Introduction:
2020 has been a year of unpredictability. COVID-19, the tragedy of George Floyd and the resulting protest movement, and rising levels of unemployment have sent massive ripples across the globe.
In this moment, we believe artists have a crucial role to play: to move hearts and minds, envision a more just world, and spark new possibilities for resistance and change. With this in mind, this program through Talk is Free Theatre is a new initiative providing funding for artists who wish to harness the energy of this moment to change their communities. This program was designed and developed by Brendan Chandler, Alana Hibbert, Richard Lam and Tahirih Vejdani.
Program Guidelines:
TIFT invites artists to submit proposals for projects that promote social activism, community building, and the ongoing fight against inequality, discrimination, colonialism, and injustice*. Submitted projects do not necessarily need to be artistic works, but can also include other forms of activism or engagement.
For example:
- helping to carry out processes of restorative or transformative justice;
- using your artistic talents to amplify the reach of a specific activist campaign or community support group;
- teaching your artistic skills to a community that would welcome it;
- allowing people who are not often heard to speak using your platform or voice;
- breaking the silence on something that has been buried, so a specific change can occur.
This list is not comprehensive or exhaustive. Surprise us!
TIFT strongly encourages submissions from theatre industry workers who self-identify as members from under-represented communities. If there are accessibility obstacles (language, disability, technical, or any other consideration) preventing you from applying, please let us know and we will work with you to overcome them.
The total available funding for this program is $5000 and may be awarded to a single applicant or divided among several applicants. The program is open to residents of Ontario only.
This is a new program designed to be flexible to the needs of this ever-shifting moment. The types of activities that could potentially be funded are quite broad. The committee encourages applications of any activity that fits into the criteria listed in the program guidelines.
