Call for Submissions: Musical Instrument Bank, Canada Council for the Arts

The Canada Council for the Arts created its Musical Instrument Bank in 1985 to acquire exceptional stringed instruments to lend to gifted established professional musicians or young professional musicians about to embark on or at the beginning of an international solo or chamber music career. The musicians who receive these instruments play them throughout the loan period in concerts around the world and in recordings.

Eligible professional Canadian musicians are:

• Talented young musicians of great potential, who have begun or are about to embark on an international solo or chamber music career
• Mid-career or established musicians who already have an international solo or chamber music career, and who are in a key period with regard to career development
• All applicants must demonstrate that having a fine stringed instrument or bow at this point in their development will provide a major boost to their career and (or) enable them to move to the next level in their career.

Applicants must:

• Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada
• Agree to maintain permanent resident status in Canada for the term of the loan, unless the Canada Council agrees otherwise
• Have completed their basic training in music (university graduation or the equivalent in specialized training)
• Have a history of public presentation of their work
• Be recognized as professional musicians by other artists in their field
• Have submitted any outstanding final or annual report related to a previous Canada Council for the Arts grant or Musical Instrument Bank loan.

The holder of a Canada Council instrument may compete in one subsequent competition for renewal of the loan of the same instrument, if the instrument is available for renewal. After two terms with one instrument, a musician may compete for the loan of another instrument. (Note: The maximum a musician may hold an instrument is 12 years, for four loans of three years.)

Applicants to Musical Instrument Bank competitions and holders of instruments may also apply to one other Canada Council for the Arts Grants to Professional Artists program as well as a travel grant in the same fiscal year.

This Canada Council program is accessible to Aboriginal artists and artists of diverse cultural and regional communities of Canada.

Assessment of Applications

Applications are assessed by a peer assessment committee composed of experienced professional musicians or other peers who are selected for their expertise in classical and contemporary string repertoire, technique and understanding of career development dynamics. Members are also chosen to ensure fair representation of gender, the two official languages, and the various regions and cultures of Canada. The committee may include an international expert.

The committee evaluates all applications in a national competitive context and selects the finalists, who will be invited to a live audition and interview (held from 21 to 24 September 2009 in Toronto). A number of finalists will be selected, based on the artistic quality of their recorded performance and on the rest of their support material (see Part B of the application form). Finalists must be prepared to discuss their career plans during the audition, describing how having an exceptional instrument or bow from the Musical Instrument Bank at this point in their career would help them achieve their goals and (or) bring their career to the next level.

The repertoire categories for the live auditions will be the same as those for the pre-selection, but finalists may choose new pieces. Finalists will play solo works or solo works with piano accompaniment at the auditions.

Selection criteria include artistic excellence of the applicants’ playing, their professional career potential, and their ability to take full advantage of Canadian and international professional engagements during the loan period. The latter two points will be assessed from the written support material, as well as at the
in-person interview during the live audition process.

Travel Expenses

The live auditions will be held in Toronto from 21 to 24 September 2009. Finalists will receive a Canada Council travel grant of up to $1,000, depending on where they live, to help them travel to the auditions. Finalists will be responsible for covering any additional travel and accommodation costs and for making their own arrangements. The Canada Council will send finalists information on travel and funding available.

Application Guidelines and Form

2009 Competition Musical Instrument Bank can be downloaded here.  This application form can be printed; it cannot be completed online.

Further Information

Janet Riedel Pigott
Program Officer
Endowments and Prizes
Canada Council for the Arts
350 Albert Street, P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa ON  K1P 5V8

Telephone: 1-800-263-5588 (toll-free) or 613-566-4414, ext. 4116

TTY (TDD) machine, for hearing-impared callers: 613-565-5194

Fax: 613-566-4430

Announcement: City of Wine Needs Your Air Miles, Nightswimming

After a mere ten years of waiting, you can finally save these dates!

May 5 – 9, 2009
Nightswimming presents City of Wine
a seven play cycle by Ned Dickens at Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto

The reality of the City of Wine rapidly approaches. In November a wonderful production of Creon was presented by students at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College in Corner Brook, this Wednesday Laius opens at George Brown College in Toronto, Harmonia is deep in rehearsal at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, and the other shows are well into pre-production. Meanwhile, at Nightswimming, the production team gathers and our plans are falling into place. However, as always, we can still use just a bit more support to complete this mammoth project.

Here are the ways you can still help: Make a donation through Canada Helps, send a cheque in the mail, or in a new initiative, donate Aeroplan miles and help us with the expense of plane tickets for over 75 people. It only takes 25,000 points to sponsor a ticket (and 2,000,000 points will cover every single flight!).

Use the simple form attached. All you have to do is print it off, fill it in and sign it, then fax or mail it back to us by March 3. You will be acknowledged in the program and can sleep better at night knowing that you have helped us to make Canadian theatre history.

If you have neither cash nor Aeroplan miles and would still like to help us out, you can volunteer during the festival. For more information contact Associate Producer Rupal Shah at rupal@nightswimmingtheatre.com.

Aeroplan’s Charitable Pooling Program-The pooling of Aeroplan Miles in support of local charitable initiatives.

Aeroplan is glad to facilitate the transfer of miles to support Nightswimming.

