The Open Sky Creative Society is seeking applications from;
visual artists, new media artists, traditional craftspeople, & performers interested in presenting at to the Open Sky Festival 2009:
June 26th – 28th, 2009
For more information please contact the Open Sky Creative Society by email open_sky_society(at)yahoo.ca or call (867) 695-3005
Applications (Residing inside the Dehcho):
Deadline; May 15th, 2009
Past, Present, & Future:
OSCS was formed in 1999 by local artists & arts supporters who saw a need for an arts & cultural service organization as well as presentation & artist outreach opportunities the Dehcho.
In 2001 the Society began hosting the Open Sky Festival, a Multidisciplinary Arts Festival held annually over a weekend in early summer.
The Open Sky Creative Society (OSCS) fulfills a unique role in the community & the Dehcho as the only active non-profit, non-governmental, artist, & cultural supporter run organization.
The volunteer-based society provides artists & audiences with an informed professional forum for research, production, presentation, promotion & dissemination of new works in contemporary arts & traditional Dene crafts as well as networking & educational opportunities, & a general resource centre.
Principle Activities:
Office / General Resource Centre:
• Open year round.
• Holds selection of publications, grant information, computer/internet access, opportunity listings, & knowledgeable personnel as resources to artists & general public
Open Sky Festival (OSF):
• Annual Multidisciplinary Arts Festival held since 2001
• Primary OSCS programming event
• Serves as one of the only presentation & dissemination opportunities for artists & audiences in the region
• Features annual special project (OSF 2008; series of workshops in the community facilitated by artists from across Canada participating in a group exhibition; Craftwork – Craftsmanship; Ritual as Process)
Fort Simpson Heritage Centre:
• OSCS has partnered with the Fort Simpson Historical Society to restore a historical building to which both societies will relocate operations upon the building’s re-opening (2009)
• Facilities; office / resource centre, permanent exhibition space (OSC Gallery), & artist in residence / workshop space
Arts Workshops:
• Key audience development activities
• Participants offered opportunities for interaction with practicing artists & insights on technical aspects of their practices
• Artists benefit by educating, developing, & engaging audiences in a unique & meaningful way
OSC Gallery:
• The OSCS currently operates out of the Village of Fort Simpson Administration Building; where it maintains an office & artist resource centre open all year to the public. In June 2008 the OSCS began operating the space as the first & only artist-run, year round public exhibition venue for contemporary art in the NWT (OSC Gallery).
In 2009 the Society will move into the Fort Simpson Heritage Centre which will house an office, resource centre, a new permanent exhibition space, as well as artist in residence & workshop facilities.
The OSC Gallery will present six, six week exhibitions per year featuring works by contemporary visual artists from across Canada (with minimum one exhibition per year guaranteed to an NWT artist), with a additional annual Dehcho members exhibition.
Goal: To present innovative programming in all artistic disciplines, relevant to the rural, mainly aboriginal audience of the Dehcho in order to create a dialogue between artists & audiences in our region & those from across the NWT & Canada
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_artist-run_centres
Open Sky Creative Society Capacity Building:
The OSCS is currently engaged in a three year capacity building project. The main goal the project is to transform from a reactive, project oriented group to a proactive and sustainable organisation.
www.openskyfestival.ca.
Open Sky Festival 2009:
June 26th-28th, 2009
Fort Simpson, NT!!!
Open Sky 2009 Festival Sponsors
(Confirmed as of May 28th, 2009)
Platinum:
Canada Council for the Arts: Media Arts Dissemination Project Grants /
Dehcho First Nations /
Village of Fort Simpson /
ECE: Support to Northern Performers Program /
GNWT: ITI /
Gold:
Enbridge Pipelines Inc. /
First Air /
Village of Fort Simpson /
Silver:
Copper:
Dehcho Business Development Centre /
Nahendeh Developments Limited
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