Northern Exposure Conference - Virtual Edition

OCTOBER 22 - 25, 2020 

There are unique opportunities and challenges faced by those who create, produce or present the arts in rural settings.

With COVID-19 precautions at the top of mind, Island Mountain Arts will be bringing the 6th annual Northern Exposure Conference to a computer near you! This year’s gathering will transition from an in-person affair to a virtual experience, and will feature four consecutive days of online workshops, panels, artist showcases and keynote conversations October 22 - 25.

This years conference will have a strong emphasis on sustainability in the sector and the need for systems change to ensure more support overall for working artists and cultural workers.

Carla Stephenson will be the primary facilitator for the weekend, with support from a small team from Island Mountain Arts (Julie Fowler, Peter Mynett, Oryanna Ross, Elyssia Sasaki)

Island Mountain Arts acknowledges that the work of this conference spans a digital footprint across Turtle Island and beyond. We acknowledge our office operations are carried out on the shared territory of seven nations: Lhtako, Nazko, Lhoosk’uz, Ulkatcho, ?Esdilagh, Xatśūll, Simpcw, and Lheidli.

2020 SCHEDULE

Thursday, October 22nd

The following are Online sessions (register for the links)

Opening Circle

Time: 09:00 PDT

This session is the official welcome to the Virtual Edition of the Northern Exposure Conference. Please join this offering of introduction and intention setting, led by Meeka Noelle Morgan and Julie Fowler.

Emergent Change Workshop - Systems Change in the BC Arts Ecosystem

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 PDT

Facilitated by Carla Stephenson

What is emergence? How can we begin to design for progress and break out of the status quo? Our current system is only working for a few. How can we change the system to be more inclusive and more representational of the many varied voices of BC artists?

This session will provide a good introduction to the work of Systems change. We wilI explore models use real examples from the BC Arts ecosystem. Participants are asked to bring their ideas as we work toward mapping a new way forward.

***

Unite: In Conversation with Erin BenjamiN

Time: 13:00 -14:00 PDT

Join us for a conversation with Erin Benjamin!

President & CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association since its creation in 2014, Erin Benjamin has worked in the Canadian music industry for over 25 years – first as a touring and recording artist and then as executive director of both Folk Music Ontario (2001) and the Canadian Arts Presenting Association (2008). Founder of the Ottawa Women in the Music Industry group and a passionate, highly-regarded leader, Erin currently serves on the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports’ Ontario Live Music Working Group as co-chair, Ontario Creates (formerly the OMDC) Music Industry Advisory Committee, Algonquin College’s Music Industry Arts Advisory Committee and is a board member the Unison Benevolent Fund, MEGAPHONO and RBC Ottawa Bluesfest.  In 2017 she enjoyed roles as both the vice-chair of the Ottawa Juno Host Committee and co-chair of Canadian Music Week. In May 2019, she was honoured with the United Way’s Community Ambassador of the Year Award for her work in leading and producing the impactful “After the Storm” benefit concert, raising tens of thousands of dollars for victims of Ottawa’s devastating September, 2018 tornadoes. Erin lives in a vibrant downtown Ottawa neighbourhood with her awesome kids, son Oliver and daughter Toby.

Afternoon SHOWCASE | LAL + The Melawmen Collective

Time: 14:00 - 15:00 PDT

Enjoy a set from Polaris Prize long-listed electronic duo LAL (Toronto's downtempo soul saviours comprised of Rosina Kazi and Nicholas Murray); and The Melawmen Collective, a contemporary Indigenous alternative fusion woven together with elements of hip/trip hop, rock/folk, righteous rhymes and rich harmonies, drawing in a wide variety of listeners through sharing their own journeys of life through their musical evolution together.

