Re-imagining
The Arts and Culture Landscape

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE •
July 26 — 27, 2022
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Wanna Know What We're All about?

Culture’s Compass seeks to highlight themes which are relevant to the current arts and culture climate, as well as highlight and celebrate the accomplishments of industry professionals and artists. It is not only an initiative that brings together the arts and culture communities, but a space to innovate and envision the future possibilities of the arts.

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Supported by

The City of Toronto & Humber College

Conference At a Glance

This year, we "Re-imagined the Arts and Culture Landscape" by engaging in meaningful conversations around the current industry climate, while leaning in to the possibilities and directions that steer us towards fostering impactful change.

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Conference Agenda

10:15 am — 10:15 am

Introduction

Speaker: Jennifer Gordon

Land acknowledgement and welcome message
10:15 am — 11:15 am

Keynote: Art after the Virus: The Politics of Imagination

Keynote: Zainub Verjee

The keynote reflected on some pressing questions of our times. In reimagining the Arts, what does to re-imagine entail? Caught in this contemporary political crisis of governance, labour, and agency, where do arts fit in? To understand change, how can we imagine a different future or rather, can we? Can arts show a way forward?
11:30 am — 12:00 pm

Musical Performance

Artist: Kobèna Aquaa-Harrison

Kobèna performed an enigmatic and eclectic musical performance.
12:15 pm — 1:15 pm

Panel: The Role Of The Artist

Moderator: Kyla Ross
Panellist: Marisol D'Andrea, Mason Victoria

In this panel, we deconstructed the titles behind the term artist as they wear multiple hats. Panellists spoke about their role in the creative economy and how we can re-frame the artist's role to combat precarity and properly place value on their work.
2:15 pm — 3:15 pm

Panel: Diversity Through Innovation

Moderator: Devyani Saltzman
Panellists: Liz Winkelaar, Parul Pandya and
Renata Soutter, Umbereen Inayet


We discussed innovation as a gateway for diversity, multi-disciplinary creators, excellence in the arts and the growth of folk and everyday arts.

3:30 pm — 4:00 pm

Performance

Artist Asia Clarke

Asia Clarke explored three key themes that have helped to direct the vision and success of her arts-based business:

1. Making Meaning: How can art-based businesses and initiatives be a conduit for Pan-African social/economic development?

2. Way Finding: How can I find ways to balance my other career goals with my artistic passions?

3. Growing/Adapting: How can I transition between my different art practices and redefine myself to take advantage of new life opportunities?

View more of her work below:

Wild Moon Jewelry
10:00 am — 10:15 am

Introduction

Speaker: Jennifer Gordon

Land acknowledgement + Welcome Message
10:15 am — 11:15 am

Opening Discussion

Speaker: Pat Tobin, Sanjay Shahani and Patti Pon

A discussion on arts and cultural policy
with Pat Tobin, Sanjay Shahani and Patti Pon.
11:30 am — 12:00 pm

Dance Performance

Aztec dance performance by Asalia Arellano

Asalia presented a brief explanation about the elements included in aztec dance , explaining the sequence of the aztec dance drum, explaining basic steps of aztec dance, showing and explaining one aztec dance under the name "antique" one of the  oldest dance kept in the aztec tradition
12:15 pm — 1:15 pm

Panel: Spaces and Places

Moderator: Isabel Cisterna
Panellists: Jessa Agilo, Menon Dwarka
and Mojan Jianfar

In this panel, we discussed cultural hubs, placemaking
and digital spaces.
2:15 pm — 3:15 pm

Panel: Value In The Arts

Moderator: Jennifer Gordon
Panellist: Kate Cornell, Robin Sokoloski

and Olivia Shortt

Our panellists discussed how the arts fit into today's financially driven world, different forms of impact, how to translate value to compensation for artists and shifting the dialogue around value.
3:30 pm — 4:00 pm

Performance: Poetry

Performing poets: Pamela Mordecai and Shelly Grace


Our poets performed consecutively
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