Conference

Pan-Canadian virtual conference:
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Cultural Sector: The Role of Cultural Organizations
- Organizations: Initiatives and case studies that explore equity, diversity, and inclusion
- Communities: Understanding community context to strengthen the sector
- Governance: Strategies for rethinking equitable and impactful policies and practices
Programming Overview
Click the session titles below to open the session description, presenter details, and related interpretation information (including French, English, ASL, LSQ, and captions). Sessions presented via Zoom webinars.
Wednesday, June 15
- Cultural Sector Perspectives on the Role of Organizations in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (presentation) – Julie Bérubé (Associate Professor, Université du Québec en Outaouais), Jacques-Bernard Gauthier (professor, UQO), Vivek Venkatesh (Professor, Concordia University);
- The Inclusion of People with Disabilities in the Performing Arts Sector (presentation)– Les Muses: Centre des arts de la scène;
- Social Innovation and EDI: The transformation of the Diefenbaker Canada Centre (presentation)– Dr. Christopher Gunter (Assistant Professor at Saint-Paul University);
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Canada’s National Ballet School: Learnings and Experiences to Date (presentation) – Canada's National Ballet School;
- The Role of Post-Secondary Institutions in Addressing EDI in the Arts – Simon Fraser University (panel) - Daniela Atiencia, Doreen Manuel, Shanae Sodhi, Wlad Woyno (moderator);
- The Power of Community-Initiated Research (panel) - oualie frost, Kenji Maeda (GVPTA), Kodie Rollan (Chromatic Theatre), Melissa Tsang (moderator) ;
- Facilitating Critical Social Consciousness, Using Art to Illuminate the Relationships Between Us (*cancelled*) (presentation) - Jessica Bleuer (Concordia University & Theatre of the Oppressed)
- Cultural Rights and Cultural Industries – Obligations and Opportunities (presentation) – M. Sharon Jeannotte (affiliated researcher, Centre on Governance of the University of Ottawa);
- Writers Guild of Canada 2021 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Report (presentation) – Jinder Oujla-Chalmers (Writers Guild of Canada);
- Canada Council for the Arts: Approaches to Equity in Research, Evaluation and Performance Measurement (presentation) – Daniela Navia (Canada Council for the Arts);
- Reshaping Theatre Inclusion - hosted by GVPTA (panel) – Alen Dominguez (Neworld Theatre), Sedina Fiati (The Black Pledge), Valerie Sing Turner (Visceral Visions), Lili Robinson (moderator);
- Reflections: Working with Organizations Toward Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access - hosted by GVPTA (panel) – Amy Amantea, Siobhan Barker, Kenji Maeda, Jada-Gabrielle Pape,
Thursday, June 16
- Access, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (ADEI) in Cultural Organizations: Challenges and Opportunities (presentation) – Antonio C. Cuyler, Florida State University, University of Michigan, Cuyler Consulting;
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives in the Administration and Editorial Policies of Canadian Book Publishers (presentation) – Eric Lyall Nelson, Ph. D. (part-time professor, University of Ottawa);
- Understanding Civic Impact Through the Lens of Indigenous Cultural Knowledge (presentation) - (Emily Carr University of Art + Design) Sydney Pickering, Connie Watts, Nadia Beyzaei;
- Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility; Demystifying Organizational Policy Writing (presentation)– Grégoire Gagnon (Cultural Human Resources Council);
- Reimagining Funding (panel) - Jordan Baylon, Krystal Paraboo, Stephanie Falcon (Vancouver Foundation), Jiv Parasram (moderator)
- Universal Accessibility of Museums: A Balance Between Aestheticism and Human Encounter (presentation) – Aude Porcedda (Professor, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières);
- EDI as a driver of change: when the municipality makes a difference(presentation) - Paul-Antoine Martel (City of Val-d’Or)
- Broadening Collection Practices for Greater Inclusion in Art Museums (presentation)– Mélanie Boucher (Professor, Université du Québec en Outaouais);
- What does the future hold for EDI in the cultural sector? (panel) - Julien Doris (moderator); Vivek Venkatesh (Director of the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP), Concordia University, Professor of Inclusive Visual Arts Practices in the Department of Art Education); Rhonda Doxtator (First Peoples Innovation Centre); Karla Etienne (Canadian Dance Assembly); Yusuf Saadi;
- The Road Ahead for the Visual Arts, Heritage, and Cultural Spaces (panel) - Brian McBay (221A; moderator), Emelie Chhangur (Agnes Etherington Art Centre), Devyani Saltzman, Michelle Sound;
- The Brilliance and Realities in Rural and Non-Urban Communities (panel) - Ovvian Castrillo Hill, Carla Stephenson (Rural Inclusion Lab) (moderator), Colin Wolf (Gwaandak Theatre).
Acknowledgements
Additional support for this conference was provided by the Province of British Columbia and the BC Arts Council.
This conference is organized by representatives of Université du Québec en Outaouais and the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance.

