Erin Borch and her Arts Management class were already scrambling to organize their symposium, Arts Ahead: Beyond Barriers, but fell behind after facing their own barrier: a five-week faculty strike.
“We were pretty unsure about getting this running,” she said.
With their passion rekindled after returning to school, Borch and her team succeeded, hosting 70 attendees at the Story Arts Centre on February 27.
Our first panel ‘Inclusive & Diverse Communities in the arts’ begins K Eaton @muralroutes A Alibhai @AgaKhanMuseum R Burton @PGuildCanada C C Smith #ontariansforthearts #ArtsAhead2018 pic.twitter.com/gQCxgLIep8
— Arts Ahead (@CCArtsAhead) February 27, 2018
“All the pieces fell in place,” she said. “We all understood our strengths and what we were capable of doing.”
The annual project has students decide on a topic, create marketing materials and contact delegates to host workshops.
We are learning how to do this #activation @unitycharity #ArtsAhead2018 pic.twitter.com/SzIxjBQ0jK
— Arts Ahead (@CCArtsAhead) February 27, 2018
This year, the panels discussed diversity, accessibility, connectivity and colonialism in the arts.
“What we wanted to do was provide a platform and space for open conversation about these issues,” Borch said, “We had such great panellists and a keynote speaker. They all came from different backgrounds in the art community.”
With eight courses on top of organizing a symposium, support from staff is essential.
Our staff member Bremely had a great time learning and connecting at @CCArtsAhead's symposium yesterday, and b-boying with @unitycharity! Thanks to the team of student arts managers for putting on a great event! #ArtsAhead2018 @CentennialEDU pic.twitter.com/ThqWWtaAQf
— Prologue (@PrologueArts) February 28, 2018
Borch says program coordinator, Rebecca Peirson, was “super involved and it was really reassuring.”
The students hope their event leaves a long-lasting impact.
“I think as aspiring arts managers and leaders we want the arts community to be accessible, and that’s in all aspects in the word,” Borch said. “We all kind of have different experiences and feel our culture sector needs to address those better.”
By Bobby Hristova