“Our mission is to disrupt, distort, and transform the Canadian arts sector.”
COHORT #1
Each day kicked off with our Lunch & Learn series, alternating between Debaser‘s Rachel Weldon, Katie Manners, and Sandra Ngenge Dusabe (also founder of The Moving Art Gallery), focused on Project Planning Fundamentals, covering topics such as event financials, which was focused on project planning fundamentals covering topics such as budgeting, logistics and operations, strategic partnerships, and community outreach.
Guided by mentors René Dumaresque and Stefana Fratila (CRIP RAVE), Naledi Sunstrum (musician and educator), and Willow Cioppa (playwright and educator), mentees participated in various Interactive Workshops covering accessibility justice, audio tech for event planners, and harm reduction and bystander intervention training.
Mentees were also given the option to participate in a unique Shadowing Opportunity for live tech production led by Nick Schofield (SAW Centre). This was a hands-on experience where they applied their skills in a real-world production setting, gaining valuable insights from soundcheck to teardown.
We concluded the Cohort with a presentation of their refined project proposals and awarding of their $5,000 honoraria.
Mentees can further their learning by receiving two complimentary 1-on-1 Project Planning Coaching sessions from Kingsley Swim (Program Manager) and Maeve Tavakoli (Program Coordinator). Furthermore, Mentees will have lifetime access to an online toolkit with templates and resources to support all stages of equity-centered project planning.
Final projects will be presented throughout Spring and Summer 2025.
COHORT #2
Our second cohort took place between February 11,2025 and March 22, 2025!
Mentees Kim Farris-Manning (Queer Youth Choir), Asli Mahdi (Inhairitance: Black hair, mind, body & soul wellness workshops), and Ottawa Design Club (Speaker Series) embarked on a comprehensive development journey online and in-person in the Digital Arts Resource Centre and Club SAW.
This cohort started with a full day of programming led by Debaser‘s Rachel Weldon, Katie Manners, and Sandra Ngenge Dusabe (also founder of The Moving Art Gallery), focused on Project Planning Fundamentals, covering topics such as event financials, which was focused on project planning fundamentals covering topics such as budgeting, logistics and operations, strategic partnerships, and community outreach.
Guided by mentors Kim Kilpatrick (Professional Storyteller and accessibility consultant, Naledi Sunstrum (musician and educator), and Willow Cioppa (playwright and educator), mentees participated in various Interactive Workshops covering accessibility justice, audio tech for event planners, and harm reduction and bystander intervention training.
Mentees were also given the opportunity to participate in Shadowing Sessions at PIQUE: Spring Edition on Stage Managing with Maeve Tavakoli and Harm Reduction (E.Q.U.I.P.E) with Willow Cioppa. This was a hands-on experience and a chance to apply the knowledge gained through workshops at a festival in real-time.
We concluded the Cohort with a presentation of their refined project proposals and awarding of their $5,000 honoraria.
Mentees can further their learning by receiving two complimentary 1-on-1 Project Planning Coaching sessions from Kingsley Swim (Program Manager) and Maeve Tavakoli (Program Coordinator). Furthermore, Mentees will have lifetime access to an online toolkit with templates and resources to support all stages of equity-centered project planning.
Final projects will be presented throughout Spring, Summer, and Fall 2025.This cohort started with a full day of programming led by Debaser‘s Rachel Weldon, Katie Manners, and Sandra Ngenge Dusabe (also founder of The Moving Art Gallery), focused on Project Planning Fundamentals, covering topics such as event financials, which was focused on project planning fundamentals covering topics such as budgeting, logistics and operations, strategic partnerships, and community outreach.
Guided by mentors Kim Kilpatrick (Professional Storyteller and accessibility consultant, Naledi Sunstrum (musician and educator), and Willow Cioppa (playwright and educator), mentees participated in various Interactive Workshops covering accessibility justice, audio tech for event planners, and harm reduction and bystander intervention training.
Mentees were also given the opportunity to participate in Shadowing Sessions at PIQUE: Spring Edition on Stage Managing with Maeve Tavakoli and Harm Reduction (E.Q.U.I.P.E) with Willow Cioppa. This was a hands-on experience and a chance to apply the knowledge gained through workshops at a festival in real-time.
We concluded the Cohort with a presentation of their refined project proposals and awarding of their $5,000 honoraria.
Mentees can further their learning by receiving two complimentary 1-on-1 Project Planning Coaching sessions from Kingsley Swim (Program Manager) and Maeve Tavakoli (Program Coordinator). Furthermore, Mentees will have lifetime access to an online toolkit with templates and resources to support all stages of equity-centered project planning.
COHORT #3
We hosted our third Cohort between June 3, 2025 and July 26, 2025.
Mentees Abrar (Queer SWANA Storytelling), Lucille Giwa (Stories In Ink), and Thandizo Joy (A Little Death) embarked on a comprehensive project development journey, both online and in-person, at the Digital Arts Resource Centre and, for the first time in our program history, at Artegine.
On Day 1, we welcomed the return of Kim Kilpatrick (Professional Storyteller and Accessibility Consultant) and enlisted Stacey Forrester (Educational Coordinator for Good Night Out Vancouver). Examining the intersections between accessibility justice, harm reduction and safe(r) spaces, our Mentors equipped Mentees with the knowledge and tools to create supportive, equitable, and responsive environments for their project teams, artists, and attendees.
During the second day, we experimented with a full-day session for Project Planning Fundamentals, featuring Adrienne Row-Smith (Strast Media, The Grove), Alejandro Salgado Cendales (MASC, MAC-CAM), and Axel Saizonou (Kultur Ties). In both a panel and 1:1 clinic format, they covered key production stages and shared strategies on effective project delivery.
Day 3 was facilitated by Kwende Kefentse (Memetic Media) through the TIMEKODE Residency in Artegine. Mentees experience a full-day of Live Sound theoretical and hands-on learning - from spatial assessment, event-day troubleshooting, and tear-down procedures.
We concluded the Cohort with our Mentees presenting their refined project proposals and awarding of their $5,000 production honoraria.
Mentees can further their learning by receiving two complimentary 1-on-1 Project Planning Coaching sessions from Kingsley Swim (Program Co-Manager) and Maeve Tavakoli (Program Co-Manager). Furthermore, Mentees will have lifetime access to an online toolkit with templates and resources to support all stages of equity-centered project planning.
Final projects will be presented throughout the end of 2025 and start of 2026.