallery of Peterborough, 2025-2026. Curatorial consultant for the Arthur Shilling painting, The Beauty of Our People, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, 2026. Consultant/artist for Mazinaw Rock Drawing Kinstillatory Project, with Kai Recollet, summer/fall 2026, Nozhem and University of Toronto.

Curatorial Statement: Thamer Linklater

Unweave (2019)

What I like about Thamer’s work is how they are able to share their experience and challenges of being Nehiyaw/Cree in the complexity of contemporary society. I have heard them share their poems in public gatherings with passion and understanding of the many struggles that Indigenous people face each day and this creates a crucial space for dialogue and healing.

Curatorial Statement: Ashley Street

She Faces West: The Red Dress (2025)

What I like about Ash Street’s project is both the artwork and the process that the artist used to create this piece. Inviting people to contribute and share in the process of creating She Faces West: The Red Dress by donating materials extends the project into a community space for dialogue, which is a crucial step to a better understanding and awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada.

Meet Thamer Linklater

Thamer Linklater is Asiniskaw Ithiniwak (Rocky Cree) from Nisichawayasihk (NCN) Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba. They work and reside in Nogojinawong/ Peterborough Ontario. They are a land defender, poet, artist and researcher. Their current work explores storytelling as a way of influencing change. When not engaged in research or writing, they enjoy reading, painting, drinking coffee, singing, and spending time with their partner and two pets.

Source: The artist

Unweave (2019)

Poem from their upcoming collection The Place I Called Home

We try rebuilding

homes without floorplans

We try reknitting

families without the pattern

We succeed because our blood knows

Despite us never seeing

a finished house

a blanket whole.

– Thamer Linklater

You can learn more about Thamer’s work on their website thamerlinklater.com

Meet Ash Street

Ash Street is a MichiSaagii Kwe and a member of Hiawatha First Nation. A community art project that began at the Peterborough Public Library led to international recognition, with the Red Dress installation selected for a prestigious artist residency in France. This work was created in recognition of Red Dress Day, Canada’s National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people. The installation invites viewers to pause, reflect, and bear witness to the lives lost while honouring the ongoing calls for justice, healing, and remembrance.

Source: The artist and https://www.peterborough.ca/news/posts/red-dress-art-installation-leads-to-residency-in-france/

She Faces West: The Red Dress (2025), Ash Street, Peterborough City Hall (500 George St. N.)

She Faces West: The Red Dress (2025), Ash Street, Peterborough Public Library

We encourage everyone to take time to learn, reflect, and celebrate Indigenous cultures, histories, and artistic contributions. We thank curator William Kingfisher, along with featured artists Thamer Linklater and Ashley Street, for sharing their work and helping foster meaningful dialogue and understanding.

Keep an eye on EC3’s social media channels in the coming days as we showcase their work!

Read the full bulletin here

EC3 Bulletin: National Indigenous History Month

Resources for Learning, Reflection, and Action

June 11th, 2026

June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 marks National Indigenous Peoples Day. This month is an opportunity to learn more about the histories, cultures, languages, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, while also reflecting on the ongoing impacts of colonialism and the work that remains on the path toward truth and reconciliation.

“National Indigenous Peoples Day takes place on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. For generations, many Indigenous communities have gathered at this time to celebrate their cultures, languages, and traditions. The summer solstice holds deep spiritual and cultural significance for many Indigenous Peoples, marking a time of renewal, connection, and celebration.” (Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 2026.)

EC3 has gathered a collection of resources to help our community learn, reflect, celebrate, and engage throughout National Indigenous History Month. We encourage everyone to explore these resources, support Indigenous artists and organizations, and continue contributing to meaningful action toward truth and reconciliation throughout the year.

LEARN

These resources provide opportunities to learn more about Indigenous histories, cultures, languages, and experiences across Canada.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its final report including the 94 Calls to Action. These recommendations continue to provide a roadmap for governments, organizations, institutions, and individuals seeking to advance reconciliation. We encourage everyone to read and reflect on these calls to action and consider how they can contribute to meaningful change.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21 was officially established in 1996 as National Aboriginal Day following years of advocacy from Indigenous leaders and organizations. In 2017, the day was renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day. Learn more about the history and significance of this day through this Government of Canada resource.
Government of Canada Indigenous Learning Portal
The Government of Canada offers a comprehensive collection of educational resources exploring Indigenous histories, cultures, languages, treaties, and contemporary experiences.
CARFAC Indigenous Protocols for the Visual Arts
Canadian Artists’ Representation (CARFAC) has developed a series of resources and toolkits for artists, curators, arts administrators, and programmers to support respectful engagement with Indigenous artists, communities, and cultural practices. The Ontario Arts Council’s Indigenous Arts Protocols video is also an excellent companion resource.
Native Land Digital
Explore Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages through Native Land Digital’s interactive map. This resource helps users better understand the Indigenous peoples whose traditional territories they live and work on.
WATCH, READ & LISTEN

Explore Indigenous stories, perspectives, and artistic expression through film, music, documentaries, and podcasts.
National Film Board Indigenous Cinema
The National Film Board offers a wide collection of Indigenous-made and Indigenous-focused films available for streaming. Their Indigenous Filmmaker in Residence program also highlights emerging voices and contemporary storytelling.

TVO Indigenous Collection
TVO’s Indigenous History and Perspectives collection features documentaries, interviews, educational resources, and programming that explores Indigenous experiences across Canada. This curated collection of documentaries and docu-series reflects Indigenous voices, histories, and perspectives from across the country and offers valuable opportunities for learning and reflection.

CBC Gem Indigenous Stories Collection
Celebrate National Indigenous History Month through CBC Gem’s collection of Indigenous-led films, documentaries, and series. The featured programming showcases Indigenous storytelling and offers opportunities to learn from diverse voices and experiences across the country.

CBC Indigenous Music Spotlight
Discover contemporary Indigenous musicians and artists featured by CBC, showcasing emerging and established voices from diverse Indigenous communities across Canada.

Reading for Reconciliation
CBC’s Reading for Reconciliation resources highlight books and stories that encourage deeper understanding of Indigenous experiences, histories, and cultures.

HEALING

The following organizations provide culturally grounded support services and resources for Indigenous individuals, families, and communities:

Talk4Healing. A free, confidential, and culturally grounded helpline available 24 hours a day for Indigenous women throughout Ontario.

Hope for Wellness Helpline. Provides immediate mental health counselling, crisis intervention, and emotional support for Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Native Women’s Association of Canada’s Elder Support Line. Available Monday-Friday 9AM-11AM EST & 1PM-3PM EST, Canada-wide. Call 1-888-664-7808.

National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s Supports for Survivors, including support lines across Canada. Call 1-888-301-6426 in Ontario.

Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program, offered by the Government of Canada as part of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement: 1-866-925-4419

Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle provides counselling and healing services for Indigenous women and their families.

SUPPORT

Canada Helps offers a list of Indigenous charities that you can support with your donations. Browse and support Indigenous organizations working in areas including community development, education, culture, health, youth programming, and reconciliation.

Local organizations include:
• Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre
• Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabekwewag Services Circle
• Peterborough Native Learning Program

For more information, please contact:
Shelley Knott, City of Peterborough Indigenous Relations Advisor: Sknott@peterborough.ca

JOIN IN

National Indigenous History Month offers many opportunities to learn, celebrate, and connect with Indigenous communities both locally and across Canada.

Peterborough National Indigenous History Month Events

The City of Peterborough is recognizing National Indigenous History Month with a series of free events, educational opportunities, cultural programming, and community celebrations throughout June.

As part of National Indigenous History Month, community members are invited to attend a National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at:
National Indigenous People’s Day Celebration: Nicholls Oval Park, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Programming will include drumming and dancing demonstrations, Indigenous vendors, a sacred fire, and a strawberry ceremony at noon. The event is presented by the Urban Indigenous Working Group in partnership with organizations including the Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, Trent University, Fleming College, and other local community partners.
Strawberry Moon beading: PPL, Saturday, June 20 at 1 p.m.
Bead an Ode’min Giizis (strawberry moon) themed pin while learning about seed bead embroidery. After beading, you’ll learn how to finish or edge your pin and secure the backing for a finished look. Please register through the library’s calendar at ptbolibrary.ca.
Adult Book Club: PPL, Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 p.m.
All the Quiet Places, by Brian Thomas Isaac. In-person discussion takes place at 2 p.m. and at 6:30 p.m. online. Registration for either the in-person or online event can be done online through the library’s calendar at ptbolibrary.ca.
BIPOC Book Club: PPL, Sunday, June 21 at 2 p.m.
Firekeeper’s Daughter, by Angeline Boulley. Register for the entire series through the library’s online calendar at ptbolibrary.ca.
Tween Book Club: PPL, Thursday, June 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Mascot, by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell.
Film Screenings for Truth and Reconciliation: PPL
Attend a film screening exploring Indigenous–settler relationships in the Friends of the Library Community Room.
Spirit: PPL, Thursday, June 11, 6:30 p.m.
Spirit, a young mustang, sets out across the majestic wilderness to regain his freedom and save his homeland. This film is rated G and open to everyone.
National Indigenous History Month Events Across Ontario
The Government of Canada maintains a province-wide listing of Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day events taking place throughout Ontario.

We encourage everyone to take time this month to learn, reflect, celebrate Indigenous cultures, and support Indigenous artists, organizations, and communities. Reconciliation is an ongoing commitment, and every step toward greater understanding helps build stronger and more inclusive communities.

Be sure to keep an eye on EC3’s social media channels throughout the month, where we’ll be highlighting Indigenous artists, sharing their work, and celebrating the contributions they make to our local arts and culture community.

Read the full article here

Read the full bulletin here!

EC3 Bulletin: National AccessAbility Week

June 4th, 2026

EC3 AND THE COUNCIL FOR PERSON’S WITH DISABILITIES (CPD) MARK NATIONAL ACCESSABILITY WEEK.

EC3 and CPD have joined forces on a special project to draw attention to two local artists who live with disabilities and to whom accessibility in the arts is crucial. Poet P.J. Thomas is a published writer and visual artist Lynda Todd is an award-winning painter. These artists make invaluable contributions to our community as creators and as leaders. Please check out their work on our Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ElectricCityCultureCouncil/ and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ec3ptbo/. Watch for their exhibitions and readings.

Check out the Council for Persons with Disabilities website here: https://www.pcpd.ca/ and EC3’s Art of Inclusion resources on our website here: https://www.ecthree.org/program_category/art-of-inclusion/ .

Please think about how you and/or your organization can make the arts more accessible to artists and audiences alike, and act now!

Read about National AccessAbility Awareness Week here:

“National AccessAbility Week takes place every year, starting on the last Sunday in May.

For 2026, join us from May 31 to June 6 to celebrate and promote:

the valuable contributions and leadership of persons with disabilities in Canada
the work of allies, organizations and communities that are removing barriers
ongoing efforts to become a more accessible and disability-inclusive Canada
This year’s National AccessAbility Week theme is “Building a Strong, Accessible Canada.”
It invites all of us, including governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals, to take action to advance a barrier-free country. Significant progress has been made to eliminate and prevent barriers, and by continuing to work together, we can build a truly accessible, inclusive and equitable Canada.
Our country is stronger when persons with disabilities can participate fully in all aspects of society.
Together, we can empower each other and make a meaningful impact.”

Peterborough is celebrating NAAW with a variety of activities, check out Council for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ptbocpd/ for a calendar of events.

CPD is also celebrating its fifth annual Capable Con on Saturday June 06 from 10:00-2:00 at Quaker Park, join us for entertainment, activities, venders and much more. Check out the Farmer’s Market at the same time for some locally grown produce.

The Council for Persons with Disabilities is proud of our partnerships throughout the community, these include a variety of accessibility related organizations, services and businesses along with our friends from the Arts community, LGBTQ2SAA and the amazing people from the KPRDSB and PVNCCDSB. We wish you all a prosperous year and hope your National AccessAbility Week is a great success.

Please check out the City of Peterborough’s celebration activities here: https://www.peterborough.ca/news/recreation-parks-and-culture/.

Read the full bulletin here!

EC3 Bulletin: Chelsea Day and Marcela Moreno join the EC3 Staff. Gabe Pollock says goodbye!

May 12, 2026

Photo Credit: Chelsea Day
Image Description: Standing in front of a brick wall, a young woman with long dark wavy hair and bangs looks toward the camera with a soft smile. They are wearing a light coloured fuzzy sweater and layered necklaces.

EC3 is honoured to welcome Chelsea Day as our Director of Granting. A costume designer and stylist living in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong, she has been involved in the theatre community working with 4th Line Theatre, Electric City Players and The Peterborough Theatre Guild.

Chelsea holds a degree in English Literature from Trent University as well as a Diploma in Library Technology. Her sensitivity to artists’ needs, excellent communication skills, and strong ability to manage systems make her an excellent fit for this position.

Chelsea is a familiar face to many after having worked in customer service for downtown businesses and restaurants for over 20 years. She is passionate about the Peterborough arts and culture community and is looking forward to working to sustain and continue to grow this community through her work with EC3.

Photo Credit: Marcela Moreno
Image Description: A young woman with her dark curly hair pulled back smiles brightly at the camera. They are wearing hoop earrings and a light beige top, posing in front of a softly lit neutral background.

