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!

Anonymous Donor Pledges $20,000 to Kick Off the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund

June 3rd, 2020

Media Release – June 3, 2020
For Immediate Release

Peterborough, ON – The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough (Community Foundation) have joined forces to launch a fundraising campaign for the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund, an EC3 initiative to provide Strategic Recovery and Resilience Grants to professional arts organizations with charitable status in Peterborough and the surrounding region. This fund will provide grants of up to $10,000 each to local arts organizations working in any discipline and in any capacity (creation, production, exhibition, presentation, performance, etc.) to assist them in managing the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic, respond creatively to the current situation and prepare to effectively reopen/relaunch when they can.

The initial idea came from local arts supporter Deborah Berrill leading a group of private donors who, along with EC3 Executive Director Su Ditta, EC3 Board member Peg McCracken and the Community Foundation, are hoping to raise $100,000 for the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund.

“COVID-19 has had a massive impact on the arts community. This is a sector that makes an enormous contribution to the quality of life in Peterborough, and plays a profound role in our social and economic well-being. Both organizations and individual artists are suffering as facilities close, exhibitions are cancelled, audiences drift, box office revenues disappear and fees and commissions evaporate. These grants will allow the arts community to pivot, adapt, collaborate, plan and retool for the current situation.” Bill Kimball, President, EC3

“Local artists and arts organizations provide Peterborough with an amazing cultural life, one that we appreciate even more right now as their work lifts our spirits, offers us meaning and brings us together. It’s so important that we support them through this difficult period, so they can keep doing what they do best.” Deborah Berrill, Educator and Arts Supporter

“We live in an extraordinary community that combines an outstanding tradition of philanthropic giving with a passion for the arts and respect for the outstanding artists and arts organizations that create the vibrant cultural life we are so fortunate to enjoy here. To start the campaign for the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund with such a generous donation is inspiring beyond measure and we are very grateful.” Su Ditta, Executive Director, EC3

Details of the grant program will be announced shortly.

People who wish to contribute to the Peterborough Arts Alive Fund and support local arts organizations can do so online at: https://cfgp.ca/project/arts-alive-fund/ or by mailing a cheque payable to the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough to the Foundation at: 261 George St. North, Suite 202, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G9.

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

See our COVID-19 Updates page for more COVID-19 updates and resources for artists and ACH workers, and our Peterborough Arts Alive page for our COVID-19 response and recovery programs.

Posted in Media Release, COVID-19

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin #11: Switching Up – Resources for Adapting to New Ways of Working During COVID-19

May 14th, 2020

A Message from EC3

Hello,

The COVID-19 crisis has put pressure on many artists and arts, culture, and heritage (ACH) organizations to rapidly adapt their way of working, and their way of reaching out to audiences, sponsors, and donors. Some of these challenges are technological – how to adapt to a digital-first model – and some are wider, requiring organizations to make fundamental decisions about how to be successful in the midst of a pandemic.

Everyone is facing these challenges at the same time, and there are a plethora of resources and guides to help artists and ACH organizations with the transition: how to adapt workflow, how to reach an audience, how to reach donors and funders, how to do digital conferencing, how to move programming online and more.

In a previous Bulletin, we highlighted a number of local programs helping artists and ACH organizations get online. This Bulletin will highlight more resources available across the internet to help artists and ACH organizations adapt, survive, and thrive during the pandemic.

Adapting Your Operations and Programming Model for COVID-19

Business/Arts’ new series How are you Adapting? features interviews with arts leaders about how they’re adapting their programming and business models in light of COVID-19.

Charity Village provides advice on volunteer management during a public health emergency.

Community Foundations of Canada has advice on dealing with COVID-19 as a community foundation. Check the ‘Additional Resources and Guides’ section at the bottom for links relevant to any non-profit organization.

Polling company Gallup offers some research-based advice on how to create a successful remote work environment.

Keela, makers of a software suite for non-profits, is hosting a free, month-long webinar about how non-profits can adapt to these challenging times. Recommended by Charity Village.

The Leadership Emergency Arts Network (LEAN) is grassroots, pro bono response network to help Canadian professional non-profit arts organizations (big and small) deal with what is coming at them during this crisis.

Fundraising

Charitable donation platform Canada Helps has a webinar on Online Fundraising in a Virtual World, as well as 7 Creative Virtual Fundraising Ideas You Can Use To Replace Your Cancelled Event.

