Ties that bind

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the ties that arts, culture, and heritage have to community building. I’ve also been thinking, in fact, about culture’s ties to recreation, capacity building in general, and the economic impact of creativity. Gah! As you can rightly imagine, my brain is quickly filling to the brim.

There has been a lot of interest lately in the connection that the arts have to the quality of life sectors like recreation but also the connection they have to building both community and economic capacity.

I recently attending a talk on this very subject in Calgary called ‘Creativity as an Economic Force’, the Indigenous Sport Council Alberta’s (ISCA) upcoming conference in Red Deer touches on this as well (I know because I am hosting the session!!), and even the Canadian Confederation for the Arts (CAA) has just made a conference call for topics related to artists powering the economy.

Why all the recent interest?

Much of my personal musing on the subject has been sparked by two things: 1) the recent ACE ARTS Tour in Grande Cache and 2) the various ways I hope to report on what I have learnt.

If you haven’t, by some miracle, heard me mention it yet, the ACE Alberta Rural Talent Showcase (ARTS) Music and Dance Tour is a 4-day initiative meant as an opportunity for communities to come together to celebrate and grow local talent. ACE truly believes that fostering arts, culture, and heritage is what make all communities better places to live, work and play.

The ACE ARTS Tour, with musicians John Wort Hannam (Juno-nominated) and John Rutherford as well as dancers Michelle Greenwell and Emma Forman, have just returned from Grande Cache and the first inaugural, dare I say groundbreaking, ARTS Tour. This Tour culminated in dance and music workshops and performances in Grande Cache schools, senior centers, their recreation centre as well as workshops in Susa Creek for the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation.

If I were to use my recent experience in Grande Cache as a test example, I can easily think of many ways that arts, culture, and heritage were used to both build community capacity and drive the economy.

It was during this recent ARTS Tour that I saw a group of complete strangers meet over their love of the guitar and form a brand new peer group. It was there that I also saw a local café donate their space for artistic workshops and then benefit from the business of the attendees.

I visited the Susa Creek School and was gifted a book of drawing and poems made by community members of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation to both celebrate and promote their culture. Myself, along with over 500 participants, benefited from the knowledge and skills of two professional musicians and two professional dancers and they, in turn, made a living wage. I also heard these same artists comment repeatedly on how much they were personally inspired by the enthusiasm of the Grande Cache community.

The list could go on…

Because of history, we know that it has been celebrations involving arts, culture, music and dance that have strengthened families and communities. It is these celebrations that build our confidence and self esteem and express a vision for the kind of community we’re seeking. It is the arts, culture, and heritage that ultimately teach us that joy can be achieved in sustainable ways.

For images from the Grande Cache ACE ARTS Tour see: http://acecommunities.ca/gallery/P12/

Just apply, already!

Let’s talk resources for arts and heritage. How many of you know about the ‘Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program’? Well, if you don’t, I think it is time that you did.

An initiative of the Canadian Heritage Department, the ‘Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program’ was created to help Canadians celebrate their communities. The Program is meant to increase opportunities, through festivals or other events and activities, for local artists and artisans to be involved in their community and for local groups to commemorate their local history and heritage.

Studies say that it is the festivals and celebrations that are pivotal to community engagement, identity, and cohesiveness. And it is in the fostering of our communities’ cultural identities that we find social, capital, or civic renewal. Festivals, concerts, and events create opportunities for people to be active and engaged and we know that families who play together, stay together. And you don’t have to take my word for it… the actual studies for these facts can be found in ACE’s online Benefits Catalogue. (Yes, this is a shameless plug for the Benefits Catalogue. Seriously people, this is another resource that kicks butt… use it!... http://benefits.acecommunities.ca)

Because let’s face it…each of Canada’s communities is unique and each is uniquely Canadian. This is, by far, one of our nation’s biggest strengths. Geography, history, their founders and those who came to live there shape our communities. And they continue to grow and change as the people who live there now build on those foundations.

The ‘Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program’ is one of those resources that can truly be used to celebrate your community. This program has three components:

Local Festivals: Festivals, events and activities that involve your whole community, give opportunities to local artists and artisans and/or celebrate local history and heritage.

Community Anniversaries: One-time commemoration through festivals or other activities that celebrates a major anniversary of a significant local person or event.

Legacy Fund: 
Awards for the creation of tangible, lasting capital projects which commemorate or celebrate a major anniversary of a significant local person or event.

Eligible events and activities must be local – created by and for your community. They must be open and accessible to the public and strongly encourage and promote the participation of everyone in your community.

