How do we come together?

This year The Culture Congress poses the question How do we come together? — artist to artist, artist to presenter and artist to audience. Through a series of informal talks, roundtable discussions, post-show parties and game-nights, Culture Congress intends to break down the walls that can  separate artist, presenter, audience – all of whom are necessary to any creative work.

Irish Focus

We have invited artistic programmers from Ireland to join this discussion. They will share and compare their Irish experiences – as a culture similar to ours and yet so profoundly different in its world perspective. Discussion topics include mentorship, the Canadian presenting ecology and building community. The Theatre Centre and Harbourfront Centre acknowledge the support of Theatre Junction in making the Irish Delegation possible.

Mentorship

Mentorship is the cornerstone of this year’s Free Fall. The Culture Congress provides a forum to explore and express our national mentorship identity. Over three days, our afternoon series will feature Free Fall senior artists Hillar Liitoja (theatre), Tanya Mars (performance art) and Bill James (dance), who continue to build their careers pushing the boundaries of performance. Each mentorship talk will spotlight one of these vital creators in conversation with artists they have mentored over their long careers.

Participation in The Culture Congress 2010 is FREE.  You just need to register by emailing: culturecongress@theatrecentre.org

ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24

REGISTRATION, MEET & GREET, and TOUR OF THE THEATRE CENTRE

The Theatre Centre – 1pm

Pick up your Culture Congress schedule. Chat with other participants, the festival co-curators and meet the artists. Those curious can sneak a backstage look at The Theatre Centre.

OPENING PARTY

Harbourfront Centre – 10pm

The Culture Congress opens with a Stampede ‘Late-Night’ Breakfast in conjunction with Theatre Junction’s On the Side of the Road (Calgary).

THURSDAY, MARCH 25

MENTORSHIP IN CONVERSATION:  Hillar Liitoja / DNA Theatre

Harbourfront Centre, Miss Lou’s Room – 3pm

COMMUNITY INFO SESSION

with Programming Directors of Harbourfront Centre Harbourfront Centre, Miss Lou’s Room – 5.30pm

POST-SHOW PARTY

The Theatre Centre / Cream Tangerine Gallery & Café – 10pm

Mix and mingle after the show at the festival hot-spot Cream Tangerine in celebration of opening night of The Chop Theatre’s KISMET one to one hundred (Vancouver).

FRIDAY, MARCH 26

PRESENTING YOUR CITY

The Theatre Centre – 12pm

Join our Irish guests as they present their cities- Belfast, Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway– and discuss the trends, concerns and curiosities influencing their artistic communities as well as their respective creation/ presentation models.

MENTORSHIP IN CONVERSATION: Tanya Mars

The Theatre Centre – 3pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 27

FOCUSING ON EMERGING ARTISTIC PRACTICE

The Theatre Centre – 12pm

Informal discussions around what it means to create artistically challenging work and how do we make it both sustainable and viable?

MENTORSHIP IN CONVERSATION: Bill James / Atlas Moves Watching

The Theatre Centre – 3pm

GAMES NIGHT

Hub 14 Performance Space – 10pm

A fun, friendly night of music, dancing, lounging and playing games (rumour has it – there will be wii).

SUNDAY, MARCH 28

MAPPING CANADA’S PRESENTING ECOLOGY

The Theatre Centre – 11am

Curious about the map in the lobby? The Culture Congress is pleased to launch Harbourfront Centre’s new interactive mapping project, intent on notating and tracking the ecology of performance in Canada starting with presenting. You and others across the country are encouraged to add to the map in person or online throughout the entire Free Fall Festival. This final presentation will allow an open-ended conversation about what information we should seek to uncover: how will we map the future of our discipline(s).  If you are interested in participating please email: performancemapping@gmail.com.  Specific information on how to access the google map that will form the basis of this project and an invitation to collaborate will follow.

ARTISTS’ BREAKFAST

The Theatre Centre /Cream Tangerine Gallery & Café – 12pm

As it began, The Culture Congress closes with breakfast. This time, the public is invited to meet the artists of Free Fall ‘10 over an Artists’ Breakfast.

Please continue to visit this page for updates.

For further information and to register please email:

culturecongress@harbourfrontcentre.com

or

culturecongress@theatrecentre.com

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=imQt2PUkMNfQW6qVfFo1Hg_3d_3d

Here are a few photos of the event

An Open Space

A Paolozza

cc-notes

Here is a video of Lauren Bride’s plans for the Artist Tour:

Thanks again – and see you all soon -

The Culture Congress Team