Check out Check out Charity Village’s article Five Things Fundraisers Should be Doing Right Now.

Digital Conferencing

Microsoft is offering a free, six-month trial of the premium tier of their digital collaboration and conferencing tool Microsoft Teams.

Performing arts non-profit service organization Ontario Presents is making their conferencing service available free of charge to Ontario-based artists and arts organizations.

TechSoup, a charitable group that offers discounts on digital products, has deals available on popular digital conferencing tool Zoom for Canadian charities and non-profits.

Selling Online

Locally, the Peterborough Innovation Cluster is offering a number of courses for organizations affected by the pandemic, including one on Digital Marketing and Selling During COVID-19.

Artwork Archive offers a list of digital tools for artists to run a remote career during COVID-19.

Digital Main Street has a Digital Starter Kit for Small Business full of tips and tools for getting business started online.

Shopify’s Shopify Academy provides training on setting up an online store.

Reaching an Audience Online

CBC Arts offers a long list of social media challenge projects and hashtags that artists can participate in.

CBC Music provides advice on how to successfully host a live music event from home.

International Council of Museums has advice on How to reach – and engage – your public remotely.

Zoom’s Best Practices for Hosting a Digital Event.

Paying Artists

CARFAC has released recommended practices for paying artists during the COVID-19 crisis.

Lists of Resources

Here are a few large lists of resources from Canadian and international ACH and charitable organizations, with information on a wide variety of topics:

Association of Fundraising Professionals

Charity Village

Imagine Canada

Ontario Nonprofit Network

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

Posted in COVID-19, Bulletin

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin: Local Programs Helping Artists and Arts Organizations Get Online

May 13th, 2020

Gift Certificates, Listings, Online Advantage Support and More

A Message from EC3

Hello all,

During these strange times, it can be a struggle for many organizations to reach their audiences, and, needless to say, it would be really helpful to get some cash flowing.

EC3 has been working with the DBIA, and the Chamber of Commerce to make sure local arts organizations can take part in many of their initiatives to support local groups stay in touch and connect with their audiences. EC3 has worked closely with these organizations to ensure there is space in these programs for artists and ACH (arts, culture, and heritage) organizations.

Locally, the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), and Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development have stepped up with programs to assist local businesses and organizations with getting online and getting noticed online.

This Bulletin provides an update on these programs and how you or your organization can take part. (And, of course, if you’re interested in supporting local business and organizations yourself, follow the links below and lend your support.)

Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Gift Card Program

The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce’s new Gift Card Program, run through FanSaves Helps, serves as a central hub where people can support Peterborough and area businesses and non-profit organizations by purchasing gift cards and offering donations.

Participants can offer gift cards to be redeemed for event tickets, merchandise, or any other goods or services your organization provides. The program can also be used by organizations without purchasable goods or services, to receive donations.

This program is open to Chamber members and non-members alike.

Here are the steps to register:

Fill out the online form.
Please choose “Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce” as your “Organization or community to be featured under.”
In the “Notes” section, please include a sentence about what your organization does AND a sentence about what this donation will be used for if appropriate.
Your gift certificate will appear on the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce FanSaves Helps website.
Once a gift certificate is purchased through the website, the buyer will receive a digital gift certificate with a unique code that will be tracked for you in a spreadsheet (which you will have access to).
Any money received on your behalf will then be transferred to you via Direct Deposit or e-transfer within 14 days (minus any credit card transaction fees that may come off the top).
You can then keep track of the balance however it works best for you and can issue a tax receipt.

If you have any questions, please contact Siam Grobler, Member Relations at the Chamber at siam@peterboroughchamber.ca.

Peterborough DBIA’s SupportDowntownPtbo.ca and TheBoro.ca

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has also set up a gift certificate program, through the website SupportDowntownPtbo.ca.

Any DBIA member can apply to be listed, and so can anyone who falls within the DBIA mandate – being anyone who leases or owns commercial space in the downtown. The DBIA has confirmed that this includes not-for-profits, artist studios, etc. as well as for-profit businesses.

In addition, the DBIA has set up a new site, TheBoro.ca, which serves as a central directory listing for local businesses either selling goods online during the pandemic (including any gift certificates set up with either of the above program), or who are streaming events online. The same rules apply for membership as above.

For more information about either of these programs, please contact Joel Wiebe, Communications Manager at the DBIA at joel@downtownptbo.ca.

