UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS AT WORKMAN ARTS
OPEN STAGE: IMPROVISATION
Come and enjoy an afternoon of musical improvisation by our Improvisation: Character class. Led by Kate Ashby and accompanied by Kevin Baker, the Workman Arts members will be presenting an hour long show of improvisation they have developed over the Fall session. This open stage is open to any member of the community interested in having a laugh on a Saturday afternoon.
Details: Workman Arts, 651 Dufferin St, Lower Hall
4pm (approximately 1 hour) FREE!!!!
The following is a list of artistic programming for 2009/2010
THEATRE
The artistic programming plans in theatre for 2009/2010 support the long-term artistic goals of the company to improve the skills of its theatre artists and find opportunities for them to perform with Equity actors and in collaborations.
Mask and Madness in Hamlet - Workshop 2009/2010 at St. Anne’s Parish Hall
Mask and Madness in Hamlet produced by Shakespeare in Action in association with WA
Building on the success from 2008’s Mask and Madness in Macbeth, Michael Kelly from Shakespeare in Action will repeat the process with the great play Hamlet and a new group of actors.
Edward The Crazy Man - A children’s play about mental illness and homelessness - Workshop 2009/2010 at St Anne’s Parish Hall
Edward might look different in his strange clothing made from other people’s garbage, but 12-year-old Charlie learns that he is a real person with a family past, with abilities and problems, and with the capacity to care for others. This play - combined with a strong study guide developed by a team from the Toronto District School Board and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - creates a model for children to develop a more complex and compassionate view of the homeless people they encounter in their world. After its successful run at the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People in June 2008, WA is now preparing to workshop the play one more time in preparation for the tour.
Third Eye Looming - Currently in development - Will be performed in Toronto and toured to Amsterdam for the Madness and Arts World Festival in 2009/2010.
Third Eye Looming is multidisciplinary movement/theatre piece devised and directed by Ed Roy in collaboration with the WA members. Combining imagistic theatre, dance, movement, singing, text, and multimedia, Third Eye Looming delves into the mind of a man struggling to piece together the shards of his fragmented life after the onset of mental illness. Developed collectively with the members of Workman Arts, Third Eye Looming is ultimately a composite of the collective members’ shared experiences with mental illness distilled into the story of one individual. This distillation reveals the universality of every person dealing with a mental illness and their desire and struggle to reclaim their lives.
VISUAL ARTS
The artistic programming plans in the visual arts for 2009/2010 support the long-term artistic goals of the company to develop more partnerships in the visual arts community, thereby increasing opportunities for member artists to have individual and group shows in the community
Annual Being Scene Art Exhibition
This annual art exhibition is currently on hold while WA works to find it a new location.
CAMH Redevelopment Commissions – 2009/2010
As the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) moves through its process of redeveloping its entire campus, staff and administration at the Centre have been approaching Workman Arts with various commissions. Already confirmed for 2009/2010 are a sculptural installation in the main community centre, outdoor murals to define non-smoking areas and the purchase of many pieces of art to hang in the new spaces. In each case, a jury selects the artist(s) and who are in turn paid for their work. Commissions for 2009/2010 will put upwards of $25,000 into the hands of WA artists.
RWM Solo Art Show - November 2009
During the Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival, WA showcases the work of a single artist. The work hangs on the wall of the theatre and is for sale with the money going directly to the artist. This is an opportunity for WA artists with a larger body of work, with a sufficient number of larger pieces, a chance to stand out among their peers. Room in the Jane Simpson studio is made available in the months leading up to the exhibit in order for the artist to create for the show. The artist for 2009 will be selected in the summer.
The Coffee Show - November 2009
Located at TAN Coffee, the RWM Festival Lounge, this group show will include some of WA’s most celebrated artists.
FILM
The artistic programming plans in film for 2009/2010 support the long-term artistic goals of the company to include visual arts, installations, and performance art in the Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival.
The 17th Annual Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival - November 5th to 14th 2009
RWM will continue to focus its efforts on youth and diverse cultures. The Festival will include works by member filmmakers through WA’s film training program and a solo art exhibit by one of WA’s visual artists. Additional visual arts exhibits and educational events will round out the festival.
MUSIC
The artistic programming plans in music for 2009/2010 support the long-term artistic goals of the company to increase public performance and training opportunities for WA musicians. The planning surrounding music will take place in summer 2009.
LITERARY ARTS
The artistic programming plans in the literary arts for 2009/2010 support the long-term artistic goals of the company to support writers. WA has a long tradition of playwriting and poetry in the company but it has led to few opportunities for WA artists outside of WA. In an effort to support writers in this area WA is considering hosting both an playwright-in-residence and a poet-in-residence and is currently in discussion with dynamic writers who are interested in these roles.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTS EVENTS
The artistic programming plans in multidisciplinary arts events for 2009/2010support the long-term artistic goals of the company to further establish WA as a bridge between artists with mental illness/addiction issues and the larger arts community.
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche - October 3, 2009 7pm –7am
Following up on the success of last year’s ON THE HOUR, Workman Arts will again be participating in Toronto’s Nuit Blanche. “inSANITY” will be a departure from WA’s contribution from the past two years. The lobby of CAMH will no longer be open to the public but for one night, WA artists will be taking it over and using it as a backdrop for their new installation.
Inspired by the artists of Het Dolhuis* in Amsterdam, WA artists will transform this public space that is the “face” of mental illness in Toronto and use it to tell their own stories of living with mental illness. This exhibit will involve a large number of WA artists and will be filmed by WA filmmaker Jordan Stone. Accompanied by a soundscape created by WA members, this will be a truly multidisciplinary event.
*Het Dolhuis will be the hosts of the 2010 Madness and Arts World Festival and they have given WA permission to use their exhibit as inspiration.
TRAINING
The artistic programming plans in arts training for 2009/2010 support the long-term artistic goals of the company to develop programs for artists to develop the necessary skills to work in their artistic fields and become professionally self sufficient. The film training to be offered supports the goal of being able to incubate new filmmakers and support the distribution of their work through various methods.