2021 Making a Scene Forum: Seizing Opportunities
2021 Making a Scene Forum: Seizing Opportunities
The Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance's annual conference was re-imagined for 2021 as a digital forum to discuss what post-pandemic, post-now can look like for the theatre industry. Knowing what we know now, after more than a year of reacting, how do we step into possibilities and opportunities with intention? ASL interpretation and Zoom auto-captioning were provided.
View Session Recordings
Sessions were recorded and are viewable through GVPTA's YouTube channel. Click the links below to access each session's recording.
If you missed registering for the conference, but have found the recordings valuable, please consider making a charitable donation to GVPTA to support our efforts to produce more learning opportunities.
- Humour and Laughter in Storytelling and Community, with Cheyenne Rouleau, Debbie Courchene, Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, and Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg. Moderated by Jivesh Parasram. View the recording.
- Live + Live-Streaming: Hybrid Performance for Hybrid Audiences and the (@#$%^ Exciting!) Future of Vancouver Theatre with Adam Grant Warren, Christine Quintana, Derek Chan, and Keely O'Brien. View the recording.
- Sharing Power, Sharing Leadership with Anjela Magpantay, Anoop Gill, and Sean Guist. Moderated by Chelsea Haberlin and Fay Nass.View the recording.
- Community Caring for Community with Lisa Cooke Ravensbergen, jaye simpson, and Shanique Kelly. Moderated by Siobhan Barker. View the recording.
- Access Needs: A conversation for all of us with Adam Grant Warren, Ladan Sahraei, and Siobhan Barker. Moderated by Amy Amantea.View the recording.
- Performing Arts Town Hall on BC’s Restart Plan with Haley Miller, Office of the Provincial Health Officer, BC Ministry of Health); Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, Vancouver Coastal Health; Don Parman, Actsafe Safety Association; and Lisa Houle, WorkSafeBC. Moderated by Kenji Maeda. View the recording.
- The Future of Dramaturgy with Daniela Atiencia, Davey Samuel Calderon, Jessica Schacht, and Renae Morriseau. View the recording.
- Theatre Marketing in the Digital World with Rick Chung and Sophia Cheng. View the recording.
- Gesturing Beyond the House Modernity Built with Dr. Vanessa Andreotti, Azul Carolina Duque, and Kyra Royo. View the recording.
The Making a Scene Forum microsite contains session descriptions and speaker bios, social media links, and more.
View the session descriptions: https://mas.gvpta.ca/2021#/agenda?lang=en
Read speaker bios: https://mas.gvpta.ca/2021#/speakers?lang=en
2021 Making a Scene Forum was supported by the following sponsors and funders:

2019 Making a Scene Conference
2019 Making a Scene Conference
Over 200 individuals from the theatre community took part in conference activities at SFU Woodward's Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (May 28, 2019) and The Post at 750 (May 29 & 30, 2019).
Primary Conference Programming
Intimacy Direction Workshop with Siobhan Richardson

Beginner's QLab Workshop
Ephemera 2: An Archiving Party (Closing Event)

Ephemera 2: An Archiving Party (Closing Event)
Ephemera 2: An Archiving Party (Closing Event)
Thursday, May 30, 2019 (FREE) | The Post at 750