Digital Main Street

The DBIA, in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, are bringing back Digital Main Street. This program offers free online consultancy sessions with digital marketing specialist Sofie Andreou. Andreou can assist with setting up a website or online store, digital marketing, social media management, improving Google search rankings, and other online services. Andreou is available throughout the month of May, but sessions are booking up fast.

This program is available to anyone – businesses, non-profits, charities, or individuals – with digital marketing needs in Peterborough City or County.

Book an appointment through 123 Digital Power.

And if your organization does set something up online that EC3 can help signal-boost, please let EC3 know and share the link with us, so EC3 can promote it through our website and social media channels.

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

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin: Local Live Streams and Digital Events

April 29th, 2020

Peterborough Arts Alive: Local Live Streams and Digital Events

Hello all,

The current pandemic may have shut down pretty much every venue and canceled or postponed more great events than we can count, but Peterborough artists and arts organizations are still hard at work. They’re finding innovative ways of bringing art and entertainment into people’s homes, often inviting audiences to participate along with them.

This Bulletin provides a list of digital arts events and live streams from Peterborough City and County artists. If there’s anything we’ve missed, please email us at electriccitycc@gmail.com and we’ll add it to this webpage and include it in future Bulletins.

We know you are enjoying all this great work from local artists, often at no cost, so please remember that artists are struggling extra hard during COVID-19 and need your support now more than ever!

Many of the artists and arts organizations below have Patreons, Kickstarters, donation buttons, memberships, merch for sale, and other ways to lend your support. Please support our local artists, so they can keep making art!

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

Track the Impact and get in touch.

Literary Arts

April is National Poetry Writing Month, and the Peterborough Poetry Slam is posting a poetry writing prompt every day on their Facebook page. If you want, you can also share your creations on the SlamPTBO #NaPoWriMo2020 30/30 Facebook group.

Theatre and Performance

4th Line Theatre‘s annual Artists Talk series, which honours the achievements of women in the Canadian theatre landscape this year, is going online this spring, with a series of free, live stream artist talks and a play reading. Check out this Facebook post for a list of talks and how to sign up.

Every week, Public Energy is streaming a new performance from their archives in the Rewind Room. Follow along on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or Public Energy’s website.

Two offerings from The Theatre on King. First, their Cut & Paste Theatre Project is an attempt to put on a play from home, with each actor recording their part from home, to be edited together later on. They just selected Macbeth as their play, and are currently looking for actors. Follow along (or join in!) on the Cut & Paste Theatre Project Facebook group. Second, the Theatre has uploaded almost 60 videos of past performances to YouTube, which you can watch from the comfort of your home.

Visual Art

ACME Art & Sailboat Company has moved the planned First Friday May opening for Teresa Van Neste’s exhibition Organized Chaos online, with an online exhibition and auction, and a Zoom opening reception on May 1. Follow Teresa on Facebook for details.

Aging Activisms has set up a new site, Co-Creating During COVID, an inter-generational place where they are encouraging people to share art, music, recipes, poetry, and other creative endeavours. Submit your own, or take a look through their extensive galleries.

The Art Gallery of Peterborough is offering a number of stay-at-home activity options during the pandemic. You can visit their current exhibitions virtually through photo and video galleries on their website. They have a call for submissions for Our Heroes!, a digital art gallery tribute to local heroes during COVID. They’re offering an online version of their monthly Family Sunday drop-in experience this Sunday, May 3 at 1pm. And they’ve posted a number of family activities on their AGP Studio Online site.

The Art School of Peterborough’s Together We CREATE is a weekly paint-from-home streams taking place every Friday night. Find out more here.

Subscribe to Artspace’s newsletter for access to their Flashback: From the Archives series, highlighting hidden gems from the Artspace vault. The current edition features an interview with Dorothy Caldwell. Artspace has also partnered with Public Energy to present Company Town, an exhibition online (and in person in mid-July) about the legacy of General Electric in Peterborough.

The SPARK Photo Festival has been delayed, but the Festival is posting virtual photography exhibits, including the Motion juried exhibit and a special Earth Day 2020 exhibit.

Music

Local musician Rick Fines has been going live on his Facebook page with live music and music lessons.

Folk/country singer Melissa Payne is going live on her Facebook page twice a week: Saturdays at 8pm, and a kid’s show Sundays at 11am.

