Community Conversations
We may not be able to meet in person, but we can still meet at the same time, in the same (digital) place.
Check out the conversations that were had in January 2021 by fellow indie arts workers, as part of the Next Stage Community Booster. More conversations coming soon! Love all this free programming and want to give back to the Fringe? Add a tip to here.
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Digital Theatre: How is it Working?
Join panelists Rob Kempson and Isaac Thomas in a discussion facilitated by Intermission’s Aisling Murphy. They will talk about how the pandemic has required them to pivot their work to a digital platform and how artists and audiences have responded to it. Listen as they share what has worked, what they have learned, and what they are going to do in the unknown future. Is digital theatre a stopgap, or is it here to stay?
Digital Location: IntermissionMagazine.ca
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL Interpretation. -
Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Micro-Conference for the Indie Arts Sector
Presented in partnership with The Creative Innovation Studio at Ryerson University.
Hosted by Steven Smits, Toronto Fringe Board Member and Incoming General Manager of Volcano Theatre.Join us for a frank and forward-thinking conversation on the future of arts work in a pandemic and post-pandemic era. In this collaborative session, Ryerson’s Creative Innovation Studio will guide participants through exercises to forecast and (re)imagine how theatre, performance, and live experiences must evolve in the coming months, years and beyond. The indie network has been severely impacted by the halting of public events and live theatre-making since March 2020. This event will provide a space for our community to connect and come together in a time where so many are operating in isolation.
How will our work come back? What new forms can it become? How might our sector evolve to support its creators and artists and workers, now and in the future? What are models that are sustainable long term, and can weather future storms? In the end, we will have laid out a collective charter to help us tackle the short-term and look ahead to the future.
Digital Location: Fringe Zoom
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL provided upon request.Click here to download the Conference Guide.
CONFERENCE OUTLINE
1:45PM Meeting Space Open
2:00PM Welcome and Orientation
2:15PM “Past” | Large and small group discussions
2:45PM “Present” | Large and small group discussions
3:25PM BREAK
3:35PM “Future” | Large and small group discussions
4:55PM Final Takeaways
5:00PM END OF EVENT
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Paprika #HotTopic: Access in the Arts
Ophira Calof, Yousef Kadoura, and Syrus Marcus Ware discuss centering accessibility in your art practice. These multi-talented and multidisciplinary artists share their perspectives on integrating access from creation to presentation. Panel discussion moderated by Toronto Fringe Accessibility Manager, Susan Wolf.
Digital Location: Facebook Live
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL Interpretation. -
The Value of Criticism
Join panelists Alia Rasul, Marjorie Chan, and Robyn Grant Moran, as they talk about how criticism has had an impact on their work and how the role is changing, in a time of COVID-19 and beyond. What is the importance of criticism? How will it shift in the future? Facilitated by CBC’s Ali Hassan.
Digital Location: Facebook Live (Fringe Facebook page)
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL Interpretation.
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Where We’re At: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Town Hall
In the fall of 2020, Fringe began an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Audit with Sedina Fiati and Candice Frederick of Where You Are Consulting. The audit will culminate in a series of recommendations which will infuse EDI principles into all aspects of the Fringe’s operations. Sedina and Candice will begin the event by presenting a report on the work thus far, and then invite registered guests to discuss and offer feedback.
Digital Location: Presentation of report will be streamed on Facebook Live. Those registered for the Zoom conversation will view the report presentation in Zoom, and then stick around for post-report discussion.
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL Interpretation. -
TENT Talk: Surviving and Thriving
2020 Tent Alumni (from the first ever virtual TENT program) discuss how they have been taking care of themselves, their artistic practices, their hopes, and their dreams. Facilitated by former TENT Program Director and current Artistic Director of Cahoots Theatre, Tanisha Taitt. Join us to hear about surviving and thriving in this precarious time.
Digital Location: Facebook Live (Fringe Facebook Page)
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL Interpretation.
Additional Community Booster Events
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Metcalf Creative Strategies Incubator 2017 Cohort Public Sharing
Aluna Theatre, Canadian Opera Company, Théâtre français de Toronto, Young People’s Theatre, and The Toronto Fringe were the final cohort to complete Metcalf Foundation’s Creative Strategies Incubator. These organizations will gather to share their collective learning and insights from this 3-year process, which was focused on how to engage audiences and build community around their work. This open deep dive will include leaders from the five funded organizations, and you are welcome to join, learn about their funded initiatives, and engage the cohort participants in conversation.
Digital Location: Metcalf Zoom
Access: Live-Transcribed and Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL provided upon request. -
Community Booster Launch Party
Join Fringe’s Executive Director for an “unboxing” of the Next Stage Community Booster. Lucy will take you for a tour of this unconventional, unprecedented Next Stage experience. And, if you’re lucky, you may even catch some witty repartee with Lucy’s comedian partner (and frequent Fringe box office rep) Faisal Butt!
Digital Location: Facebook Live (Fringe Facebook Page)
Access: Live-Transcribed Captioning. ASL Interpretation. -
Digital Next Stage Tent
All were welcome to join this informal community social on Zoom to vent, unwind, connect, and compare COVID-notes. It’s been almost a year since we’ve all chatted. What’s up?!
Digital Location: Fringe Zoom
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. -
Crip the Script Workshop for Paprika
#CripTheScript: To challenge, reframe, and reclaim language, systems, stories and stages to centre ‘Crip’, or disability, identities, experiences, and culture. A workshop for Paprika participants, facilitated by Ophira Calof.
Digital Location: Fringe Zoom
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL provided by request. -
Wake Up and Dance Family Jam
Set an intention and move your body in ways that feel good! Dance around with Fringe alums Byron Abalos and Andrea Mapili, and their toddler Mayari. Start your day off with the whole family and get those bodies moving!
Digital Location: Fringe Zoom
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. -
Fringe Annual General Meeting
Bold and resilient—that’s your Toronto Fringe! Our unwavering commitment to serve the artist community will never change, and will be on display once again at our Annual General Meeting. Join us as we recap the year that was, and share with us your hopes for the organization’s future. Let’s convene the collective wisdom, strength, and creativity of this dynamic community, and bring it for the years to come!
Digital Location: Fringe Zoom
Access: Auto-Transcribed Captioning. ASL provided upon request.