News and Information

Click HERE to see all COVID-19 Bulletins.  See our COVID-19 Updates page for a list of resources and up-to-date information.


LOCAL ARTS ORGANIZATIONS BUILD MEDIA SAVVY WITH EXPERT ADVICE

March 6th, 2015

The Electric City Culture Council (EC3) hosted award-winning journalist and the Managing Editor of The Peterborough Examiner, Kennedy Gordon, at an EC3 Flash Forum at The Theatre on King on Thursday, February 26th.  Gordon brought more than 25 years of experience in print and broadcasting media to share with 27 arts and culture leaders in Peterborough. 

Gordon began his talk by outlining the massive changes occurring in the media sector in the last five years. He highlighted an increase of online competition, the power and presence of social media, news aggregators and the public’s short term attention span, as the driving factors in changing the media landscape.

These changes have resulted in:

  • Fewer publications and fewer journalists to cover the news.
  • Journalists having an increased workload.
  • Media outlets have added social media and web coverage to their repertoire to reach a younger audience.
  • The modern newsroom is forced to do more with less, while providing the public with 24-hour news coverage.

According to Gordon, local readers want news and sports coverage and with staff cuts, arts, entertainment and lifestyle coverage have “taken a hit”.  The Examiner no longer employs a local arts and entertainment writer.  This means coverage in these areas is harder to obtain and Gordon stated that the Examiner no longer reviews performances and exhibitions, but he did offer advice on how to get arts events noticed. 

His pointers included:

1.  Organizations should provide a promotional write up that can turn into an article by editors.  They want details not glitz and glam.  A write up may be posted on their website but may not appear in print.  The average reader of the printed paper is over 50 years old, while their website draws a younger audience.

2.  A media release should be contained in the body of an email.  You can send photos but they aren’t essential. 

3.  Send a media release with a ten day lead time (ten days in advance of the event).  After a media launch of an event, you can follow up by sending a media release, every two weeks.  Gordon mentioned that today’s editors have to be hands on so emailing and calling is encouraged to promote your events.  “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”.

4.  Once you have sent your media release be prepared for follow-up calls from news organizations.  Media is a fast paced business and if you don’t have what the writer is asking for, a different story may catch a reporter’s attention. 

5. Know the five ‘Ws’: What, Where, When, Who and Why?  Be prepared to answer these questions.

6. Make sure your contact information is up to date and that the contact is available after the media release has been sent.

When asked if an organization could provide its own review, Gordon answered,

“No, a review must be impartial and the reviewer cannot be a member of the organization.” A disconnect is a must when it comes to advertising and articles. The Examiner does run sponsored content but it will clearly be listed as a paid advertisement.  

The Electric City Culture Council would like to thank Kennedy Gordon for his informative and honest talk. He encouraged the crowd to contact him directly and to email events to exam.newsroom@sunmedia.ca

Posted in Uncategorized

Announcements of New Arts Awards Program and Inaugural Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts Highlight EC3’s 2014 Annual General Meeting at SHOWPLACE

January 30th, 2015

November 26 2014

The Electric City Arts Council (EC3) welcomed arts champion Bill Lockington (LLF Lawyers) and Mayor Daryl Bennett to announce two exciting new initiatives for the arts community at its Annual General meeting tonight: The EC3 Arts Awards Program and the Mayor’s Annual Luncheon for the Arts.

The EC3 Arts Awards are annual awards established to honour and recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the arts by Peterborough artists and arts supporters.  Awards will be presented in visual, media, performing arts and writing and one award will be given to an outstanding supporter of the arts.

The Electric City Arts Council will host the annual Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts with Honourary Patron Mayor Daryl Bennett, to celebrate Peterborough’s artistic achievements and to honour the individuals and partnerships that make Peterborough a truly creative city.  The awards will be presented at the luncheon next year.

“EC3 is proud to be able to recognize the great talent and outstanding achievements of individual artists and arts partners and sponsors with these awards and we are thrilled and grateful that Bill Lockington (LLF Lawyers) and Mayor Bennett have so generously stepped up to make this program and the awards event possible” —- Bill Kimball (EC3 Chair)

Picture
Image – Screen shot with link to CHEXTV Peterborough, ON, Canada / (CHEXTV) Jesse Thomas November 26, 2014 10:41 pm
The AGM also saw three new board members, Randy Read (New Stages Theatre), Yvonne Lai and Fynn Leitch join EC3.
They will be joining returning board members Bill Kimball, Pauline Sandys, Nick Ferrio and Lorne Hamilton on the EC3 Board of Directors. Visit our Board page for biographies of each member.
The AGM featured one of EC3’s signature “Cultural Incubator” lectures with new Trent President Leo Groarke speaking.  His talk highlighted the deep connections between Trent and the City’s cultural landscape and emphasized the value of a vibrant cultural sector to the vitality and well being of the Peterborough community. 