13-year-old Peterborough fiddler Irish Millie Shadgett is doing live streams on Facebook and Instagram every Friday at 6:30pm and Saturday morning at 10am.

The Peterborough Singers have been posting a number of videos to their Facebook page, including past performances and new music.

The Morrow Park Farmers’ Market may be closed for the moment, but market busking mainstay Benj Rowland is still going live with music on his Facebook page every Saturday morning from 9:30am to 12:30pm, as well as doing a stream of original music every Tuesday from 5pm to 7pm.

Ken Tizzard’s Whiskey Wednesday concerts may be on hold right now as bars are closed, but he’s hosting a digital version on his Facebook page every Wednesday at 7:30pm.

The Electric City Singers are a new local choir for young people who have started regularly uploading performances to their Facebook page.

Film

Local filmmaker Lester Alfonso is digitally premiering new work every month through his Highlights Newsletter. Sign up here.

ReFrame Film Festival has launched ReFrame At Home, a new digital service that allows audiences to watch documentary films and support ReFrame at the same time.

Public Talks

Trent University is offering Trent Talks, a weekly interactive video series about issues during COVID-19 hosted by Trent chancellor, Dr. Stephen Stohn and featuring a range of guests. See their website for programming details.

Media

Peterborough Independent Podcasters has put together a COVID-19 playlist of favourite episodes curated by their podcast hosts. And explore the many, many podcasts in their network for hours of entertainment.

Trent Radio’s office and recording studio may be closed, but broadcasts continue nonetheless. This season of radio programming, appropriately titled Season Bizarre, features an extensive schedule of daily radio recorded from home. Check their website for the full schedule and streaming options.

Know of any more local arts live streams or digital events? Send us an email at electriccitycc@gmail.com and we’ll add it here.

And again, please donate and support these artists in any way you can. Together we can keep Arts Alive in Peterborough!

See our COVID-19 Updates page for more COVID-19 updates and resources for artists and ACH workers.

Posted in COVID-19, Bulletin, EC3 Announcement

EC3 in the News: KawarthaNOW

April 27th, 2020

“Peterborough-area professional artists have until Monday night to apply for micro subsistence grant,” KawarthaNOW.

Posted in Media Coverage

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin: More Breaking News

April 24th, 2020

A Message from EC3

Hello all,

We are now in Week 6 of COVID-19’s Canadian shutdown. As the pandemic stretches on, and the shutdown shows signs of continuing for quite a while, governments and other organizations continue to release more programs of support for struggling Canadians.

EC3 is working with colleagues across the country, in every discipline and with both governmental and non-governmental organizations, to lobby on behalf of our sector and our local ACH (arts, culture, and heritage) community. EC3 is also developing our own response, through the Peterborough Arts Alive program, and we are closely monitoring the situation to find other programs that could benefit ACH workers.

This Bulletin will provide an update on EC3’s Micro Subsistence Grants, the first program in our Peterborough Arts Alive initiative; information on the provincial/municipal Emergency Assistance program that may benefit ACH workers who still don’t qualify for CERB; and a roundup of recent announcements from the federal government that could affect artists and ACH workers.

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

Peterborough Arts Alive: Micro Subsistence Grants for Local Professional Artists

EC3 has released new criteria for our Micro Subsistence Grants program. This program, the first in our Peterborough Arts Alive series of COVID-19 response initiatives, will provide essential funding for local professional artists struggling due to the pandemic.

Please see this page for details.

Municipal/Provincial Emergency Assistance Program

For those who do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the Ontario government has announced the Emergency Assistance program. Individuals who have been laid off or who are unable to work due to COVID-19 may receive up to $1,170 and families with two children could receive up to $2,000 for a 48-day period, if eligible.

The program is administered by the Ontario government, but Peterborough City and County residents can get help applying for it through the City of Peterborough’s Social Services division. See here for details on the program, and here for information about how the City can help you apply.

Breaking News Roundup

New Assistance for Students

Today (April 22), Prime Minister Trudeau announced a number of programs to benefit students in Canada. Read more here. The new initiatives include:

A $1,250/month benefit for post-secondary students who are unable to get summer jobs from May to August (or who are making under $1,000/month)
Benefits up to $5,000 for students who volunteer during the summer months
Doubling student grants for eligible students
Raising the maximum weekly amount that can be provided by the Canada student loans program
Additional supports for Indigenous students, graduate students, and post-doctoral students

Other Recent Announcements

Here is quick rundown of recent announcements from the Canadian government that could affect artists and ACH workers. See our previous Bulletin for more details on these initiatives.