EC3 is honoured to welcome Marcela Moreno as our Operations and Administration Manager. A communications professional based in Peterborough/Nogojiwanong, originally from El Salvador. She moved to Peterborough three years ago and quickly developed a strong connection to the city’s arts and culture community, finding a sense of belonging through its galleries, events, and creative spaces. Marcela holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Trent University, specializing in Marketing and Consumer Culture.

Marcela brings experience across nonprofit, educational, and private-sector environments, supporting organizational operations, communications, and community engagement initiatives. Her knowledge of systems and data management are a true asset to our work at EC3.

Creativity has always been central to Marcela’s life. From a young age, she has been drawn to creative expression and now uses marketing and communications as an extension of that creativity to support the organizations where she works. Marcela is passionate about the role arts and culture play in building community and is excited to contribute to strengthening and supporting the local cultural sector through her work with EC3.

EC3 is grateful to our funders who made it possible to hire such qualified individuals, and we know you will enjoy working with them.

Photo Credit: Gabe Pollock
Image Description: A young man with dark hair, glasses, and a short beard gestures with one hand while speaking into a microphone. He is wearing a blue plaid shirt layered under a dark hoodie, standing in front of a softly lit neutral background.

Gabe Pollock has served EC3 and the arts community as our Director of Granting more than once. He always brought his outstanding knowledge of the local arts community to the position, along with exceptional organizational and administrative skills. Gabe contributed his considerable critical thinking capacity to policy and program development at EC3, demonstrated great sensitivity communicating with artists, supported juries impeccably and brought humour and diplomatic flare to all his work. His contributions to the GFIA, Artsweek, Poet Laureate, Bierk Art Bursary, Peterborough Arts Awards and COVID grant programs were remarkable.

Gabe left EC3 in January to pursue his passion for writing and journalism at Peterborough Currents. We miss him, are so very grateful for his steadfast, outstanding work and wish him the very best always. Cheers to Gabe!

Read the full bulletin here!

EC3 is Hiring a Multimedia Archivist

April 29, 2026

JOB POSTING
MULTIMEDIA ARCHIVIST
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)

Posting date: April 28, 2026
Deadline for applications: June 5, 2026
Compensation: $21 per hour, 35 hours per week
Term: This is an 8-week position starting July 6 (flexible) –
Location: This is primarily a remote work from home position with occasional meetings at the EC3 offices.
Age qualification: The position is funded through Canada Summer Jobs for anyone aged 30 or under.

ABOUT EC3
A municipal arts council, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is a not-for-profit arts service organization supporting the development of individual artists and arts and culture organizations in Peterborough and Peterborough County. Our programs and services provide opportunities for artists to create, produce, and present work, and for audiences to experience and appreciate the arts.

DEI: EC3 is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

OVERVIEW
After ten years of delivering successful programming and services, EC3 is creating a digital platform called EC3 Backdrop for our web site documenting our history and development, consolidating and rationalizing the video, audio, photographic and text documentation of our workshops, festivals, radio programs, special events and reports on granting and other programs. EC3 is anxious to capture and clearly identify all our essential landmarks and map a landscape that makes them accessible to researchers, professionals developing policy, artists and the general public.

JOB DUTIES
Reporting to the Executive Director, the multimedia archivist will join a team working together on EC3 Backdrop, the EC3 Fifteenth Anniversary Archiving and Cataloguing Project. Duties will include:

 Reviewing and cataloguing our photography archives – particularly Artsweek and Arts Awards
 Mapping the web site and creating a visual “connections tree”
 Cataloguing social media content from the past 5 years
 Cataloguing EC3’s You Tube channels content
 Locating and identifying content of other photos, video recordings and audio recordings in the EC3 archives
 Interviewing key stakeholders, including former board, staff and volunteers regarding event details as required
 Organize and review an EC3 Backdrop beta model
 Correct for accessibility etc.
 Plan the design and digital management of all archival material on an ongoing basis
 Plan and deliver launch of EC3 Backdrop as a practical and accessible ongoing archival system that works for a variety of potential users

QUALIFICATIONS
 Excellent organizational, written and oral communications skills.
 Demonstrated ability to set and meet goals, objectives and deadlines.
 Ability to work on a team and independently.
 Familiarity with computer programs including Office Suite, social media platforms, and web site construction and maintenance (Word Press).
 Knowledge of archiving tools and database management is an asset.
 Knowledge of the arts and the local arts sector is an asset.

HOW TO APPLY
Email a resume and letter that expresses why you would like to do this job and how your experience makes you a good candidate.

Send to canadasummerjobs@gmail.com with the subject heading Multimedia Archivist.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 5 AT 5PM.

EC3 Bulletin: Canadian Arts Coalition

March 26, 2026

EC3 advocates for the arts at all levels of government. Our work has included supporting the status of the artist through direct funding, basic income programs, stronger copyright laws, and increased investment in the government programs that support arts organizations and DEI initiatives in the arts. While we continue to advocate at the municipal and provincial levels at the City of Peterborough, the OAC and the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming, we wanted to draw attention to the advocacy work of Canadian Coalition for the Arts, working at the federal level, by sharing their recent newsletter.

EC3 also had an opportunity to meet briefly with MP Emma Harrison to discuss the mission and mandate of the arts council, and the value and importance of funding programs at Canadian
Heritage. Our MP suggested that arts organizations advise her office when they do make an application to the federal government for funding. We look forward to future conversations.

Emma Harrison, Member of Parliament representing Peterborough, Ontario

Picture description: A woman with brunette hair in a tan coloured pea-coat is looking directly at the camera and smiling. She is standing in a snowy field with trees in the background.

Working to strengthen Canadian arts and culture through policies, investment, sustainable practices, and public appreciation.

NEWS IN THE ARTS

Canada Council for the Arts Strategic Planning

Thank you to everyone who attended the most recent all-members meeting on February 9. We discussed the upcoming Canada Council for the Arts strategic planning, inviting input on how the Canadian Arts Coalition could represent its members and communicate their thoughts and recommendations to the Council. The top two recommendations received were to

Submit on the questionnaire on behalf of members
Provide consensus points for members’ submission

We will be moving forward on these two action points in the coming weeks, ensuring our members’ voices are heard in these discussions. We are also looking into the possibility of submitting a brief that outlines all of the concerns and feedback from our members, so please submit your feedback to info@canadianartscoalition.ca.

MORE FOR THIS MONTH

ADVOCACY & POLICY

Provincial budgets are rolling out over the coming weeks, and they will set the tone for arts and culture funding, policy, and priorities across the country. Please take a moment to check when your province or territory will table its budget, and keep an eye on what is proposed for arts, culture, heritage, and related files, including any new investments, freezes, cuts, or shifts in program design. If you spot something with implications for the sector, share it with your networks and with the Coalition.