Expanded bios for showcase artists can be found here: http://support-imarts.com/neshowcase

Building Community: Keynote with Rosina Kazi of LAL

Time: 15:30 - 16:30 PDT

Rose from the electronic protest duo LAL will speak about how LAL's vision is about creating and sustaining an ecosystem in the arts versus focusing on industry

***

Evening SHOWCASE | Naomi Shore

Time: 19:00 - 19:30 PDT

Before diving into the evenings panel, join us for a set from Fort St John’s Naomi Shore. With surging vocals buoying vulnerable songwriting, Shore is sure to deliver a performance that is contemplative and clever.
Expanded bios for showcase artists can be found here: http://support-imarts.com/neshowcase

Been there, done it: A Pecha Kucha on what we learned in 2020

Time: 19:30 - 20:30** PDT

20 slides, 20 seconds each, 7 minutes: Join us for this fast-format sharing session designed to keep us moving and learning. We’ll hear from some folks who pivoted well in 2020, the cost reality of the changes we’ve made, and what people planning for 2021.

Speakers include Sydney Black (Nelson District Arts Council), Julie Fowler (Island Mountain Arts + ArtsWells), and Erin Collins (Cygnet Folk Festival). moderated by Inga Petri.

About Sydney Black: Sydney Black is the Executive Director of the Nelson and District Arts Council (NDAC),which presents a number of projects each year intended to foster the arts in Nelson and District including Nelson ArtWalk, Hidden Creek Artist Residency, Appetite for Art, the Dance Educator’s Showcase, the Rural Artist Support Weekend, the Nelson International Mural Festival and Bigby Place Arts Initiative.

About Julie Fowler: Julie Fowler is the Executive and Artistic Director for Island Mountain Arts and the ArtsWells Festival. With over 17 years of experience in non-profit management and festival direction, Julie is a resource in all aspects of organizational development. Julie also sits on the boards of Arts BC and Folk Music Canada.

About Erin Collins: The multi-talented Erin Collins is a musician and songwriter; writer and composer; Arts administrator and programmer; and naturopath. Erin is the Artistic Director of the Cygnet Folk Festival (TAS, Australia), held 2nd weekend in January every year. Cygnet Folk Festival has developed a reputation as one of the premier cultural events in Tasmania's arts calendar. Every year in January the small community of this southern Tasmanian town presents a tremendous variety of music, dance, and related arts, over three wonderful days.

**This session will be followed by informal time to hang out via zoom - fix yourself an evening beverage and let’s chat!

Friday, October 23

The following are Online sessions (register for the links)

The Daily Donut*

Time: 09:00 – 09:15 PDT

Routine is like a pair of sweatpants - maybe not glamorous, but oh so comfortable! So circle up today (and Saturday/Sunday at the same time) and sprinkle a little networking into your morning - this is your chance to talk informally with other virtual attendees before we jump into work for the day!  

*Donuts not included

What could Real Inclusion and Equity look like? - An Emergent Change Workshop

Time: 09:15 -10:15 PDT

Facilitated by Carla Stephenson

Using a combination, of presentation, self-reflection exercises  and teamwork, participants will learn the foundations of diversity and inclusion frameworks and language. We will discuss the effects of colonialism that we are all products of. 
This work is inclusive and is meant not to isolate or blame, but rather to get us all working in the same direction, laying the groundwork for authentic inclusion.  We will begin to discuss how to move our industry deeper into this work. 

Funding & Support Round Up

Time: 10:30 - 12:00 PDT

Featuring:
Jessica Isman - Department of Canadian Heritage
Julie Dobbin - Associate Program Officer for Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples programs at Canada Council for the Arts
Jennifer McKerral - Program Officer with the Explore and Create arts granting programs at Canada Council for the Arts
Jimmy Leitch - Program Manager for the Music BC Industry Association (and expert in all things FACTOR)
Joanna Maratta - Executive Director, BC Touring Council
Elliott Hearte - Director, Programs & Services, Arts BC
Derek Baker - Director, Economic Development, Northern Development Initiative Trust

Moderated by Elyssia Sasaki

Northern Exposure has invited funders and support organizations to share what opportunities are available, including the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Music BC (FACTOR), Northern Development Initiative Trust, Arts BC, and the BC Touring Council.

Time: 12:00 - 13:30 PDT

Funding Rooms - Zoom breakouts

Direct from the previous session, panelists from the previous session will break out into individual rooms. This is your chance to ask specialized questions about the programs they offer.