So the opportunity is there for those entrepreneurial enough to look more into the potential of this grant and then to apply! Imagine what cultural impact this would make in your community.

For more info and the application process see: http://www.canadianheritage.gc.ca/communities/

Don't be afraid...technology loves you

It’s like looking into an eye of a chicken…. That was an expression that my Ukrainian grandmother used to say. As you can imagine, it’s not the most flattering of comments - implications of pea-sized brains, futzing around with chicken scratch, and instinctual urges to flee were the associations that always popped into my head whenever she would use it.

Something along those lines is what I suspect my Workshop Instructor, Calgary-based filmmaker Michael Welchman, was probably thinking about me last weekend at EMMEDIA’s Final Cut Pro Class for Beginners. I was there to upgrade my almost non-existent editing skills and he was there to teach me about batch capturing, scratch disks, and Digital Betacams.

It was then that my grandmother’s saying popped into my mind as I was most definitely sporting my best chicken eye. New technology can be a scary and a humbling thing.

I had bravely ventured into EMMEDIA that weekend because, as mentioned above, I was looking for some skills. And it so happens that EMMEDIA is a place where many people with film-related endeavours go to find them.

Established in Calgary in1979, EMMEDIA is a non-profit organization managed and directed by practicing artists. It offers the general pubic and artists alike affordable access to media art production tools, to technical and educational support, and to an array of public exhibition programs. The centre provides a focus for media arts activity and a gathering place for people to interact and exchange ideas.

Other innovative EMMEDIA initiatives include, Digital Direct, launched in 1998, which takes portable digital production and editing equipment to remote or isolated communities in southern Alberta and within the City of Calgary. For many in the art world, EMMEDIA is a hidden gem. For the rest of us, it is a one-stop stomping ground for those adventurous enough to take on the world of new media.

My interest in learning editing skills was specifically job related. Looming over my head is a whole library of ACE-on-the-road footage crying to be made into jazzy little promotional snippets. My fellow classmates varied in their interests. One was a freelance actress who did voice work and was now interested in creating her own documentaries. Another was a retired arts administrator who wanted to return to filmmaking, as it was his first love. We were a sassy little bunch, comrade-in-arms in the new media trenches.

The most important realization that I think we all took away with us from our time at EMMEDIA was that the technology and the resources are there for those willing to dive in and use them. Sure, you might look silly and suddenly lose your ability to work the right-click on a mouse. But who cares! New technology doesn’t judge you… it just doesn’t do ANYTHING until you figure it out.

When you are first starting out, it’s not about brains or brawn – it’s about the willingness to learn. It’s about fearlessness, an open mind, and fighting the urge to flee. It’s about quashing that inner chicken eye…

For more info on workshops available at EMMEDIA see: http://www.emmedia.ca/

In a galaxy not so far away...

I love Star Trek. There… I said it. And when I say love, I mean LOVE!! More than I probably love my husband. Love, love, love, love… So when I had a chance to visit Vulcan during the last ACE Communities Ignite tour… well. You can only imagine.

My trip to Vulcan was to present them with their ACE Communities Award and to get a real feel for the community. It was a chance for a true ‘in-the-trenches’ view of what makes Vulcan tick.

What I discovered during my visit was very interesting. Vulcan, it seems, is a place in flux. It’s a community taking a serious look at both its cultural and pop cultural identities. And in Vulcan, that is a tricky exploration. Because, despite the rather impressive statue of the Starship Enterprise on the proverbial doorstep, not everyone in Vulcan necessarily loves Star Trek as much as I do.

Shocking, I know.

As part of their journey to becoming an ACE Community, Vulcan expressed an early interest in expanding arts and culture in their town. To answer this need they have already set up initiatives like a new concert series (starting with Blues Legend Tim Williams on Feb. 12^th) and are working towards other related events. And yet, much of their identity as well as their economy are driven by events like their Spock Days/Galaxyfest. Without a doubt, the number of tourists that visit Vulcan per capita is enough to put the big cities to shame.

Still, Vulcan’s foray into the sticky realm of identity has really made me wonder: is pop culture the same as culture?

My first instinct is to say yes! Of course it is… as a huge addict of pop culture, I would argue that much of our music, film, literature, and art is rooted in the drama of real life. Or, in Star Trek’s case, the drama of fantasy life. The pull between our real lives and escapes from the same are what makes us human. It defines us and thus, defines our community.

In Vulcan’s case, however, the question is do they really want their identity to be driven by a galaxy far, far, away (no wait… that’s Star Wars), on what the town has to intrinsically offer despite its trademark name, or a little bit of both?

