Conference
2023 Making a Scene Conference: (re)connection
- June 19, 2023 - Online (Zoom webinar), 11:30am–5:00pm; three sessions throughout the day. Free to attend.
- June 26, 2023 - In person (SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, 149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver), 11:00am–4:00pm - activities, conversations, brainstorming, reflecting, and a hot lunch. Sliding scale registration. Presented in partnership with SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs (SFUW).
- SFU Woodward's Cultural Programs (co-presenter for June 26 in-person programming)
- CUPE BC (sponsor)
- Professional Association of Canadian Theatre (sponsor)
- Actsafe Safety Association (sponsor)
- BC Arts Council and the Province of BC (funder)
- City of Vancouver (funder)
All three sessions online using Zoom. Each 90-minutes. Free to attend.
- Shanae Sodhi
- Angelica Schwartz
- Vivian Li
- Angie Rico
- Reham Cojuangco
- Cheyenne Rouleau
- Layla CameronDr. Layla Cameron is a Lecturer at the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University where their teaching and research is grounded in fat studies and queer cultural studies. In addition to their work in academia, they explore issues pertaining to fatness through film, printmaking, and other creative practices.
- Pedro Chamale
- Steffanie Davis
Steffanie Davis (she/her) is a professional actor, singer and dancer. This year she was one of ten plus-size artists from across Canada chosen to participate in the first ever Leading Players Project in Toronto with EveryBody On Stage. Select theatre credits include: The Killer Queen in We Will Rock You (Theatre Under The Stars); Cabaret (Raincity Theatre); Grease (Chemainus); Stile & Drewe's The Three Little Pigs, Velveteen Rabbit, Go, Dog.Go! (Carousel Theatre); The Best Laid Plans (Patrick Street Productions). Next up: Isabelle in the world premiere of Someone Like You on stage at the BMO Theatre with the Arts Club Theatre Company this October. After that catch her playing Belle in this year's East Van Panto! IG: @Steffwithanff
Session 3: Questions I'm Asking Myself: Introspective conversations with leaders and practitioners
- Boomer Stacey
Boomer first joined PACT in 2010 and, after serving the organization in a variety of positions, transitioned to the role of PACT’s Executive Director in 2019. As he is currently the outgoing ED at PACT, he is also Artistic Producer at Boca del Lupo and an Artistic Advisor at the New Victory Theater in New York City. Boomer has also provided leadership for the International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) based in Philadelphia, PA, as Executive Director, as well as Artistic Director of the Milk International Children’s Festival of the Arts at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Boomer exhibits nomadic tendencies, is a social introvert, loves to cook, excels at gazing into campfires and lives to explore the coastlines of the world. - Kenji Maeda
Kenji’s experiences are diverse and grounded in his passion for the arts, education, and building community, and influenced by his Uchinanchu heritage. In addition to his role at GVPTA, Kenji is the Project Director for SEARA (Sector Equity for Anti-Racism in the Arts), and an arts and culture consultant. He currently sits on the board of Mass Culture, a national organization where research and the cultural sector intersect, and an alum of the Banff Centre's Cultural Leadership Program. He loves spreadsheets, chewy chocolate chip cookies, and his husband, Alan.
- Sliding scale pricing (from $0–$75+GST) to accommodate a range of financial needs and reduce barriers to participation. Fees go toward financially supporting other theatre artists and workers to attend the conference. (Registration has closed)
- Up to 20 individuals were paid $200 each to attend the conference, and offer a brief post-conference reflection to GVPTA.
- Priority given to individuals who require financial support in order to attend the conference.
- The names of those selected will not be shared publicly.
- Initial closing date to submit an application will be 4pm, Thursday, June 15, as initial batch of invitations will be sent out on Friday, June 16.
- Applications will be accepted after June 15, if spots are still available.
- Questions can be directed to executive director Kenji Maeda at kenji@gvpta.ca.
- Masks: Masks recommended for the in-person event but not required. Attendees who preferred to sit at a table with other attendees wearing a mask could make that request in the registration form.