TAKE ACTION & GET INVOLVED

One of the policy pieces that the Coalition will be focusing on in the next few months, as determined by a member’s survey, is the social safety net for artists and arts workers. Research has been done on this topic in recent years, and we are starting to find and collate the existing work. This is where we would love your assistance!

Please send us any resources, statistics, articles or other information you have encountered around Employment Insurance reform, Universal Basic Income, and other social safety net subjects to info@canadianartscoalition.ca.

FROM THE COALITION

We’ll soon be moving our member communications to our new membership platform. This includes emails, notices about membership meetings, and other important updates.

To continue receiving these messages in March and beyond, you must be listed as a contact in the new platform. If you don’t currently have an account, it’s likely because you’re not one of the designated contacts for your organization.

If that’s the case, please either:

Ask your organization’s main contact to add you as a Delegate in their membership profile, or
Email membership@canadianartscoalition.com, and we’ll be happy to get you set up.

If you’re unsure whether you’re listed, just send us a quick email and we’ll check for you. We want to make sure you continue to receive all our updates!

Read the full bulletin here!

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Grants for Individual Artists!!

EC3’s GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS fueled 17 new projects by talented local artists, creating a diverse bounty of new writing, theatre, circus arts, visual arts, dance, music and more for Peterborough audiences.

The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is proud to announce the 17 local artists who have been awarded a total of $35,250 through the 2025 Grants for Individual Artists program. This multidisciplinary program is funded jointly by the City of Peterborough and EC3, and is designed, delivered, and administered by EC3. This year, 50 artists applied for grants ranging from between $1,500 and $3,500.00. Grants are adjudicated and awarded by a five-person peer assessment jury.The Grants for Individual Artists (GFIA) program is divided into two components.

Component One: Mini Development Grants for Individual Professional Artists provides up to $1,500 to an artist for research, development, workshopping etc. of original new works and ongoing projects, as well as for professional training and mentorship opportunities to advance their practice. Funding provides a contribution to support artists’ work in writing, rehearsing, scripting, test filming, arranging scores, retraining, workshopping, etc.
Nine artists were awarded grants in Component One (total $12,750) in 2025.

Component Two: Project Creation, Production and Presentation Grants for Individual Professional Artists, provides up to $3,500 for the creation, production, and presentation to audiences of specific projects. Grants support costs such as artist fees, production materials, venue rentals, technical equipment, costumes, printing, etc.
Eight artists were awarded grants in Component Two (total $22,500) in 2025.

In total, the program’s open call received 45 eligible applications, and a five-member peer assessment jury awarded grants to 17 artists (total value of grants awarded: $35,250). Artists working in every discipline, genre and medium were eligible, including those who work in multi-disciplinary or community-based arts practice, and in traditional or contemporary forms. A complete list of grant recipients and their projects can be found below.

“We are particularly grateful to the City of Peterborough for their $25,000 support of this vital program in 2025, and to all of our funders for their ground-breaking contributions to the development of local talent and works of art. These investments in the efforts of our very talented and hardworking artists means more artists can realize their visions, contribute to our cultural, economic, community and social well-being, and make Peterborough a more vital and exciting place to live for all of us. New books, poetry, concerts, plays, exhibitions, albums, and performances of all kinds will touch our hearts, minds, and imaginations.”
–Su Ditta (Executive Director, EC3)

GRANTS FOR INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS 2025 GRANT RECIPIENTS

Component One: Mini Development Grants for Individual Professional Artists

Tia Cavanagh – Indian Jones vs. The Vatican
Research and creation of an alter ego persona – “Indian Jones”, an Indigenized concept inspired by Indiana Jones, for a planned future performance piece about the theft of cultural artifacts.

Marta Chudolinska – Babcia: a papercut graphic novel
Artist fees to continue writing, drawing, and making papercut art for a graphic novel and to present a public artists talk about the artist’s process.

Michael C Duguay – Here I Go Into The Wobbly Yonder
Support for a period of research and experimentation focused on the intersection of music and “processional” art in the contexts of composition, performance and documentation.

Laurie D Graham – What Elements
Completion of a draft of a poetic nonfiction manuscript exploring what “land and home” could mean for the settler subject.

Nicole Malbeuf – Drafting Art/Children’s Book: A Hen Called Freedom
Writing/editing, book design planning and researching self-publishing for art book/children’s book hybrid, based on an original circus arts performance.

Kasonde Mutale – Black Radical Existentialism: an exploration
Research, creation and artist fee for visual and written storytelling exploring Black radical existentialism through African traditional art, revitalizing Black identity, dignity and pride.

Kate Story – Strangeness on Earth (working title)
Paying sensitivity readers, youth readers, and an artist fee for work on a new young adult historical fantasy novel set in 1817 Newfoundland and Orkney.

Lynda Todd – Migration #3: Land, Air & Sea
Purchasing materials to complete a series of tactile portraits of polar bears, penguins, and whales accompanied by braille descriptions, inviting all to experience their journeys.

Gillian Turnham – Indelible Architecture: From The Rubble; Ruined Not
Researching visual records of destroyed Islamic heritage sites in the Eastern Mediterranean, to inform a series of traditional miniature paintings memorializing architecture lost in conflict.

Component Two: Project Production and Development Grants for Individual Artists

Brad Brackenridge – Pinocchio
Creation of an original, family-friendly adaptation of Pinocchio involving puppetry, dance, and mask for a short run of workshop performances at the Market Hall.

Brooklin Holbrough – “Art-Work” (Working title)
Artist fees towards a zine that aims to demystify art and illustration as a career path for emerging creatives.

Thamer Linklater – The Place I Called Home
Editorial costs ( including copy and content editing) and graphic design to submit manuscript for publishing, either traditionally or self-published.

Kayla Mahomed – Kay Silver Debut Album Recording
Recording an album of original material with diverse influences in the pop-rock tradition with local collaborators in the Peterborough region.

Ell Parker – Heartbreakers | Dream Makers Volume 3: Servin’ [C*ntry]
Artist fees and venue costs to mount a multidisciplinary, country themed drag concert at Sadleir House. Featuring local artists, drag queens, and projectionists, the event seeks to deconstruct the heteronormative ideologies of country music, and provide a fun and inclusive space for queer individuals.

Benj Rowland – new peasant marching band
Artist fees and production costs for a marching band offering lively, themed performances at community events to engage audiences and celebrate local culture.

Esther Vincent – Are We Sleeping, A one-act play
Artist fees, venue rental, and actor fees to present a staged reading of a one-act script about a family facing dementia.

Ziysah von Bieberstein – Before the Tymbals Sound
Editorial and artist fees to prepare manuscript for submission to traditional publishers.

Read the full bulletin here!