***

Afternoon SHOWCASE | Only a Visitor + Hujunē

Time: 14:00 -15:00 PDT

This afternoon provides melodical delights in the keys of Art Pop and Indigenous Contemporary…

Only A Visitor is a quintet that blurs genre boundaries by straddling the line between art music and pop. Classically trained, composer and arranger Robyn Jacob’s eclectic songwriting showcases vocal techniques and arrangements that feature asymmetrical rhythms twisted around a pop skeleton.
From Hujunē:

Hadih! Hujunē means , those who sing in Dakelh , the language of our people . We chose this name accurately as we often have guests perform with us ,as you will see in our showcase we have one of our  brilliant elders,Angie Todd-Dennis and our dear friend , poet and musician Meeka Morgan-Hall. Hujunē would like to dedicate our performance to all those who are actively healing ..... thus adding to the collective healing of our Mother Earth and all life upon her.

Expanded bios for showcase artists can be found here: http://support-imarts.com/neshowcase

Navigating the Great Divides with S.M. Steele

A case study of Li Keur, Riel's Heart of the North on cross-cultural boundaries, fiscal management, and the ecologies of Indigenous engagement with European opera

Time: 15:00 - 16:30 PDT

Led by Dr. Suzanne Steele

This session looks at the experience of writing and co-managing a cross-cultural, half-million-dollar project over the course of several years.  Steele will offer lessons learned on managing the good, the bad, and the challenging of this complex work written in six languages (70% of the script is in Indigenous languages), and placed within the context of Truth and Reconciliation, and now, during  COVID. Participants are encouraged to share thoughts and experiences in what promises to be a fruitful conversation for our times.

***

Evening Showcase | Sarah Osborne

Time: 19:00 - 19:30 PDT

Sarah Osborne serves up sultry folk from the west coast. This songstress and seaqueen blends jazz, blues, country and the weather. Self taught on guitar, and a voice that emulates divas of the past.

Expanded bios for showcase artists can be found here: http://support-imarts.com/neshowcase

2 Rivers Remix: The Making of the Virtual Feast**

Time: 19:30 - 20:30 PDT

2 Rivers Remix: The Making of The Virtual Feast features Meeka Morgan (Artistic Director) and Sabina Dennis (Artist & Supportive advisor) as they delve into the experience to create the all Indigenous 2 Rivers Remix virtual festival this year.

Founder of the Indigenous arts and music group & band The Melawmen Collective, Meeka Noelle Morgan, M.A., is Secwepemc /Nuu-Chah-Nulth/St'at'imc/ Nlaka'pamux from the interior of what is now know as BC and Vancouver Island - a singer/songwriter, writer, storyteller, workshop designer, facilitator, producer, that is currently the Artistic Director of 2 Rivers Remix Festival, an all Indigenous Music and Arts festival, which was produced virtually this year. Sabina Dennis is a Dakelh woman, mother, artist and activist who formed the band Hujunē, which aims to transmit ancient knowledge passed on by her ancestors for the purpose we carry as 2 legged ... caretakers, protectors, stewards, natural law enforcers, who has been dedicating much of her life's energy to the defense of Mother Earth, especially alongside the Wet'suwet'en people, lands and waters.

Meeka & Sabina share their journey of kinship that formed their bond of activism and artistry today, which took them on divergent paths leading to the same vision: How to carry on the lessons of our ancestors in these 'modern' (yet seemingly primitive) times in contemporary ways, in our own unique ways, that still have an impact on being the caretakers, protectors, stewards, natural law enforcers, that we have been since time immemorial. How can we continue developing our kaleidoscope connections of artists, activists,and allies while finding ways to carry out our Indigenous values, traditions and cultures in our own unique ways? In this evolution of our culture, how can we continue to assert (as our ancestors have had to in even harsher ways), and summon the blood memory within the land and people who occupy these lands in the here and now, into the future, in a way that holds fast to our utmost values of reciprocity, respect, true care and love?

