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 an operations and administration coordinator – deadline to apply February 27, 2026

February 13, 2026

Working for the Electric City Culture Council is a unique opportunity to be a part of developing and advancing support for the arts in Peterborough. As EC3 has grown, our need for more efficient operations and better systems management has increased. Join our team delivering grants and awards, residencies, professional development and more! Feel free to call for more information.

JOB POSTING
OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
Posting date: February 10, 2026
Deadline for applications: February 27, 2026
Compensation: $28 per hour, 25 hours per week
Location: Hybrid workspace including home office and EC3 satellite office in downtown Peterborough.
Term: Position has no fixed term. This is a salaried position with all statutory benefits plus sick/personal days.

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. Our work builds and strengthens the foundations and infrastructure of arts and culture in our area, while contributing to the social, economic and community well- being of our city.

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

Our organizational impact has expanded and so have our professional management needs as we engage with more and more artists, arts organizations and other community partners and sponsors. Accurate information, easy access to well organized records and other material, and the capacity to produce events quickly and effectively is essential to our success – all on a low budget. This job plays a crucial role in strengthening our ability to provide arts funding, professional development and advocacy.

OVERVIEW
This position provides a unique opportunity to work in the arts community supporting EC3’s activities across all arts disciplines and genres, delivering a broad cross section of programs from grants and awards – to festivals and artist residencies, while providing administrative support and some event support for EC3’s operating and programming activities. The position reports to the Executive Director and works with other staff and contract employees to advance and reinforce EC3’s administrative and management capacity. This includes building information systems and data collection and retention, as well as production support and day to day administrative support.

This person is expected to know and understand the organization’s mission and vision, follow EC3’s policies and protocols, respect confidentiality and conflict of interest guidelines, and conduct themselves in the best interest of the organization and the community it serves. Knowledge of the arts and of the local arts sector, and the professional role of an arm’s length arts council, is an asset.

JOB DUTIES

Maintain and advance administrative and operating systems, including communications (mailing lists, media lists, fundraising contacts, applicants data bases etc.)
Respond to general public telephone and email enquiries, maintain office hours
Maintain operations manuals, archives and records (grant results, media coverage, process documents etc.)
Maintenance of social media tools, and an up to date and accurate website
Maintenance of event and meeting calendars, deadlines and undertake related research on same
Provide support in grant writing and delivering programming as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

Post-secondary experience in not-for-profit administration
Excellent organizational, written and oral communications skills
Familiarity with computer technology, web site (Word Press) and social media including Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, Mail Chimp, Word and Excel
Demonstrated ability to set and meet goals, and priorities, clear objectives and deadlines
Driver’s licence and regular access to a car are an asset
Passion for the arts and organizing details

HOW TO APPLY Please forward covering Letter and Resume with subject heading “EC3 Operating and Administration Coordinator Position” to: electriccitycc@gmail.com. Your covering letter should outline why you would like to work with EC3 serving the arts community, and how your education and professional experience would make you a good candidate for the job. Please review our web site @ https://www.ecthree.org/ .

For additional information or questions:
Su Ditta (she/her), Executive Director
electriccitycc@gmail.com
705-749-9101
Currently living and working in Nogojiwanong, on the territory of the Michi Saagig Anishinaabeg, in the lands covered by the Williams Treaties.

For the full announcement see the EC3 Bulletin: EC3 is Hiring!

Annual General Meeting and Cultural Incubator

November 14th, 2015

EC3 is pleased to invite you to our
Annual General Meeting and Cultural Incubator
sponsored by the City of Peterborough
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Showplace Performance Centre
Nexicom Lounge
George St. Peterborough Ontario

Old members, new members and the public are welcome!
FREE!
Come out and support your municipal arts council!

This year we are excited to have as our guest speaker, Carol Phillips. Carol Phillips is one of Canada’s most distinguished arts leaders. As Executive Director of the Winnipeg Arts Council, the Art Gallery of Winnipeg, the MacKenzie Art Gallery and Vice President, Arts at the Banff Centre, Carol brings an extraordinary wealth of experience about what it takes to support artists and build cultural capacity in a community. This will be a rare opportunity to hear from one of the country’s most respected arts managers.