Chet Singh joins the EC3 Board of Directors

February 21st, 2026

EC3 is honoured to welcome artist, educator and cultural activist Chet Singh to the EC3 Board of Directors. An accomplished artist and educator, Chet brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our work as a municipal arts council in Peterborough. His deep community connections, capacity to work in institutional and grassroots environments, and passion for the arts and artists will provide an enormous asset to our organization and our work for the arts in Peterborough.

Chet Singh

Dub poet, educator and social activist Chet Singh emerged with the first wave of Caribbean dub poets in the early 1980’s. He fronted the punk, reggae band One Mind, comprised of Trent students. After returning to Nogojiwanong two decades later, he’s released 6 albums. A founding member of Canada’s Dub Poets Collective, he also served on the board of the Ontario Arts Council. His work advancing diversity, equity, decolonizing and critical education has been recognized with awards for teaching excellence and educational leadership.

Read the full bulletin here!

EC3 Bulletin: Black History Month

February 18th, 2026

February is Black History Month and EC3 wants to recognize and celebrate the many great events happening in our community, and the people who make them happen.

Each February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and celebrations that honour the legacy and contributions of Black people all across Canada, and in their particular local communities.

The 2026 theme for Black History Month is: “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”

This month is an important opportunity to learn about and acknowledge these people and their often hidden histories and stories.

We invite all Canadians to learn more about Black Canadian communities, and how they continue to contribute to and help shape Canada.

Along with the celebrations, Black History Month is a call to recognize the things that have been lost, the stories that have been suppressed and the racism that has haunted many of these people and the communities that they live in. Much of the programming outlined below provides us with the unique opportunity to learn more, to experience more and to build our capacity as anti-racist allies. It’s a chance to read great books, learn new dances, listen to fabulous music, enjoy the artists and their work and learn more about our friends and neighbours.

Read the full bulletin here!

EC3 is Hiring: Arts Program and Production Assistant – Canada Summer Jobs 2020/21

November 2nd, 2020

Join our dedicated team at the Electric City Culture Council and support the local arts, culture and heritage sector. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in arts management and administration, marketing and communications and arts program planning and delivery.

Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
Canada Summer Jobs 2020/2021
Job Title: Arts Program and Production Assistant

Job Description

The Arts Program and Production Assistant will perform a variety of administrative and production duties supporting the planning and delivery of Artsweek SHIFT, a six-month-long program of pop-up arts events and activities in Peterborough, and Artsweek 2021, a 10-day, multi-disciplinary arts festival in the City of Peterborough, as well as activities related to Peterborough Arts Awards and Peterborough Arts Alive. These duties will include:

Supporting the EC3 Program Coordinator and Artsweek 2021 Artistic Producer in event planning, production activities (workplans and schedules) and administrative record-keeping (mapping, permits, site discovery, etc.)
Communicating with artists and venues, outreach to program partners including schools, businesses, community groups and other arts, culture and heritage institutions, meeting reports and action plans
General management support including receiving and delivering contracts, updating budgets, filing and printing
Volunteer recruitment, training and recognition plans
Organizing venues and amenities such as catering, seating, signage, etc.
Developing and maintaining Artsweek photo/video documentation and archives
Assisting with program analytics and evaluation
Festival follow-up, returns, thanks yous, etc.

Qualifications

This is a Canada Summer Jobs position; you must be 30 years of age or under.

Demonstrated ability to take initiative, plan and organize projects from beginning to end
Good writing and communications skills
Good judgment and flexibility
Ability to work effectively independently, as well as in a team
At least some post-secondary education
Social media skills are an asset
Knowledge of the arts and the Peterborough community are a definite asset

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Duration: 14-week position starts in early November, ends mid-February

Location: Peterborough Ontario (site home office)

Hourly Rate of Pay: $14.75 per hour

Start Date: November 30, 2020

Application Deadline: November 23, 2020

To Apply: Please send your covering letter of interest and resume to ec3.jobs@gmail.com.

EC3 welcomes applications from people who identify as Indigenous, disabled, Deaf, LGBTQ+ or visible minority candidates.

Posted in EC3 Announcement

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #25: Announcing Artsweek SHIFT

October 30th, 2020

A Unique Arts Project Brings Six Months of Original Arts Programming to Peterborough

Hello Everyone,

COVID-19 has disrupted a lot of people’s plans, and that includes ours. Every second year, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is proud to present Artsweek, a ten-day-long celebration of this city’s vibrant arts scene. Earlier this month, we announced that, due to the pandemic, we will be postponing Artsweek to September 2021, but in the meantime, we are proud to present Artsweek SHIFT. All Artsweek SHIFT events are FREE!

Artsweek SHIFT is six months of pop-ups, online and COVID-19 regulation-compliant in-person events. This will include an upcoming Open Call for Proposals, as well as two curated projects, Downtown and Post-Code Tour.

Read on for more details about all of this, and for up-to-the-minute updates, be sure to follow Artsweek on Facebook, @Ptbo_Artsweek on Twitter, and @artsweekptbo on Instagram, and check out the Artsweek SHIFT website for more information.

Downtown

Downtown, curated by local poet Justin Million, celebrates local visual artists, poets, and spoken word artists who live and work in Peterborough’s downtown core, and who have kept on working throughout the pandemic.

Downtown 1: Menacing Beauty – The John Climenhage Storefront Project, is an exhibition of works by Peterborough visual artist John Climenhage depicting Peterborough’s downtown during lockdown. Climenhage has continued his “en plein air” practice in the heart of the city over the last several months. His paintings will be exhibited at local stores, cafes, and restaurants between October 30 and November 13 (find out more here).

Downtown 2: What the Poets Are Doing is a series of readings by local poets and spoken word artists. The first public reading took place last week in the parking lot behind The Theatre on King. The next reading will be November 7 at 3pm at The Theatre on King (171 King Street, Peterborough, ON) and will feature poets Katherine Heigh, Shaun Phuah, Nick Taylor, and Million (find out more here).

Local poet Ziysah performs behind The Theatre on King last weeekend. (Photo by Andy Carroll.)

In addition, Artsweek SHIFT is conducting a Private Reading Giveaway, where any Peterborough resident can enter to win one of two private poetry readings, to take place outdoors at their home or over Zoom, with local poets Jon Hedderwick, Elizabeth Jenkins, Ziysah, and Million. Enter now – this giveaway closes November 4 at 12pm ET.

Post-Code Tour

Post-Code Tour, organized by veteran Artsweek curator Hannah Keating, features three artists – writer Derek Newman-Stille, visual artist Bethany LeBlonc, and multidisciplinary performance artist Sioux Lily – reimagining Peterborough’s downtown in the future, redesigning iconic Peterborough landmarks with a focus on inclusion and accessibility.

Their visions of what things might be like will be posted to the Post-Code Tour Instagram page (@post_code_tour) between November 9 to 30. This will be followed by a series of events and discussions with the artists and the curator both in-person and online. Follow the Instagram and watch Artsweek’s website and social media for further announcements, coming soon.