Supporting and advising one another in their work, Sabina and Meeka discuss the significance of events like 2 Rivers Remix Festival ~ the effect it has on the organizers, the artists, and the audience, as well as the bonds it builds and sustains ~ and what kind of ripple effect that has into our reality, our world, our universe, into ourselves, leading us to fundamental change.

Moderated by Julie Fowler.

**This session will be followed by informal time to hang out via zoom!

Saturday, October 24

The following are Online sessions (register for the links)

The Daily Donut

Time: 09:00 PDT - 09:15 PDT

Spaces of Belonging - Intersectionality and Decolonizing BC Arts

09:15 - 10:00 PDT

Facilitated by Carla Stephenson

How do we build spaces of true belonging? How do we create safer, braver spaces that allow people to enter with their whole selves? This session will look at intersectionality and decolonizing and how our organizations can be truly open to all folx.

For an introduction to intersectionality -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDtnfQ9FHc
For an introduction to decolonization + its role in the arts -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP9x1NnCWNY

Appreciation, Exploitation, Extraction- A panel to discuss Cultural Appropriation in the arts

Time: 10:00 - 12:00 PDT

Presented with support from The Penticton Art Gallery
Featuring Panelists George Elliott Clarke, Kia Kadiri, Chelsea D.E Johnson, Shakura S’Aida
Moderated by Carla Stephenson + Paul Crawford

Earlier this summer, the Penticton Art Gallery exhibited an incredible show of Bob Ross’ work. At the opening event some attendees dressed in Bob’s signature curly-haired wig. There was a complaint sighting cultural appropriation. Is a perm/afro wig appropriation?  What larger questions are there about appropriation. Paul Crawford, curator, and ED of the P.A.G. has invited these artists together to discuss and dig deeper. 

This Event is presented with support from the Penticton Art Gallery, and free for the public to attend.

Panel is followed by Lunch breakOutS - Emergent Topics

***

Afternoon SHOWCASE | HALF/ASIAN with Amy The CODA + Airik Clark

Time: 14:00 - 15:00

HALF/ASIAN with Amy the CODA is a mixed race (Cantonese/British) musician making retro-synth pop on an 80's synth and a Child Of Deaf Adult interpreting the lyrics in her mother tongue; sign language.
Airik Clark is a Toronto transplant based in Northern BC creating a musical mix of toe tapping acoustic rhythms and ear tickling, soulful vocal expression.

Together, they make up Saturday afternoon’s dreamy musical showcase

Expanded bios for showcase artists can be found here: http://support-imarts.com/neshowcase.

past>now>next

Time: 15:00 - 16:15

Panelists: Deb Beaton Smith - Beat Music Management
Don Parman - ActSafe BC
Carla Stephenson - Session Moderator
Elyssia Sasaki - Session Assistant

A presentation on the project to create a standardized Music Festival Survey with subsequent Economic and Socio-Cultural Reports.  Deb’s research project, funded by Creative BC, was done during the 2019 festival season.   What was the potential value of the sum of data for the music sector?  How did this idea come about?  What were the results?  Could this survey be a provincial standard?  Then along came COVID ...full stop....followed by the formation of the BC Music Festival Collective and then the provincial request to create reopening guidelines for BC Festivals and Outdoor Events.  There were many contributors to the guideline report, including Don Parman from ActSafe.  Don will talk next about the health restrictions and protocols during COVID-19, now and moving into 2021.  We’d like to end the session by opening it up for discussion on ways we can best move forward keeping health, vitality and prosperity of our community at front of mind.. 

A Healthy Industry

Time: 16:30 - 17:30

Led by Chandler McMurray-Ives
Anxiety, Depression, Addictions, Chronic Pain, Hormone issues, Digestive issues, and a host of other chronic stress related diseases are super prevalent in the music industry, both for artists, as well as industry leaders, which is even more pervasive during this time of unknown, loss, and daily pivoting. This workshop will look at these symptoms head on, discuss contributing root causes, open discussion into bigger issues, and give you usable information on how you can positively impact your health, now. 