- Wheelchairs: SFU's Goldcorp Centre for the Arts is wheelchair accessible.
- ASL interpreters
- June 19 (online) - In attendance for all online webinars.
- June 26 (in-person) - Available upon request by 4pm, June 15 through the registration form.
- Captioning: Auto-captioning provided for the Zoom webinar component on June 19.
- Recording: The online sessions on June 19 were recorded and shared online. The in-person event on June 26 was not recorded.
- Financial: We offered both a sliding scale registration fee ($0–$75+GST) as well as an offer of $200 to be paid to up to 20 participants who required additional financial support in order to attend the June 26 event.
- Scent-reduced: We ask attendees to refrain from using and wearing scented products at the conference, in order to respect and include individuals who may have allergies or sensitivities to common chemicals and fragrances.
Co-presented by:
Making a Scene 2023 Sponsored by:
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
2024 Making a Scene webinars & gathering
GVPTA's annual Making a Scene programming offers attendees the chance to listen, learn, and delve into discussions with colleagues, friends and new acquaintances, all of whom are passionate about theatre.
This year, we shifted from a traditional conference format in response to the evolving needs of our community:
- Monday, June 17 - An online day of industry panels and conversations based on the theme of taking care (links to recordings now available below);
- Monday, June 24 - An in-person gathering focused on the theme of restoration and nourishment for the theatre community at the BMO Theatre Centre in Vancouver.
Making a Scene Online: taking care (webinars, June 17)
Making a Scene Online: taking care (webinars, June 17)
- Cultivating Joy & Care In Our Practice (10am–11:30am PDT)
with Maiko Yamamoto, Derek Chan (陳嘉昊), Fay Nass, & Shawn Macdonald - Care and Creation in the Face of the Climate Crisis (12pm–1:30pm PDT)
with Vicki Stroich, David Geary, Jodi Lammiman, & Pedro Chamale - Practices of Care When Working With Challenging and Provocative Material (2pm–3:30pm PDT)
with Omari Newton, Aryn Mott, & Paige Louter
FREE. ASL interpretation and auto-captioning were provided.
Webinar 1: Cultivating Joy & Care In Our Practice
- Moderator: Maiko Yamamoto, co-founder and Artistic Director of Theatre Replacement;
- Derek Chan (陳嘉昊), playwright, director, translator, and performer; Artistic Director of Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre;
- Fay Nass, community-engaged director, producer, art manager and educator; Artistic Director of the frank theatre company and founder/Artistic Director of Aphotic Theatre;
- Shawn Macdonald, actor, writer, educator, director; Managing Co-Artistic Director of Realwheels Theatre.
Webinar 2: Care & Creation in the Face of the Climate Crisis
- Moderator: Vicki Stroich, Artistic and Environmental Programs Manager of Caravan Farm Theatre;
- David Geary (Taranaki Māori), playwright, screenwriter, fiction writer, director, LMDA dramaturg and educator;
- Jodi Lammiman, eco-spiritual director, artist, and community facilitator; founder of Refugia Retreats;
- Pedro Chamale, director, playwright, performer; Artistic Director of rice & beans theatre.
Webinar 3: Practices of Care When Working With Challenging & Provocative Material
- Moderator: Omari Newton, actor, writer, director and producer
- Aryn Mott, Queer, non-binary performer, certified mental health coordinator and intimacy coordinator/director;
- Paige Louter, queer theatre creator and producer; Co-Artistic Producer of ITSAZOO Productions and Operations Manager of Currently Arts.
Making a Scene Gathering: restoration & nourishment (in person, June 24)
Making a Scene Gathering: restoration & nourishment (in person, June 24)
11:00am-4:30pm PDT
L-R from top: Tasha Faye Evans, Jason Sazinski, Jeanette Kotowich, Keely O'Brien, and Shizuka Kai.
Thank you to our 2024 Making a Scene sponsors!
Masks and safety supplies sponsored by Opera Mariposa
Air purifiers supplied by CleanAir604