The Canadian government has announced $500 million for the arts, culture, and sport sectors through Heritage Canada. We are still waiting for details on how this will impact local ACH organizations, but EC3 will update you as we learn more details – read more here.
More people now qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), including seasonal workers and people making under $1,000/month – read more here.
The 75% Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) will provide a subsidy of up to 75% of wages for workers at businesses and other organizations (including charities and not-for-profits) who have lost revenue due to the pandemic – read more here. A calculator to determine if your organization qualifies is available here.
There are a number of extensions to the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program, including increased subsidies and the ability to extend contracts and support past the end of summer – read more here.
The Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) provides interest-free loans up to $40,000 for businesses, with up to $10,000 eligible for loan forgiveness – read more here.
There is a deferral for GST/HST remittance that becomes owing on or after March 27, 2020 until the end of June 2020 – read more here.
The Government of Canada is currently negotiating with the provinces and territories on a program to assist with the costs of commercial rental. More details to come.

Reminder: Track the Impact

A reminder to track the impact that COVID-19 is having on your artistic practice and/or your organization. If you can, take a moment to send an email to electriccitycc@gmail.com describing these effects. This information will prove invaluable in demonstrating how COVID-19 has hit the ACH sector, and in advocating for more supports.

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

See EC3’s COVID-19 Updates page for links to resources and the latest updates from EC3.

Posted in Uncategorized, COVID-19, Bulletin

EC3 in the News: The Peterborough Examiner

April 19th, 2020

“Town Ward: B!KE’s shop is closed for now, but it’s still pedalling online,” The Peterborough Examiner.

Posted in Media Coverage

EC3 COVID-19 Bulletin: More Programs for Artists and ACH Workers and Organizations

April 17th, 2020

A Message from EC3

Hello All,

This continues to be a strange and stressful time for people across the country, and in particular for artists and ACH (arts, culture, and heritage) workers and organizations. There continues to be a flurry of announcements about new COVID-19 support and recovery programs and changes to existing assistance programs.

EC3 is working with colleagues across the country, in every discipline and with both governmental and non-governmental organizations to lobby on behalf of our sector and our local ACH community. This includes working with the Canadian Arts Coalition, Business/Arts, Canadian Heritage, the City of Peterborough, and the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough, to name just a few. We are starting to see some positive results.

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

New Program

This week EC3 launched the Peterborough Arts Alive Micro Grants Program to assist professional artists in Peterborough and Peterborough County, and we will be making announcements about several other initiatives next week.

Breaking News

$500 Million for Arts, Culture, and Sport

On April 17, during his daily press conference, Prime Minister Trudeau announced $500 million will be going to the arts, culture, and sport sectors through Heritage Canada.

Minister of Canadian Heritage Stephen Guilbeault has said that they are still working to “fine tune” the specifics, but that money will be given out to groups including industry non-profits, national sports organizations, television production houses, music associations and media organizations. Guilbeault also acknowledged that other already-announced programs aren’t tailored for the specific mode of work of ACH and sport workers, and this program will aim to correct that. Read more here. Follow our social media channels for updates as we find out more.

Please be sure to check the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, and EC3’s COVID-19 Updates page, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.

This Bulletin provides a roundup of recent announcements from the Canadian government and other organizations that could benefit ACH workers and organizations.

Federal COVID-19 Response Programs

CERB: More People Now Qualify

The Government of Canada has announced several extensions of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the taxable benefit that provides $2,000 every four weeks for up to four months for eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19. See here to find out more and apply for the benefit.

A number of these extensions could help assist artists and ACH workers affected by the crisis:

The government has confirmed that there is no limit on royalty payments for past works (i.e. those produced before the crisis) that an artist may get while receiving the CERB.
Someone receiving the CERB may get paid up to $1,000 a month from other sources of income, without penalty or losing their eligibility (and again, royalty payments aren’t included in that category and may be earned on top of the $1,000). This will allow some part-time and contract workers to qualify.
Someone who wasn’t working when the crisis started, but lost contracts or work that would have otherwise started had it not been for the crisis, can qualify for the CERB. All they need to demonstrate is that before the crisis they would have been working. (This is especially helpful to cultural workers who have less work during the winter and many would have only started working again in the spring, which isn’t the case this year).
Workers who have recently run out of EI benefits and are still unable to find work can now qualify for the CERB.