Open Call for Proposals

The final component of Artsweek SHIFT is an invitation: next week, we will be launching an Open Call for Proposals from local artists and arts organizations, for projects/events to take place, either in-person (following public health guidelines) or online, before March 31, 2021.

Watch for more information.

Follow Along

Details on all Artsweek SHIFT projects can be found on Artsweek SHIFT’s website, and regular updates will be provided on Artsweek’s Facebook, @Ptbo_Artsweek on Twitter, and @artsweekptbo on Instagram.

Special Thanks

Special thanks to The City of Peterborough and Peterborough DBIA for their support of Artsweek and Artsweek SHIFT.

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 #24: Under Duress, On the Brink and More Creative Than Ever

October 20th, 2020

Peterborough’s Arts Organizations Need Support to Stay Open and Keep Creating

Tune in to Some Important Media Coverage & Find Out How You Can Help

Hello Everyone,

As you all know, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown hit the arts, culture and heritage (ACH) sector particularly hard. Venues are closed, box office, bingo and fundraising revenues are flatlining and artist fees and commissions have evaporated in every discipline. The first to close, and apparently the last to open in line with public health and safety regulations, this community was recently identified by the National Coalition for Hardest Hit Businesses as one of the most vulnerable and in need of both private and public support because of its impact on the tourism and service/hospitality industries. We know a landscape of vigorous arts activity is essential to the health and vitality of the downtown and plays a significant role in mental health and community cohesion.

EC3 has worked with different organizations to track the impacts and raise public awareness about this dire situation. It’s all part of our Peterborough Arts Alive suite of programs and services developed in response to COVID-19 – find out more here.

We’ve also worked with private donors and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough to create the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund to support a program of Strategic Recovery and Resilience Grants for local organizations. The Fund needs your financial support to meet its target of $100,000.

The arts community needs your voice – please support existing municipal funding for the arts and speak out on behalf of special funds for COVID-19 recovery and response at all levels of government. To better understand why this matters, check out the Media coverage below:

The Peterborough Examiner Arts & Life Series

EC3 has partnered with The Peterborough Examiner to publish a series of articles about the arts in Peterborough. This series explores the challenges artists and ACH organizations are facing and what they need to survive, as well as promoting some of the great alternative arts events that are happening.

These articles appear every other Saturday on Page 1 of the Arts & Life section. So far there have been three articles:

“Raising the curtain: Peterborough’s performing arts organizations confront COVID-19” by Esther Vincent (September 19, 2020), including interviews with Ryan Kerr of The Theatre on King, Emily Martin of Showplace, and Randy Read of New Stages Theatre Company.
“Pivot, shift, rethink, switch and keep going” by Esther Vincent (October 3, 2020), featuring interviews with Rick Fines, Bill Kimball of Public Energy, and Fynn Leitch of the Art Gallery of Peterborough.
“Pivot, shift, rethink, switch and keep going in Peterborough: Part 2” by Esther Vincent (October 17, 2020), featuring interviews with Megan Murphy, Kim Blackwell of 4th Line Theatre, and Laurel Paluck of Atelier Ludmila and the First Friday Art Crawl.

Watch for the next article on October 31.

“ESSENTIAL” in the News

In September, EC3 launched ESSENTIAL, a photography project by Julie Gagne documenting the lives of artists locked down at home during the pandemic. (You can read more about the series in our previous Bulletin.)

We partnered with KawarthaNOW, who have covering this issue extensively and have released the photos through their website and social media. Check out their original article on the series, and the ongoing coverage in their Arts & Entertainment section.

More recently, ESSENTIAL received high-profile coverage on CTV News at Six on October 16, 2020, highlighting the project and the wider challenges artists are facing. You can watch the video here (starts at 20:45).

More coverage in KawarthaNOW

KawarthaNOW has also published a number of other articles about the issues surrounding art and the pandemic, including:

“Electric City Culture Council urges support for Peterborough’s hard-hit arts community” by Eva Fisher (April 2, 2020)
“Peterborough performance venues and organizations take pandemic recovery into their own hands” by Sarah McNeilly (August 26, 2020)
“Peterborough’s performing arts community in ‘desperate financial situation’” (October 16, 2020)

Performing Arts on Global

The Peterborough Performing Arts Recovery Alliance also generated some important media attention about the sector recently.. Watch this piece from CHEX/Global News about the Alliance and the recovery work being undertaken by local performing arts groups.

You can make a difference by donating to the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund HERE.

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

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, Media Coverage

EC3 in the News: The Peterborough Examiner

October 15th, 2020

“Artsweek Shift replacing Artsweek Peterborough this year,” The Peterborough Examiner.

Posted in Media Coverage

Arts, Culture, and Heritage Roundup: September 26 to October 9, 2020

October 9th, 2020

Kate Story, Ryan Kerr, and Curtis Driedger in ‘Love in the Time of Covid,’ part of The Pivot Series (photo by Andy Carroll)

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

EC3 is celebrating Peterborough Pride with the return of Art Loves Pride. This year, instead of a float in a parade, EC3 is celebrating the work of local queer artists by commissioning a series of new works, to appear on EC3’s Instagram page @ec3ptbo. This past week, we have been running an online version of the Take-Out Poetry Cart, featuring poems by Ziysah von B and art by Ronnie Ritchie.

EC3 published the second a series of articles that will appear in The Peteborough Examiner about the state of the arts in Peterborough. “The Peterborough Pivot: Performance in outdoor settings” by Esther Vincent appeared in the October 3 issue of the Examiner. Watch for the next one on Saturday, October 17. (Also read the first article: “Raising the curtain: Peterborough’s performing arts organizations confront COVID-19.”)

In September, EC3 held a Webinar on Health and Safety Guidelines for Reopening the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Sector, co-presented with Peterborough Public Health, which was attended by 20 local arts, culture, and heritage organizations. You can now watch a recording of the webinar, and check out some recommended resources, here.

EC3 has been sharing images from our Peterborough Arts Alive initiative, ESSENTIAL, a series of photos documenting the lives of local artists during the pandemic, photographed by Julie Gagne. See the whole project here, and follow KawarthaNOW, who will be releasing images from the project over the next several weeks.

EC3 has been sharing clips from The Electric City Culturecast Reprise, a curated playlist of clips from EC3’s Trent Radio show and podcast, The Electric City Culturecast. Our hope is to highlight some of Peterborough’s talented and fascinating artists and creators, during a time when many avenues for artistic expression and performance remain closed. Read our Bulletin about the project.

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

Local Spotlight

October 2 to 18: Public Energy is hosting The Pivot Series, a series of site-specific outdoor dance, theatre, and performance works taking place around Peterborough.

Melanie McCall’s exhibition continues at Atelier Ludmila, the gallery’s first show back after the pandemic lockdown.

