Sunday, April 26th
Drop-in Sessions (10am - 3pm EDT)
ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE: ASL interpreting is available for the following sessions: VLA Supports during COVID-19, Breaking Boundaries & Building Community: Using Theatre of the Oppressed to Address Systemic Oppression, #culturalsurvival Building a Collective Action Movement focused on Equity, Solidarity & Community Funds in response to COVID-19.
NOTE: If you have registered to attend, and have not yet received a message from us through Eventbrite with access to the Welcome Packet and Session Links, please check your spam folder. You will need this information to access Sunday’s Zoom rooms. If you still have not received the message, please email Hanako, hanako@artsconnectinternational.org.
Sessions geared toward creating intimate spaces focused on community, healing, connection and activation during the current global climate, and in response to COVID-19.
Please note that some drop-ins are affinity spaces and/or are limited in participation numbers. We thank you in advance for honoring and respecting the artists and the spaces they thoughtfully curate.
Drop-in Session 1 (10am - 11am EDT)
Marsha Parrilla | Discussion for Radical Artists of Color: Releasing, Reimagining, and Grounding ourselves during the Pandemic*
Affinity space for POC identifying arts leaders, limited to 15 participants (first come basis, starting @ 9:45am)
During this session, Marsha will facilitate a discussion on how as radical artists of color we are experiencing this pandemic. How are we pausing, reflecting, and reexamining our ways of creating? How can we reimagine a new way to embody our vision? What has shifted for us? How do we ground ourselves as creatives? We will share our experiences, best practices, and ways to move forward.
Catherine Morris | Setting the Pace: Leading and Impacting while being a parent or caretaker during COVID-19
Whether you work for or own your business or organization, working from home while taking care of your family or loved ones can be challenging. Check out how one woman of color is finding balance in all of these roles.
Luke Blackadar | VLA Supports during COVID-19
Join the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts for a discussion of legal and business support resources available to artists and nonprofits adjusting to "the new normal." Q & A to follow.
Ellice Patterson | Reimagining Rehearsal Processes in Virtual Spaces
The drop-in session will focus on how possibilities in creation of dance work in virtual spaces, appropriate for dancers and choreographers, in addition to collaborating with composers and audio description editors. Lessons learned from Abilities Dance demonstrate how to continue the creation process individually, yet together.
Drop-in Session 2 (11am - 12pm EDT)
Tracy Beard | Breaking Boundaries & Building Community: Using Theatre of the Oppressed to Address Systemic Oppression
This is an interactive session will use Theatre of the Oppressed games to explore issues of inequities and injustice. Video and audio participation is highly recommended. Light movement will be required, please let me know if you require any accommodations. Please contact me at: Tracy.Beard001@umb.edu.
Sarah Plotkin & Kelsey Karys | Being a Student During a Global Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives, and for many students there are unique challenges and obstacles that we've never had to face before. In this discussion-based drop in session we'll explore together some of these challenges, including finding connection in virtual learning, realistically adapting self-directed projects such as directed studies or capstones, and coming to terms with the loss of an in-person learning community.
Nicole Agois & Mia Branco | Tips for Accessible Online Learning
Online learning has provided much needed opportunities for arts organizations to continue programming during COVID-19 related closures, but without attention to design, they can also present accessibility issues for participants with disabilities. Join Open Door Arts to review concrete tips, strategies, and resources to make your online programming more accessible.
Drop-in Session 3 (1pm - 2pm EDT)
Karthik Subramanian & Harold Steward | #culturalsalvation Building a Collective Action Movement focused on Equity
Boston arts leaders and community organizers are coming together to ignite a movement on #culturalsurvival, looking at cultural equity in media, funding and policy in COVID-19 responses, and across the sector. This drop-in session will focus on the initial stages of the movement, including a discussion on emergent strategy, cultural equity, and creative justice.
Chanel Govreau | Solidarity with Asian-Americans and COVID-19*
Affinity space for AAPI identifying arts leaders
This drop-in session is for Asian-identifying participants only. Host will share recent installation art and a working list of ways for Asian-Americans to call in, and ask for solidarity during this time of massive anti-Asian racism and hate crimes. We will then discuss, add and edit to this list.
Alisha Acquaye | Love Languages: a Creative Writing Workshop for BIPOC*
Affinity space for BIPOC identifying arts leaders
Love is a powerful language of expression, creativity, resistance and unity in BIPOC communities. In a time of physical distancing, finding new ways to love is essential to our survival. We’ll use this space to create and imagine new love languages beyond the 5 existing ones: words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, gift giving and acts of service.
Drop-in Session 4 (2pm - 3pm EDT)
Quanice Floyd, Maria Bartolotta & Julia Ryan | Solidarity & Community Funds in response to COVID-19
This drop-in session features three national leaders who have been at the forefront of organizing, implementing and sustaining artist relief funds. Join Julia Ryan from the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture, City of Boston (Boston Artist Relief Fund), Quanice Floyd of Arts Administrators of Color (Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund), and Maria Bartolotta of The Record Co (Music Maker Relief Fund). for a discussion on the responses that went into setting the funds up, lessons learned to date, resources shared, and possible next steps.
LaVonia Montoute’ & Ruth Mercado-Zizzo | Examining Educational Equity with EdVestors
In this session, youth program alumni will describe their experiences as Bloomberg Arts Internship interns, and how it has impacted their growth, workforce readiness, and connection to the arts and culture community. Panelists will also give context on why offering these opportunities to students aligns with EdVestors priorities and promotes equity within the arts and culture community.
DJ TROY Frost | Meditative Mix with DJ TROY Frost
Tune in for chill hip hop, r&b, funk & soul music and affirmations.
Wilson Vu | Celebrating the Creative Self in Asian Identities
This drop-in session explores the Asian identities and narratives within the realm of the creative arts (includes but not limited to dance, music, film, media, and visual arts). It is a story-telling approach where invited guests will share their diverse experiences within the creative arts as an Asian-identifying artist and how they navigated through roadblocks such as the model minority myth, racism, traditions, and cultural values.
Gallery “Walk” Available all day!
Explore the work of AES2020 visual artists