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City of Peterborough: Vision 2025

November 10th, 2015

As you may have heard, the City of Peterborough is about to undertake a Community and Stakeholder Consultation as part of Vision 2025: A 10-year Strategic Plan for Recreation, Parks, Arenas, and Culture. EC3 attended the Vision 2025 Stakeholder Forum on Wednesday, October 28th and will be attending the Arts Forum on Wednesday, November 25. We will report back to the membership on the discussions that occur. In the meantime, we encourage you to visit the Vision 2025 website and complete the Community Survey. To go to the Vision 2025 website please click here.

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Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough Philanthropy Forum

November 10th, 2015

On November 16 and 17, the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough will be holding their annual Philanthropy Forum to provide professional development and networking for non-profit organizations. This is an amazing, inexpensive, professional development opportunity right here at home. So, if you or your Board could use some expert training in grant writing, fundraising, marketing or governance, check it out. For further information, schedules and registration, please click here.

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Creative Engagement Fund to Stop Sexual Violence and Harassment in Ontario

November 10th, 2015

The Ontario Arts Council and the Ontario Women’s Directorate have launched a $2.25 million, multi-year funding program to help develop relationships between the arts and social services sectors in the area of sexual violence and harassment prevention. Artists and arts organizations will have the opportunity to collaborate with organizations or experts working to prevent sexual violence and harassment. For more information on the fund please click here.
The deadline for applications is Tuesday, December 15 at 12:00 noon.

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Tell the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Support what matters in cultural strategy development.Help EC3 shape our submission to the new provincial strategy. Please, take this quick survey now!

November 9th, 2015

In October of this year, The Province of Ontario, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, began developing its first-ever cultural strategy. Entitled Telling Our Stories, Growing Our Economy: Developing a Culture Strategy for Ontario, it contains a number of ways that Ontarians can contribute their voices to this development process in order that the strategy is based on what is important to people across the province. The Culture Strategy aims to help identify the principles and priorities that will guide the government’s support of culture in the future.

One of the engagement tools for this strategy is the town hall. The Ministry is holding eleven of these across the province, five of which take place in the Hamilton, GTA, Barrie corridor, but none in the Peterborough region. EC3 attended the first town hall in Barrie on October 13. While individuals and organizations are very much encouraged to participate through the online tools, town halls and written submissions, EC3 believes it is important to present a united voice from the Arts, Culture and Heritage community in Peterborough.

To this end, we have developed this survey to encourage further engagement in our own community and to ensure that as many ideas and opinions as possible are recorded and promoted. Some of the questions in the survey are taken directly from the Discussion Paper provided by the Ministry and others have been designed to more directly pertain to Peterborough. T he full set of questions, as well as the Discussion Paper and ways to participate in the Culture Strategy, can be found here.

EC3 will prepare a written submission to the Ministry on behalf of our community. The written submission is due Monday, December 7 and a draft will be available for feedback from community members prior to the submission date so as to ensure all voices have been heard. EC3 will hold a Flash Forum on December 3rd, 2015 to receive feedback on the submission and collect any new ideas. The location of the forum will be announced shortly.

MAKE SURE YOUR VOICE GETS HEARD AS THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND SPORT DEVELOPS A ROAD MAP FOR CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE PROVINCE.

TO TAKE THE SURVEY PLEASE CLICK HERE

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Artsvote 2015

October 2nd, 2015

On Monday, September 28, 2015 the Electric City Culture Council, Artspace and Showplace Performance Centre hosted Peterborough Artsvote, an all-candidates debate with a focus on questions that matter to the city’s arts, culture, and heritage community.

If you missed the debate you can listen to Trent Radios recording of the debate here.

Participants included:

Toban Leckie – Strength and Democracy
Doug Mason – Green Party
Maryam Monsef – Liberal Party
Dave Nickle – NDP
Michael Skinner – Conservative Party

Artsvote Peterborough was moderated by Jack Roe.

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September 23rd, 2015

LOCAL CANDIDATES DEBATE ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE ISSUES AT SHOWPLACE PERFORMANCE CENTRE

Monday September 28, 2015
Nexicom Lounge at Showplace Peterborough
290 George Street North
Doors Open 7:00 pm
Debate starts 7:30 pm

The 2015 Federal Election is upon us. Do you want to know where the city’s Federal election candidates stand on arts and culture issues? Then Artsvote Peterborough is the debate for you! An all-candidates debate with a focus on questions that matter to the city’s outstanding arts, culture, and heritage community – come out, inform yourself and have your voice heard.

