TAPA is proud to partner with Arts Consultants Canada (ACCA), Balancing Act, The AFC, and The Canadian Green Alliance as our Community Partners.
These organizations are at work in our community, creating and executing social change initiatives, which TAPA is glad to be sharing with our members on an ongoing basis.
Arts Consultants Canada (ACCA)
Arts Consultants Canada is a professional association of consultants who provide services to clients in the arts and cultural sector in Canada.
Established in 2006, ACCA has a growing network of members across the country working in both official languages. ACCA’s members work to improve the health, effectiveness and sustainability of the arts. They provide services to organizations and individuals in the performing arts, visual arts and crafts, museums and galleries, writing and publishing, and new media, other arts-related projects and planning initiatives.
On the ACCA website (artsconsultants.ca), organizations and individuals looking for assistance will find a searchable database of member consultants including their geographic location, specializations and background.
Balancing Act
Balancing Act advocates for greater accessibility, equality and inclusion for caregivers* working in the performing arts.
We collaborate with artists, arts workers, and arts organizations to develop pathways for change at an individual, organizational, and systemic level.
*Balancing Act defines a ‘caregiver’ as individuals who care for children, aging adults, those in need of personal or primary care, and anyone who self-identifies as a caregiver. We acknowledge that care work can include blood, adopted, or chosen family, colleagues, and caring for others out of duty.
Balancing Act ’22-23 Steering Committee
- Intisar Awisse – Playwright and Dramaturg
- Maev Beaty – Actor, Writer, Voice Artist
- Brefny Caribou – Actor, Writer, Creator
- Ella Cooper – Founder, Black Women Film! Canada
- Lisa Karen Cox – Director; Assistant Professor, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Penny Couchie – Co-Artistic Director, Aanmitaagzi
- Sarah Cullen – Founder, MOTHRA: Artist-Parent Project
- Andrea Donaldson – Artistic Director, Nightwood Theatre
- Geneviève Doyon – Co-Artistic Director, Open Pit Theatre
- Lucy Eveleigh – Executive Director, Toronto Fringe
- Chelsea Haberlin – Artistic Director, Neworld Theatre
- Beth Helmers – Artistic Director, Community Arts Guild
- Ruth Howard – Artistic Director, Jumblies Theatre
- Jacoba Knaapen – Executive Director, Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts
- Djennie Laguerre – Actor, Author, Storyteller
- Shira Leuchter – Actor, Theatre Creator
- Cynthia Lickers-Sage – Executive Director, Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance
- Ken MacKenzie – President, Associated Designers of Canada
- Sheila Kearney Miller – EDI-R Committee, Soulpepper Theatre and Young Centre
- Anne-Marie Ouellet – Playwright, Director, L’eau du bain
- Karine Ricard – Artistic Director, Théâtre français de Toronto
- Adrienne Wong – Artistic Director, SpiderWebShow Performance
Balancing Act would like to acknowledge the contributions of past steering committee members Neema Bickersteth, Julie Lebel, Viv Moore, Janelle Ranville and Kelly Read. Thank you!
What’s on in February
Solo/Single Parents Expressive Arts Affinity Group
Monday, February 13, 1-2:30pm EST (Zoom)
Balancing Act hosts an online Expressive Arts Session exclusively for solo/single parents in the arts.
Expressive Arts Therapist Norma Araiza will facilitate a revitalizing session to reconnect with the self and engage in some artistic play! Support will be provided through active listener Ella Cooper who is also a solo parent.
Registration via email: balancingact@
Expressive Arts Therapy (EXAT) encourages participants to explore the joys of creative expression within a variety of art modalities, providing a channel for healing, meeting the individuals exactly where they are at the moment, and without any expectations.
*all Balancing Act Affinity Groups are confidential peer support spaces. Read more HERE
LEVEL UP! Roundtables Return! – Season Planning with Production Leadership
Thursday, February 23, 2023, 1:00 – 2:30 pm EDT
Presented by Balancing Act in partnership with PACT
Balancing Act supports caregiver needs in all facets of performing arts work. This roundtable with
Means of Production and Nightwood Theatre focuses on
designing
flexible working models for production workers. What are the opportunities for producing companies to
include production workers in long-term planning? How can this approach to season planning create care-centered production environments?
Featuring…
Naz Afsahi, Nightwood Theatre
Pip Bradford, Means of Production
David DeGrow, Means of Production
Andrea Donaldson, Nightwood Theatre
Crystal Lee, Means of Production
Laura Phillips, Means of Production
Rebecca Vandevelde, Means of Production
What’s on in March
Creating a Framework of Care: Successes and Tensions
Monday, March 6, 1:00 – 3:00 pm PST (In-Person, Vancouver)
Presented in partnership with Neworld Theatre at Progress Lab
(1422 William Street, Vancouver, British Columbia)
Join ‘21-22 Level UP! Strategy Partner Neworld Theatre for
an afternoon in-person conversation where they will share the process of creating their Framework of Care.
The floor will open for attendees to ask questions and share their experience of creating contracts and agreements that centre care.
For questions or additional information, contact alen@neworldtheatre.com.
LEVEL UP! Applications Opening Up
Monday, March 21, 2023
We are excited to invite organizations, companies, collectives, festivals, residency programs and project-based initiatives from across the country to join the third and final year of Balancing Act’s national Level UP! Initiative.
Attend one our information sessions to learn more about the program:
Thursday March 2, 2023
Thursday March 23, 2023
Wednesday April 12, 2023
Thursday April 27, 2023
1pm to 2pm EST
Online via Zoom
with ASL and French Language Interpretation
If you would like to meet one-on-one to discuss the project, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to susie@theatredirect.ca.
The AFC
About The AFC:
The AFC is the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry. The AFC is an expression of the community’s good will, helping entertainment professionals when they are at their most vulnerable due to injury, illness or other personal hardship.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of industry members have turned to The AFC for help to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. During this challenging time, The AFC has responded to the need in the community with $1.4 million (and counting) in emergency financial aid and other crucial support programs and services. All our programs are focused on supporting the health and well-being of arts and entertainment professionals working in all aspects of film & TV, music, theatre and dance.
Reactivation Program – Applications Have Reopened!
The Reactivation Program provides direct financial assistance to independent and self-employed workers in the live performance sector who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic and who need financial support to maintain or regain work in the sector.
This funding provides a one-time relief payment of up to $2,500 for live performance workers, including independent, self-employed and gig workers with a focus on the theatrical and technical disciplines in Canada outside of the province of Quebec.
The Canadian Green Alliance
A national not-for-profit devoted to bridging the gap between sustainability & theatre.
Co-founders: Julia McLellan & Tess Benger
Green Panel Series
CGA, TAPA and Singular Sensation collaborated to present four Green Panel Series sessions of professionals discussing methods of rethinking theatrical processes for a greener future, livestreamed on YouTube.
Sustainable Theatre Guidebook
With support from TAPA and other stakeholders, the CGA is developing a guide of best practices for producing climate-positive Theatre as the industry emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guidebook is being co-authored by experts in the field across Canada, and divided up by theatrical departments: Design, Producing, Front of House, Building Management, Dressing Rooms, Rehearsal Halls & Green Rooms, Hair, Wardrobe, Technical Direction, Sound, Lights and Concessions.
Accompanying these best practices will be enlightening essays by some of Canada’s leading sustainable Arts Workers to inspire the reader to promote action in their own theatrical communities.
Visit the CGA Facebook page for more information.