The concept for this community group was born during the Toronto Fringe’s Indie Micro Conference in January of 2021, and the feeling that indie artsworkers were left out of conversations during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the industry as a whole. This space is an experiment to see if a digital community space can be created for sharing opportunities and experiences, asking questions, and forming connections.
While we have created the network server, it will be run by community members. We are looking forward to watching this community grow.
If you are not currently familiar with Discord, check out this video and go through the steps of how to join and get a sense of how it all works. WATCH THE TUTORIAL HERE.
About
Since 2020 and the beginning of the pandemic, Toronto Fringe has been searching for ways to support indie arts workers in a long-term, personal, and meaningful way. We wanted to connect with indie arts workers who were feeling left out of the "post-pandemic recovery" conversations that were happening in the industry. Many indie arts workers were talking about leaving the industry, or had already left to find work outside of this sector.
We were concerned about the welfare of the sector, and brought these observations to professors at TMU and the Creative Innovation Studio at FCAD, as we felt there may be a lot of synergy with the conversations they were having with their students and how to look and build to the future. We held brainstorming sessions, and the groundwork for the Indie Arts Network was laid.
There will be more to come and more opportunities to connect. If you want to talk about the Toronto Indie Arts Network then please email general@fringetoronto.com
Past Events:
January 22, 2021: Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Micro-Conference
After several strategy meetings, we programmed a micro-conference titled "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" as part of the 2021 Next Stage Community Booster. The micro-conference focused on many topics, but in particular asked how we could support an industry where people could leave safely and could return if they wanted to. We asked: "How do we come back better and stronger as an indie community after the pandemic?" We used breakout rooms to discuss these questions, with facilitators from X University and Toronto Fringe. Approximately 50 people attended.
We put together this first report as a synopsis of what came out of the conversation.
June 29, 2021: What's Next? A Check-in for Indie Arts Workers
We wanted to continue this vital conversation, so we offered another chance for people to come together and talk, to see if Fringe could help in any way.
This was a smaller group (20) but very deep, important conversations were had and we feel as if there is a desire towards creating an Indie Arts Worker Network.
We created this second report as a result of this meeting, which happened in June of 2021.
Reports
1. " Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
Compiled after our "Should I Stay or Should I Go" event in January 2021. In partnership with the Creative Innovation Studio at FCAD.
2. "Indie Arts Worker Check-In"
Compiled after "A Check-in for Indie Artists" event in June 2021.