Congratulations to Curve Lake’s Drew Hayden Taylor, winner of the Young/Adult Periodical Marketers of Canada Indigenous Literature Award for his novel, Chasing Painted Horses.

It’s the 25th anniversary of the Kawartha Potters Guild, and The Peterborough Examiner is running a series of articles to mark the occasion.

The Peterborough Singers provide an update on their series of COVID-compliant workshops.

Trent Radio is running a new project called Producer Oriented, that will give community members hands-on experience making radio.

News and Information

September 25 to October 25: It’s Culture Days, a month-long annual celebration of culture in Canada, with online and in-person events across the country.

October 22: Charity Village is hosting a webinar on the topic, ‘How to run crowdfunding campaigns for your nonprofit that will generate serious revenue.’

The Government of Ontario has released a string of statements detailing new COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, including, perhaps most relevant for artists and arts organizations, a reduction of gathering sizes to a maximum of 25 outdoors or 10 indoors. CBC offers this Thanksgiving-themed article answering common questions about the latest rules. (Please note: this is accurate as of 11:00am on October 9, 2020. Monitor Public Health for updates.)

The Government of Canada is changing the structure of its COVID benefits programs. CERB is ending, but many people will now qualify for either EI or the new Canada Recovery Benefit. This guide explains it.

Ever since the start of the pandemic, online music selling platform Bandcamp has been giving 100% of sales made through the webite on the first Friday of every month, straight to the artists, and they just confirmed that Bandcamp Fridays will continue until the end of the year.

The City of Toronto released the results of a long-awaited study of Toronto venues, which has found that the economic impact of Toronto live music venues totals $850 million, providing 10,500 full-time jobs.

Read the latest newsletter from Canadian arts and culture research leaders Mass Culture, which includes information about the current climate of the arts in Canada and links to important research currently being done.

Art and Ideas from Across the Internet

Pioneering Women in Canadian Arts and Culture, from the BC Alliance for Arts and Culture

Posted in ACH Roundup

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #23: Art Loves Pride 2020

October 2nd, 2020

EC3’s Annual Celebration of Peterborough Pride Moves Online

Hello Everyone,

As the pandemic continues to develop, artists and arts organizations – EC3 included – are finding ways to present work in new and unusual ways. Peterborough Pride may not be able to gather in person this year, with a parade and festival in Millennium Park, but instead they’re celebrating Pride in Other Spaces, with a series of online and socially distanced events.

EC3’s annual Pride project, Art Loves Pride, is a celebration of the close connections between art and queerness, and the intersections of those communities. Typically, Art Loves Pride takes the form of a float in the Pride Parade, but with no parade this year, we’ve instead commissioned a number of local queer artists from a range of disciplines to create new works on the ‘Art Loves Pride’ theme, which we are presenting on our Instagram, @ec3ptbo.

Last week, we posted the first in the series: a short story and illustration by Derek Newman-Stille titled “Sturgeon Point.”

Next up is a perennial Artsweek and Pride favourite: the Take-Out Poetry Cart. In past years, this has been an actual cart riding around downtown Peterborough, where people could order custom poems by local poets, written on the spot. This year the cart has moved to Instagram as well. Take a look at the Take-Out Poetry Cart’s menu on Instagram, and comment on the post with your three-word order. Then, watch EC3’s Instagram page next week, when poet Ziysah von B will be posting the results, with illustrations by Ronnie Ritchie. Custom poetry just for you!

And watch EC3’s Instagram for one more Pride project from local musician people you meet outside of bars, coming soon.

Follow @ec3ptbo on Instagram to get all the latest updates, or check our Art Loves Pride 2020 webpage.

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

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

Arts, Culture, and Heritage Roundup: September 12 to 25, 2020

September 25th, 2020

Tia Cavanagh with “Jiimaan’ndewemgadnong (The Place Where the Canoe Heart Beats),” a new pocket park and art installation from the Downtown Vibrancy Project.

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

EC3 published the first a series of articles that will appear in The Peteborough Examiner about the state of the arts in Peterborough. The first, “Raising the curtain: Peterborough’s performing arts organizations confront COVID-19” by Esther Vincent appeared in the September 19 issue of the Examiner. Watch for the next one on Saturday, October 3.

It’s Peterborough Pride, which means the return of EC3’s Art Loves Pride. This year, instead of a float in a parade, EC3 is celebrating the work of local queer artists by commissioning a series of new works, to appear on EC3’s Instagram page @ec3ptbo. The first piece is “Sturgeon Point” by Derek Newman-Stille.

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

Local Spotlight

September 18 to 27: Happy Peterborough Pride! Pride looks a bit different this year, but with the theme ‘Pride in Other Spaces,’ there’s quite a number of events – including the return of EC3’s Art Loves Pride.

September 24 to 27: It’s the Open Spaces Theatre Festival, featuring live theatre at a variety of outdoor locations throughout downtown Peterborough. Find out more, and read KawarthaNOW’s sneak peek.

October 2 to 18: Public Energy is hosting The Pivot Series, a series of site-specific outdoor dance, theatre, and performance works taking place around Peterborough. They are also seeking volunteers for the series.

October 7: local poet PJ Thomas will be hosting an online watch party for the launch of their new book, Undertow.

Job opportunity: Peterborough Musicfest is hiring an Administrative Assistant.

Call for submissions: Curve Lake First Nation is hosting a poetry writing contest. Get your submissions in by October 20.

Call for submissions: The Art Gallery of Peterborough is seeking applications for an upcoming exhibition of works that “resonate with the current moment.”

Peterborough filmmaker Ben Hargreaves has a new documentary, The River, about local publication The River Magazine. It has a number of upcoming screenings.

The Downtown Vibrancy Project officially opens a new pocket park and art installation, Jiimaan’ndewemgadnong (The Place Where the Canoe Heart Beats), featuring work by Tia Cavanagh.

The Peterborough Handweavers and Spinners Guild is hosting a series of classes, starting October 10.

Registration is open for the Peterborough Public Library‘s new Writing Circle.

News and Information

September 30: The Alliance of Arts Councils of Ontario (of which EC3 is a member) is hosting an info session with the Ontario Arts Council about the new Arts Response Initiative series of grants for COVID-19 response.

September 30: The National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health will host a webinar entitled COVID-19 Risks and Precautions for the Performing Arts.

The Rosa Survey of workplace sexual harassment in Canadian performing arts, film, and television industries is now open to respondents. We encourage workers in those fields to take part.

Orchestras Canada offers excellent advice on Reopening Your Orchestra.