***

EVENING SHOWCASE | The Northwest Kid

Time: 19:00 -19:30 PDT

The Northwest Kid (aka NWK) performs Alternative Hip-Hop music and has been actively performing within the Canadian music scene for the last decade. Some of NWK's previous releases include Mixed-blood Mixtape, Mob Medicine, Dozy & NWK and Transformation.

Expanded bios for showcase artists can be found here: http://support-imarts.com/neshowcase

Bridging the Gap: Accessibility in the Arts

Time: 19:30 - 20:30** PDT

Featuring Amy Braun, Laurie Landry and Kait Blake of Kickstart
Moderated by Elliott Hearte
Presented with support from Arts BC

Presented with ASL interpretation from Lisz and Stephanie

This session will explore Deaf and disability arts and culture, allyship, and sustainable change. How are artists and arts administrators working to bring Deaf and disability cultures and experiences to their work and the sector? How do we move beyond accommodation towards meaningful inclusion, collaboration, and co-creation?

Please Note, this presentation includes a recording of a live, unrehearsed interpretation, targeted to a specific audience. Interpreting services provided electronically are often subject to vagaries of the internet and audio connections and, in addition, may include errors or omissions. Thank you for your understanding.

Looking for ASL for your programs?
Contact Lisz Keallen A.S.L. INTERPRETING INC. E-mail: asl.interpreting@telus.net

**This session will be followed by informal time to hang out via zoom.

Sunday, October 25

The following are Online sessions (register for the links)

The Daily Donut

Time: 09:00 - 09:30 PDT

IRL + Digital Realities For Rural Presenters and Festivals

Time: 09:30 - 11:00 PDT

Facilitated by Inga Petri

The rush to digital due to the public health response to COVID-19 has made clear that the Canadian performing arts eco-system has been ill-equipped to take advantage of the opportunities of the digital realm, and to mitigate its challenges. But more than COVID, the touring sector and festivals had already been discussing their responsibilities and response to climate change. With the advent of 5G networks new kinds of digital opportunities will inevitably arise.

In this workshop, Inga will outline the current situation in digitizing the performing arts across Canada, share examples of successes achieved and leading work of relevance to festivals in rural and remote locations. She'll offer her practitioner's perspectives of the pitfalls and opportunities both in real life and in the digital world as artists, and present a profound hope for the future of festivals,  venues and artists that are looking for ways to remain viable and sustainable in the long run.

The way forward for the BC Arts Ecosystem

Time: 11:00- 12:30 PDT

Facilitated by Carla Stephenson

In this session, we will synthesize all of the ideas that we have gathered from the conference. 
We will co-create a living document that participants will have moving forward as we take our work into the world.

One to Ones - Conference Lunch Dates

***

Afternoon Showcase | GR Gritt

Time: 14:00 - 14:30 PDT

G.R. Gritt is a Juno Award-winning, Transgender, Anishinaabe/Métis artist, pulling effortlessly from the past to create soulful futurisms, weaving vocals, guitar and electronic melodies.

Expanded bios for showcase artists can be found here: http://support-imarts.com/neshowcase

BE SEEN but more importantly BE HEARD - Live Streaming 101 Workshop

Time: 14:30 - 15:30 PDT

Led by G.R. Gritt

In this workshop, G.R. Gritt will breakdown the basics of setting up your live stream, common barriers that performers/streamers have and troubleshooting your streaming setup, including audio hardware, broadcasting/streaming software, and recording/creation software.

Research 2 ResiliEnce w/ Ronnie Dean Harris

Time: 15:30 - 17:00 PDT

Research 2 Resilience is a look at how research can be a tool for resurgence and revitalization of culture, history, cosmology and existence within a framework of sovereignty + nationhood.

Over the past 5 years, Ronnie aka Ostwelve aka Malō:yhleq has focused on cultural + ethnographic research of his ancestors + connected communities + cosmologies. The findings have led him to many new understandings and even more questions on how we will use research as a collective contribution to real relational change within the colonial framework.

Final Wrap up and Closing Circle

Time: 17:00 PDT