This is a question that I’ll ponder as I happily wear my plastic Vulcan ears and sip from the Gothic Spock mug I purchased from the Vulcan Tourist center. In my mind, it makes sense to celebrate one’s community for both what is has and for what it can be – even if what you’ve got is a little …. out of this world.

Validation is just a mouse click away

As someone who has spent most of her career in the arts, I have devoted a lot of energy in convincing people (funders, patrons, art collectors, newspaper editors… the list goes on) that they should invest in the arts. And when I say invest, I don’t necessarily only mean money – not that money is bad. Bring the money on… No purism for me! No, what I really mean is the investment of time, energy, faith, and conviction.

For me, commitment to the arts, culture, and heritage is a huge investment in the quality of life for you, your family, and your community.

Luckily for me, and for anyone who is currently in the position of writing a fundraising proposal, presentation, or brand new policy, ACE Communities has now launched the online version of the Benefits Catalogue. Included in this Catalogue is a database of over 700 studies proving the value of recreation, parks, sport, arts, culture and heritage.

The 2009 Benefits Catalogue, in essence, is an online tool that provides updated evidence for 50 outcomes statements using leading-edge technology. The vision of the Benefits Catalogue is one of sustainability with always-current research and evidence. Users, in fact, are encouraged to upload their own personal research or studies that the Catalogue might be missing.

This living resource summarizes evidence that what we do – as recreation and cultural providers - really does make a difference and has a significant impact as economic, social, and/or political drivers. It provides users with an invaluable resource for policy development, planning, marketing, program/service development and/or evaluation.

Type in ‘arts’, ‘culture’, and ‘heritage’ into the search engine and actual documented studies are found that prove that these three fields:

· are essential to personal health and well-being

· provide the key to balanced human development

· provide a foundation for quality of life

· reduce self-destructive and anti-social behaviour

· build strong families and healthy communities

· reduce health care, social service and police/justice costs

· are a significant economic generator

This same type of search can be done for topics like: active living, aboriginal issues, children and/or adults, cultural diversity, living with disability, seniors, parks, and recreation. And then – voila! - the database formats the results into a handy, dandy pdf ready for print. Your work is fait accompli.

And I ask you, has research ever been easier? So if you are currently in a position where you need or want to prove the benefits of parks, recreation, arts, culture, and heritage, look no further! Validation is just a mouse click away.

So visit: http://benefits.acecommunities.ca

Etsy.com: The Medieval market gone virtual

I recently had an insightful chat with an old school friend of mine. Eileen is one of the few friends I still… luckily… have from my art history graduate days at the University of Toronto. Those were tough, demanding times and she was my strongest comrade-in-arms in the art historical trenches. Not all of us made it out of that MA Program with our sanity (or dignity) completely intact.

The conversation that we had the other day was about how she was using Twitter to drive people to the photographs she currently has on sale on www.etsy.com. Etsy.com is a popular point-of-sale site used to sell homemade objects varying from art, jewelry, clothing items, and furniture to accessories for your pampered pooch. Some call it ebay’s funky, artsy little sister.

The fact that the two of us were having an au courant 2010 ‘technology’ talk was very amusing to me. My favourite memory of Eileen was the two of laughing as we sat discussing our medieval art history class at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies at the U of T. This very serious and lofty class used to crack us up. You never knew when someone might spontaneously start speaking in Latin (kinda like in the Exorcist) or show up wearing a minstrel-style cape. Twitter was definitely not the rage back then.

It’s interesting how technology has shaped so much in the past few years. So much, in fact, that old dog former art historians like Eileen and myself (although, she was always way more computer-savvy than me) have had to dust ourselves off and engage with current practices.

So back to etsy.com. It’s funny how things have changed and not changed at the same time. What Etsy is, in essence, is an artisan marketplace – with undeniable medieval roots - gone virtual. Items are still being crafted in cottage industries, brought to market (albeit virtually) then sold to a buyer. The change is that the buyer and/or seller can now be almost anywhere in the world. Even us parchment-reading types have to admit that the economic impact of such an initiative is mindboggling.

The medieval artisan market has evolved into a cyber-community celebration of the creative individual. But don’t be fooled, it is still an economic enterprise driven by millions of dollars in sales for its combined members.

Rob Walker, in his article “Handmade 2.0” for the New York Times Magazine, writes: “For Circa Ceramics, and for crafters in general, Etsy is another manifestation of how D.I.Y.-ism has evolved. Its motivation may still be the independence from capitalism ... But it can also be about a form of economic independence within capitalism.”