The AGM wasn’t all business.  Wes Ryan opened the meeting with spoken word and Sean Conway and Gerry Gregg provided musical interludes throughout the evening.

EC3 also tested attendee’s knowledge of Peterbough’s cultural history with a Culture Vulture Quiz. The winners took home one of two  prize packs filled with gifts donated by local arts organizations and Jeannine Taylor of kawarthaNOW.com, generously donated a door prize that saw the lucky winner receive a $500 KawarthaNOW promotional package.
The Electric City Culture Council would like to thank the City of Peterborough, Showplace Performance Centre and LLF Lawyers for AGM sponsorship.
Photo Gallery

Posted in Uncategorized

A Space of your Own – Panel Discussion

May 18th, 2014

Wednesday, April 2nd The Electric City Culture Council hosted its April Cultural Mixer

A Space of Your Own

Who has it?

Who needs it?

Creative Approaches to Performance, Rehearsal, Exhibition, Studio and Office Spaces

The panel discussion was moderated by Terry Guiel – Executive Director of The Peterborough DBIA and panellists included Dr. Mark Seasons – School of Planning – University of Waterloo, Elizabeth Fennell – Gallery in the Attic, Lorne Hamilton – Artisans Centre Peterborough, Bill Kimball – Public Energy and Natalie Napier – Hatch Ptbo

Posted in Uncategorized

EC3 ADDS THE 4TH ‘C’ – COLLABORATION

February 3rd, 2014

Picture
The Board of Directors being introduced to the crowd. Credit: Wes Daubeny (Fringe Lab, Hacker Space)
‘Spot on!’ was how one seasoned  member of the Peterborough Arts Community characterized the format and style of the Jan. 28th Mixer Event.  Well-attended by the veterans  in the arts and cultural community who have fought the funding and promotion battles but are still seeking  fresh visions, ideas and strategies – as well as the talented, young at heart who just couldn’t talk fast enough to express their hopefulness and enthusiasm and new skill sets . Every attendee seemed hungry for support of colleagues and the community. Optimism and a sense of ‘what can be’ animated the questions, comments and conversations in response to the ‘Big 3-Questions’ posed. The room buzzed with ideas – re: increasing involvement of Business and Media, of professional development needs and capabilities, of entrepreneurial approaches, of joining forces on projects- in a word ‘COLLABORATION.

A huge THANK YOU to all who participated.

And Thank you to Showplace Performance Center for hosting

The EC3 Board and Staff

Peterborough’s Electric City Culture Council (EC3) hosted it’s first cultural mixer of 2014 on Tuesday, January 28th from 5:30 to 7:00 at Showplace Performance Centre at 290 George St. North, Peterborough.
Picture
View of the Nexicom Studio, Credit: Wes Daubeny (Fringe Lab, Hacker Space)
Picture
View of the Nexicom Studio, Credit: Jeannine Taylor – KawarthaNOW
Picture
John Muir (Trent Radio) and Wendy Trusler (artist). Credit: Jeannine Taylor – KawarthaNOW
Picture
Lori Christensen, Peer Christenen (Christensen Fine Art) and Fynn Leitch (Artspace), Credit: Jeannine Taylor – KawarthaNOW
Picture
Brian McCarthy (Seeds of Change) and Elizabeth Fennell (Gallery in the Attic), Credit: Jeannine Taylor – KawarthaNOW

Posted in Uncategorized

Lou O’Hara, Regional Advisor for the Ministry of Culture Speaks at EC3 AGM on the Cultural Development Fund.

December 5th, 2013

At the Electric City Culture Council’s Inaugural Annual Meeting on November 25th at the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Theatre, Lou O’Hara, Regional Advisor for the Ministry of Culture, gave a talk on Cultural Development Fund. Please see video below for Lou’s presentation.

For More on the fund visit – http://www.grants.gov.on.ca/GrantsPortal/en/OntarioGrants/GrantOpportunities/PRDR007505.html

Posted in Uncategorized

cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building

cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building
cultural incubators
artsweek
professional development workshops
advocacy
research
partnerships
networks promotion
education
arts awareness
representation
arts awards
forums
knowledge sharing
support services
strategic leadership
creative programming ideas
planning
solutions
convening
connecting
capacity building