Watch this video from Stephen Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage, about how the changes to the CERB will affect artists:

I know that many artists and creators are still unsure about how the #CERB can help them.

I hope this video helps! #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/yHXS7dWXFT

— Steven Guilbeault (@s_guilbeault) April 16, 2020

CEWS: Wage Subsidy Programs for Businesses and Organizations

The Government of Canada has announced two programs that will help businesses, not-for-profits, and charities affected by the COVID-19 crisis to pay their workers and avoid layoffs.

The 75% Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) provides a subsidy of up to 75% of wages for workers at eligible entities – individuals, taxable corporations, partnerships consisting of eligible entities, non‑profit organizations and registered charities. (Public-sector institutions do not qualify.) The entity must have suffered a drop of at least 30% in gross revenue in April 2020, or 15% in March 2020. See here for more details.

This is in addition to the previously announced 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers, which is available for all employers, regardless of lost wages. See here for more details.

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development has also put out a very helpful guide on assistance programs for businesses – see here.

CSJ: Canada Summer Jobs Program Extensions

The Government of Canada has also announced extensions of the Canada Summer Jobs program, to help employers provide employment to young Canadians. See here for more information on these changes.

The changes include:

an increase to the wage subsidy, so that private and public sector employers can also receive up to 100% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage for each employee
an extension to the end date for employment to February 28, 2021
allowing employers to adapt their projects and job activities to support essential services
allowing employers to hire staff on a part-time basis.

Other Funds for Artists and ACH Workers

There are a number of new funds and grants being announced by arts organizations and private funders across Canada to help artists and ACH workers. We listed a number of these in our Financial Updates Bulletin, but here are some new ones that have come across our desk.

EC3’s Peterborough Arts Alive: Micro Subsistence Grants for Local Professional Artists, our own program for struggling artists in Peterborough and Peterborough County.
Digital Originals, a program from CBC and the Canada Council for the Arts offering grants for artists to produce new works for CBC’s digital platforms.
CBC Creative Relief Fund, a $2-million fund providing development and production funding for new media projects.
Canadian Writers’ Emergency Relief Fund, The Writers’ Trust of Canada’s fund, now extended to Canadian visual artists as well as writers.
David Seguin Memorial Award for Accessibility in the Arts, providing emergency micro grants for artists with disabilities.
COVID Zine Micro Grants, grants for zine makers to make zines about COVID-19, from Broken Pencil Magazine. (Currently fundraising.)
Micro Artist Grants for Groceries, providing assistance to artists to cover the cost of groceries, from Bad New Days Theatre.

Reminder: 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

See EC3’s COVID-19 Updates page for links to resources and the latest updates from EC3.

Posted in COVID-19, Bulletin

EC3 in the News: CHEX/Global

April 13th, 2020

“Peterborough cultural industries are being battered by COVID-19,” CHEX/Global.

Posted in Media Coverage

EC3 in the News: KawarthaNOW

April 2nd, 2020

“Electric City Culture Council urges support for Peterborough’s hard-hit arts community,” KawarthaNOW.

Posted in Media Coverage

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

A Message from EC3

Adapting Your Operations and Programming Model for COVID-19

Fundraising

Digital Conferencing

Selling Online

Reaching an Audience Online

Paying Artists

Lists of Resources

Gift Certificates, Listings, Online Advantage Support and More

A Message from EC3

Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Gift Card Program

Peterborough DBIA’s SupportDowntownPtbo.ca and TheBoro.ca

Digital Main Street

Peterborough Arts Alive: Local Live Streams and Digital Events

Literary Arts

Theatre and Performance

Visual Art

Music

Film

Public Talks

Media

A Message from EC3

Peterborough Arts Alive: Micro Subsistence Grants for Local Professional Artists

Municipal/Provincial Emergency Assistance Program

Breaking News Roundup

New Assistance for Students

Other Recent Announcements

Reminder: Track the Impact

Contact

A Message from EC3

New Program

Breaking News

$500 Million for Arts, Culture, and Sport

Federal COVID-19 Response Programs

CERB: More People Now Qualify

CEWS: Wage Subsidy Programs for Businesses and Organizations

CSJ: Canada Summer Jobs Program Extensions

Other Funds for Artists and ACH Workers

Reminder: Track the Impact

Contact