Announcing The Intersection
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 4, 2015
The Paprika Festival Announces: The Intersection
A conference and party for the new generation of Theatre Artists comes to Toronto.
Toronto, ON – March 4, 2015 – The Paprika Festival announces The Intersection, a conference for the new generation of artists. After fourteen years of presenting theatre created by young artists, Paprika is kicking off its Festival on May 2nd at the Theatre Centre with an entirely new initiative: a day of education, professional networking, and dinner followed by a debate of the contestable statement: Talent and creative endeavour is not enough. Today, and more and more in the future, artistic professionals must focus as much on business skills and audience building as the art itself.
The Intersection is a day of debates, performances, workshops and activities for individuals newly working in the professional theatre world. It will discuss what political and artistic goals matter to the new generation, as well as the practical matters of how to make and sustain a life in the arts today. This event will be a space for young artists to voice their experiences in the professional theatre arts and critically discuss what skills or resources they need as they develop their careers as professional artists. This is a new initiative devoted to supporting the future of Toronto Performance.
“We want to start addressing the things that prevent young artists from accessing mentorship, professional opportunities, and funding. That’s a focus of the debate series. But we also want to talk about theatre itself. What’s exciting right now? What are people making that has never been made before? What kind of theatre is Toronto going to be excited about in ten years? So the workshops are both on artistic forms of performance-making, and professional tools for when you’re just starting out. Then we end the day with a party, featuring music by Birds of Bellwoods, and some exciting surprises”. – Rosamund Small
The event is curated by Paprika Artistic Programs Manager and Dora award-winning playwright Rosamund Small, with Associate Producers: Anika Johnson (co-creator of the Edinburgh Fringe musical Blood Ties), Jeff Ho (performer of SummerWorks hit Unknown Soldier), and Richard Lam (Soulpepper Academy actor, musician and sound designer). The event was conceived and created by Rosamund Small and Artistic Producer Dan Daley to expand on and continue The Paprika Festival’s tradition of training the next generation of young artists.
The day starts off with a casual meet-and-greet for young artists and some of the best professionals currently practicing in the arts. These guests include: Andrea Donaldson (Director and Assistant Artistic Director of Tarragon Theatre), Mayko Nguyen (Actress: Cracked, Rookie Blue, ReGenesis), Robert Binet (National Ballet Choreographic Associate), Anahita Dehbonehie (Associate Designer with Outside The March), Jajube Mandiela (Artistic Director of b current Theatre), and Nina Lee Aquino (Artistic Director of Factory Theatre). This will be followed by a choice of workshops in both artistic and practical skillsets. In the evening, special guests will take part in a debate series focused on the role of young artists in the city, today and in the future. This debate will feature a diverse group of artists and young professionals under 30. The evening will then transform into a late night party featuring live music by acclaimed Toronto band Birds of Bellwoods. The party will also feature interactive art events and a cash bar.
The 2015 Intersection Workshop Leaders
Simon Bloom leads The Digital Toolkit for Early Career Artists: Web Design, Social Media and More
Bloom is the co-Artistic Director of Outside the March, digital dramaturge for the SpiderWebShow, and a professional web developer.
Michael Caldwell leads Bouncing as Practice: Movement for Performance.
Caldwell is a Dora-nominated, Toronto-based choreographer and performer. He has originated roles for many of Canada's esteemed choreographers and companies, and has performed in Europe, Asia, Australia, in the United States and across Canada
Guillermo Verdecchia leads Meditation for Artists: Finding Focus.
Verdecchia is a director, performer, and Governor General award-winning playwright.
Aaron Willis leads Creating Site-Specific Theatre.
Willis is an actor, director, educator, and co-founding artistic director of Convergence Theatre
Pat Bradley & Margo Charlton lead Effective Grant Writing.
Bradley is the Theatre, Major Organizations, and Compass officer for the Ontario Arts Council
Charlton is the Theatre officer for the Toronto Arts Council
TICKETS: Early bird prices will be available on the Paprika Festival website from March 15 – April 15 2015 at paprikafestival.com
The Paprika Festival gratefully acknowledges annual operating and project support from the Ontario Arts Council, and annual operating support from the Toronto Arts Council. This project is also made possible, in part, by the Youth Theatre Training Program of Theatre Ontario, funded by the Ontario Arts Council.
The Paprika Festival is a youth-led performing arts festival celebrating young artists as they create original performances with the support of an entire artistic community. Now in its 14th year, Paprika is year-round festival with programming featuring a diversity of productions, playwrights-in-residence, resident company, creators’ unit, youth advisory board, ongoing mentorship, monthly training days and a vibrant connection to the professional arts community. Paprika’s programming is delivered at no cost to the participants and culminates in a week long festival from May 4 - 10 2015.