Art and Ideas from Across the Internet

ArtsEverywhere hosts a roundtable on Translation

CBC lists 37 Canadian poetry collections to watch for in fall 2020

Rabble.ca on Pushing Canada’s arts system in anti-racist and decolonial directions

RDVCanada‘s list of Canadian talent at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)

Posted in ACH Roundup

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #22: Recording and Resources from EC3’s Webinar on Health and Safety Guidelines for Reopening the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Sector

September 22nd, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3) joined with members of Peterborough Public Health, the Peterborough Performing Arts Recovery Alliance, and 20 leaders of local arts, culture, and heritage organizations, for a webinar on Health & Safety Guidelines for Reopening the Arts, Culture, and Heritage Sector.

We would like to thank everyone who attended, and in particular we would like to thank Public Health Promoter Keith Beecroft and Health Inspector Matt Faris from Peterborough Public Health, as well as Emily Martin, General Manager at Showplace and member of the Peterborough Performing Arts Recovery Alliance, for their insight and expertise, and for their work in helping make this webinar happen.

Recording

A full recording of the webinar can now be found on EC3’s YouTube page, for anyone who missed it or wants to give it a second look.

Additional resources

Following up on the webinar, EC3 and Peterborough Public Health wanted to share some important resources:

During the webinar, Keith mentioned three publications from Peterborough Public Health on reopening for organizations: COVID-19 Safety Plans: for your Business, Organization or Event, COVID-19 Safety Guide: Community/Recreation Centre-based Activities, and Safely Reopening in Peterborough City & County: Toolkit for Establishments and Businesses.

Peterborough Public Health offers a page of COVID-19 signage, which you can print off and put up at your facility.

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is maintaining a list of local Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suppliers, also including vendors for plexiglass barriers, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and more.

Sign up here to work with the Ontario government on a reopening plan, particularly for organizations who are not able to reopen with Stage 3 restrictions, or who are experiencing significant challenges opening with restrictions in Stage 3.

Explore The National Arts Centre’s Guide to Support the Re-Opening of Canadian Performing Arts Centres and Venues.

Orchestras Canada offers advice on Reopening Your Orchestra: Part 1 and Part 2.

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

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

Raising the curtain: Peterborough’s performing arts organizations confront COVID-19

September 19th, 2020

EC3 is publishing a series of articles in The Peterborough Examiner about the state of the arts during the pandemic.

The first article, “Raising the curtain: Peterborough’s performing arts organizations confront COVID-19” by Esther Vincent, was published in the Saturday, September 19, 2020 edition of the Examiner.

Read it now.

Posted in COVID-19, Media Coverage

Arts, Culture, and Heritage Roundup: August 29 to September 11, 2020

September 15th, 2020

Bankers Common, featuring the new mural by Kathryn Durst. (Photo courtesy First Friday Art Crawl)

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

EC3 was proud to launch our latest Peterborough Arts Alive initiative, ESSENTIAL, a series of photos documenting the lives of local artists during the pandemic, photographed by Julie Gagne. See the whole project here, and follow KawarthaNOW, who will be releasing images from the project over the next several weeks.

Over the past few months, we’ve been getting more and more hard data about the impact COVID-19 has had on our sector, in the forms of surveys and research reports out of a range of organizations. We’ve organized this information into a new research report, Impact of COVID-19 on the Arts and Culture Sector in Peterborough and Beyond: EC3 September 2020 Roundup.

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

Local Spotlight

Tickets are now on sale for 4th Line Theatre‘s Open Spaces Festival, featuring short plays in outdoor spaces throughout Peterborough.

Art School of Peterborough‘s fall season of classes kicks off September 21.

Atelier Ludmila is holding a writing workshop with John Marris, using their current exhibition as inspiration.

Throwback! Christy Haldane shared a video of a unique art event from back in 2006 in Lakefield, the Sculpture Challenge:

First Friday Art Crawl returned for the first time since the pandemic this month. Head over to their Facebook page to check out selections from the various shows, as well as the new mural they commissioned for the alleyway leading into Bankers Common.

The Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour returns from September 19 to 20 – with some changes and new rules for COVID safety. Find out more.

Classes are back at the Kawartha Potters Guild. Multiple different days and options.

Submit your applications for Theatre Trent funding for local theatre projects by October 15 at the latest.

Trent Radio is gradually rolling out their fall season.

Check out Word Up Open Mic, an online spoken word event coming September 18 featuring Wordcraft, a.k.a. Saleem Ansari and Jon Hedderwic.

News and Information

Watch the townhall meeting with Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, run by Business / Arts.

This Wednesday, September 16, CARFAC‘s Webinar Wednesdays series presents Intro to: Universal Basic Income.

Read the new issue of Hill Strategies Research‘s Arts Research Monitor, with updated data about how the pandemic is affecting arts attendence.

On August 31, EC3 commemorated International Overdose Awareness Day. Find out more about this important issue.

Art and Ideas from Across the Internet

Austin Robey on why Artist ownership is the way to fix Spotify’s broken streaming model

Chand John‘s TED Talk, What’s the fastest way to alphabetize your bookshelf?

Gallerie Magazine selects 5 Must-See Films Selected by the World’s Leading Video Artists.

Major Jackson‘s poem, On Disappearing

Posted in ACH Roundup

EC3 CELEBRATES NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY ON JUNE 21ST WITH A SPECIAL SOCIAL MEDIA PROJECT CURATED BY WILLIAM KINGFISHER!

EC3 Bulletin: National Indigenous History Month

Resources for Learning, Reflection, and Action

EC3 Bulletin: National AccessAbility Week

EC3 Bulletin: Chelsea Day and Marcela Moreno join the EC3 Staff. Gabe Pollock says goodbye!

EC3 is Hiring a Multimedia Archivist

Participate in Peterborough’s Municipal Cultural Plan

EC3 Bulletin: Canadian Arts Coalition

NEWS IN THE ARTS

MORE FOR THIS MONTH

FROM THE COALITION

Congratulations to the recipients of the 2025 Grants for Individual Artists!!

Chet Singh joins the EC3 Board of Directors

EC3 Bulletin: Black History Month

Job Description

Qualifications

A Unique Arts Project Brings Six Months of Original Arts Programming to Peterborough

Downtown

Post-Code Tour

Open Call for Proposals

Follow Along

Special Thanks

Peterborough’s Arts Organizations Need Support to Stay Open and Keep Creating

Tune in to Some Important Media Coverage & Find Out How You Can Help

The Peterborough Examiner Arts & Life Series

“ESSENTIAL” in the News

More coverage in KawarthaNOW

Performing Arts on Global

From the Electric City Culture Council

Local Spotlight

News and Information

Art and Ideas from Across the Internet

EC3’s Annual Celebration of Peterborough Pride Moves Online

From the Electric City Culture Council

Local Spotlight

News and Information

Art and Ideas from Across the Internet

Recording

Additional resources

From the Electric City Culture Council

Local Spotlight

News and Information

Art and Ideas from Across the Internet