Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre and Jumblies Theatre (Toronto) and in cooperation with Carnegie Community Centre/Oppenheimer Park presents:

2nd Downtown Eastside ARTS FOR ALL INSTITUTE: Oppen-Art
Nov. 9-14, 2010, Oppenheimer Park, 488 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC

The 2nd Downtown Eastside Arts For All Institute- Oppen-Art is a five day intensive course that combines community art leadership training with participation in a community art project. It’s all inspired by plans for historic Oppenheimer Park as a place for growing, learning, art and healing.

During the morning, the institute will provide a small group of participants with in-depth leadership training in the principles and practices of community-engaged art; the tremendous value it has for community; and things you need to know to launch your own project. Activities include presentations, discussions, hands-on art-making, creative explorations and resources to take home.

During the afternoon, participants join a larger community workshop to collaboratively generate designs, ideas, stories, music and food that celebrate Oppenheimer Park, gardens, healthy food, right-to-food initiatives and indigenous plants. The week culminates with a feast for all participants during which the week’s activities will be shared, performed and documented.

Who is the Institute for?
The project offers two streams of participation:
Leadership Training (all day)
For people interested and experienced in art and other processes that engage communities; and Downtown Eastside-involved community artists ready for leadership roles.
Application required. Six to eight applicants will be selected.
Free Community Workshops (afternoon only)
For Downtown Eastside community members interested in generating creative material to inspire future gardens, right-to-food initiatives and community art projects. Registration required. Up to 20 participants per day.
Please contact Sandy MacKeigan at Oppenheimer Park if you or your group would like to take part.

What are the course topics?
Mornings: The “nuts and bolts” of facilitating community arts projects: articulating a vision, planning and forming partnerships, writing grants, managing budgets, arts-based research, facilitation with diverse people and in challenging situations, interdisciplinary collaborations, documentation, evaluation, legacy and sustainability; questions of ethics and aesthetics.

Afternoons: Art-making workshops with the community that explore garden designs, music, edible art, food, and indigenous plants in an environment designed to support community-building.

Faculty Instructors
The faculty includes two of Canada’s leading community artists, Ruth Howard (Jumblies Theatre, Toronto) and Savannah Walling (Vancouver Moving Theatre, Downtown Eastside)assisted by the staff of Oppenheimer Park. Culinary artist Rosemary Georgeson (Coast Salish, urban ink productions) will organize fresh, seasonal refreshments and collaborate in activities that integrate seasonal ritual, food, storytelling and art-making.

contact: 416-203-8428         info@jumbliestheatre.org         Donate now