In practice, Etsy is very aware of its role as an alternative to traditional marketplaces and actively celebrates its community grassroots. One of the services it provides is ‘Etsy Teams’. These teams are groups of organized Etsy members who network, share skills, and promote their shops and Etsy together. A Team forms around a shared location, crafting medium, or another interest.

Etsy's 450+ Teams make the site not just a marketplace of individuals, but an interconnected and diverse artistic community. The teams, in fact, are Etsy’s biggest and most creative grassroots engine for support, networking and marketing.

While I am most definitely not a shopper, I do have a fetish… dare I say obsession… for handcrafted art objects. I’ve been supporting my little bubble of capitalism for years by buying objects off of various art sites. Now that I’ve discovered Etsy, I could be in trouble. Because, for me, there’s nothing as exiting as that little brown, art-filled package, waiting patiently for me on my doorstep.

So I will raise the cry: “Medievalist shoppers…embrace technology and unite!”

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To check out Etsy: www.etsy.com

For Rob Walker’s complete article on Etsy: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/magazine/16Crafts-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Interested in my friend Eileen’s Etsy site? See: http://www.etsy.com/shop/easelarts?ga_search_query=easelarts&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

Not Your Usual Resolution

T’is the season for New Year’s Resolutions. I personally am not the biggest fan of the ole New Year resolution. Eat less, exercise more, be nice to puppies and small infants…. these are just some of the things that we promise ourselves yearly that we will - without a doubt - carry through with.

“Ach pbbttt!” my Irish-mother-in-law would say. And you can’t argue with the simplicity of that logic. How many of these things do we actually stick with once the grind of post-holiday life kicks in? Why can’t we just be better, thinner, happier version of ourselves forever, and ever, and ever without the muck and the fuss?

As I mentioned in my previous blog, I spent a few days recently travelling with Ian Hill, our ACE ambassador, on the ACE Ignite tour. Not only is this tour a celebration of our new ACE communities, it is also an opportunity to ignite the communities into further action.

The Ignite Tour is as what one community leader in Trochu said: "A pat on the back and a kick in the butt at the same time."

Part of this call to action was a very inspirational talk by Ian Hill. Ian, an award-winning philanthropist and businessman, often centered his speech on the power of the individual. “Imagine,” he said, “what your life would be like and the life of your family, if you woke up tomorrow and decided to be 10% better. What if you aimed to be a better mother, a better husband, a better neighbour?”

“Now imagine,” he continued, “if everyone in your community woke up that day and decided the exact same thing. How much better would the quality of everyone’s life be then?”

I heard variations of his speech as we travelled together over those few days. By day three and possibly ten speeches later, I finally stopped and thought to myself: “hey – maybe its time that I figured out how I could be a better person and a better citizen.”

Some are clearly slower on the uptake than others.

So here is not one … but ten resolutions that I plan on making in 2010 to not only better myself but to better the quality of life of the people around me. 2010 is going to be fierce!

Janet Naclia's 2010 New Year's Resolutions

1) I will stop and make a meaningful connection with at least one person every week in my neighbourhood. And I don’t mean some fluffy, quick nod of the head… I really want to know an interesting fact, idea, or value relating to the people around me.

2) I will listen earnestly to someone else’s opinion everyday without judgment. I will make sure to take one positive thing away from each of these encounters even if I think they are full of crap. Oops – scratch that last bit. I’ve fallen off the wagon already and I’m just at number 2!

3) I will spend extra time every day scratching the bellies of my basset hounds – even when I feel like I don’t have the time or the patience.

4) I will make every effort to improve my mind with new ideas and rise to all challenges. An engaged mind is a benefit to my family, my employers, my friends, and my community.

5) When I workout, I will give it my all no matter how much I think I might upchuck. This is purely in respect to those who are nearly upchucking next to me.

6) I will always stop to help those in need – the lady who looks lost on the street, the mini-van stuck in the snow bank, the gentleman looking for the last dollar for his bus ticket.

7) I will eat fewer pastries because I know they are bad for my cholesterol. I didn’t say I would STOP eating them, though. Who am I – superwoman?

8) I will spend more quality-time with my parents. Because, you know, I really like them. Maybe I’ll get my mom to teach me how to make pierogies.

9) I will make an effort to speak to my very dear ‘out-of-town’ friends at least once a month. No matter what! I have that unlimited calling plan and I just don’t know why I don’t use it more.

10) I will increase my volunteer-work because it really does feel good to help others. They don’t just say that so you get out there and volunteer. It’s true. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.

Do you have any resolutions you would like to add? I would love to hear them… especially if they involve basset hounds…. you know, doing good in the community.