Confirmed participants include:

Toban Leckie – Strength and Democracy
Doug Mason – Green Party
Maryam Monsef – Liberal Party
Dave Nickle – NDP
Michael Skinner – Conservative Party

Artsvote Peterborough will be moderated by Jack Roe.

Candidates have been asked to make an opening statement on their party’s approach to arts, culture, and heritage and to answer a series of questions that are of interest to those who care about the development of the local ACH sector. Members of the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to candidates.

Capacity is limited to approximately 100 seats, so please arrive early to ensure your spot. The Nexicom Lounge at Showplace Performance Centre is an accessible space.

Artsvote Peterborough is a partnership project between Artspace, the Electric City Culture Council (EC3), and Showplace Peterborough.

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ARTSWEEK 2015 LAUNCHES WITH 60 ARTISTS IN 40 EVENTS ALL ACROSS PETERBOROUGH!

September 16th, 2015

This September, Artsweek Peterborough kicks off its 11th anniversary with a dynamite mix of programming by 60 new and established artists, presenting work in every artistic genre imaginable: visual art, theatre, dance, music, film, photography and literature, both written and spoken word. The locations for these activities are literally all over the Peterborough map: from Hamilton Park in the north end, to East City and the downtown. There are events happening indoors and outdoors; in storefront windows, cafes and front porches; and along the waterway that connects the edge of town with the center of the city, Jackson Creek. Best of all, admission to all Artsweek events is free of charge, with donations of any amount accepted.

Programming for Artsweek 2015 features four signature programs of work created by artists especially for Artsweek: BLINK, AlleyWatz, The Jackson Creek Project and Pop-Up Arts.

BLINK features nine artists transforming nine downtown storefront windows into unique art exhibits. The works on view include paintings, landscapes, streetscapes, film, intricate woodcut screens, photography and more. Guided tours of all nine BLINK storefronts will take place throughout Artsweek.

AlleyWaltz takes audiences on a family-friendly adventure through the downtown to find five secret stages featuring artists performing in a myriad of styles, from aerial arts to clowns, puppetry and more.

The Jackson Creek Project features special works dedicated to reveling in and revealing the pleasures of this urban waterway that has had such an influence on the history of the city. The highlight will be Sunday in the Park on September 20, an afternoon of arts experiences in Hamilton Park (adjacent to Jackson Park) featuring music in the woods, dance performances and an art installation taking place directly in the creek itself.

Pop-Up Arts are an eclectic mix of music, theatre, literature and crafts. Among them is an original theatrical performance at the Lift Lock; a daily writing workshop in a vacant downtown store where the public is invited to interact with the resident artists; poetry published on coffee sleeves available at most cafes across the city and a series of front porch concerts in the Simcoe-Stewart Streets neighborhood with musical styles ranging from classical to country.

Artsweek Opening Night Gallery Hop and Party. Opening night, Friday September 18, will feature five Peterborough galleries taking part in a gallery hop beginning at 6:00 pm: Artspace, Christensen Fine Art, Gallery in the Attic, Evan’s Contemporary, Art Gallery of Peterborough. Check out all five and finish off at Artspace for the official opening night party at 9:00 pm.

The Artsweek brochure with event listings, a calendar and a map can be picked up at numerous locations throughout the city and can be found on the Artsweek 2015 web site: artsweekptbo.com/

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Welcome

September 8th, 2015

The EC3 is pleased to announce the appointment of three new Board members. Sue McGregor-Hunter, Michael Gallant and Jonathan Bennett will join the EC3 Board effective September 1, 2015. This brings the Board complement to nine members and these new appointments bring a wealth of experience to EC3’s work in the areas of heritage, architecture, literature, governance, marketing and communications.

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Ontario Arts Council: Multi-Disciplinary Project Grant and The Jackson Creek Project

August 27th, 2015

We received a $10,000 grant in July from the Ontario Arts Council to support The Jackson Creek Project, a special initiative of Artsweek 2015. This project explores the social, cultural, political, historical and environmental impact and significance of the Creek in Peterborough. EC3 has commissioned a number of new works from artists that will appear in Jackson Park and all across the city (where the Creek travels) as part of this initiative so, keep an eye out for the Artsweek postcard/map and brochure coming soon.

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