Donations will be accepted from February 3 to March 3, 2009.

Donated Miles will be used to fly participants in City of Wine from their home cities to Toronto, to perform their part of the play cycle at the City of Wine Festival May 5 – 9, 2009.

I (please print name here) _________________________________ would like to donate __________________ Aeroplan Miles to be transferred from my Aeroplan account #____________________ to the charitable Aeroplan account of Nightswimming. I understand that these donated miles will be administered by Rupal Shah and redeemed either for travel or for non-air rewards in support of Nightswimming.
signed_____________________________   date___________________

Please return this signed pledge form to Rupal Shah by hand or by fax at (416) 603 3898, or via mail to Nightswimming, 55 Mill Street, #310 Buiding 74, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 3C4 For telephone enquiries (416)703 5491, e-mail rupal@nightswimmingtheatre.com.

Please note that in order to transfer Aeroplan Miles from one account to another, the legal signature of the donor on this form is needed; an e-mail pledge will not be accepted.

Marketplace: Holiday Gift Pack, Seventh Stage Productions

SEVENTH STAGE HOLIDAY GIFT-PACK

Seventh Stage Theatre Productions and its generous partners have assembled a feel-good material and experiential gift-package to please the loveliest ladies in your life…

As an early-bird bonus to the purchase of a pair of tickets to this Spring’s production of 9 PARTS OF DESIRE by Heather Raffo, we will give you 20% off ticket prices and 2 complimentary gifts!

Our beautifully wrapped holiday gift-package includes:

• Beautiful designer necklace by “Control Over Destiny Jewellery” www.controloverdestiny.com
• Inspiring and invigorating class at Spynga Yoga and Cycling Studio www.spynga.com **Attend any weekly class in 2009 valued at $15, schedule online**
• Pair of tickets to see 9 Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo at Passe Muraille Theatre www.seventhstageproductions.com **Choose any show date from May 13th – 31st 2009 valued at $50, schedule online**
• Gift wrapping and delivery **Delivery anywhere in the GTA within the week valued at $15**
• TOTAL RETAIL VALUE OF GIFT PACKAGE: $120
• OUR HOLIDAY BONUS OFFER: $40

That’s right, for the cost of 2 advance theatre tickets at a 20% discount, you get 2 additional complimentary gifts, all wrapped and delivered!
Email back to place your orders. Pay by PayPal, Cash or Cheque.  Offer valid until December 31st 2008. Limited packages available.

All the proceeds from the purchase of our gift-packages will go directly to fund Seventh Stage Theatre’s next production and its charitable partner:
The Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq

THE PRODUCTION: 9 PARTS OF DESIRE By Heather Raffo

From May 11-31 2009 at Theatre Passe Muraille Backspace, we will be producing the Canadian Premier of Heather Raffo’s award-winning 9 PARTS OF DESIRE; a passionate and moving portrait of nine Iraqi women, surviving in a culture saturated by the horrors of war.
“…powerful, impassioned, vivid, memorable… The voices are a study in contrasts: vivid and subdued, sophisticated and naïve, seductive and standoffish. But they cohere to form a powerful collective portrait of suffering and endurance.” – New York Times

“The female half of Iraq has come to America.” – Gloria Steinem

Seventh Stage Theatre is a professional not-for-profit theatre company (and registered charity) that produces politically and socially conscious, thought-provoking and entertaining Canadian new works and International Premieres by women.  Seventh Stage places a particular importance on generating opportunities for women in the arts, by producing material that features and employs women both on and off-stage.  By engaging passionate and progressive, emerging and established artists, Seventh Stage strives to create high calibre art for Canada’s cultural development and growth while generating awareness and accessibility for a diverse audience

ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN SIMPLY MAKE A DONATION TO “SEVENTH STAGE THEATRE PRODUCTIONS” AS A GIFT OF GIVING
TO WOMEN’S ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT.  THE GIFT RECIPIENT WILL RECEIVE A HOLIDAY CARD AND NOTE OF THANKS. YOU WILL RECEIVE A CHARITABLE TAX RECEIPT AND THANKS IN OUR PROGRAM.  DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO: 51 HALTON STREET UNIT 115, TORONTO ON M6J1R5. TELL US WHERE AND TO WHOM TO SEND THE GIFT CARD.

Happy Holidays and all the best for 2009!

Announcement: Music For Bipedal Movement and Next Of Skin Now Available, Geoff Bennett

Geoff Bennett’s percussion based CDs for modern dance training and theatre warm-up are now available for preview at cdbaby.com. Downloads at i-tunes, Amazon , Rhapsody, Napster and Payplay.

Extremely versatile CDs with varied meters, tempos and timbres, “Music for Bipedal Movement” and “Next of Skin” are excellent for all Modern, Creative Movement and Improvisation Classes.

“I have used your CDs in countries where they do not have or cannot afford accompanists for dance class. This goes for countries like Colombia, Mexico , Dominican Republic, Czech Republic, some places in Germany and many times when I am asked spontaneously to teach in some city in the world and then I just whip out your CD, it saves me everytime.”
Marie-Josee Chartier

“Music For Bipedal Movement”
http://cdbaby.com/cd/geoffbennett1

Every track on ‘Music for Bipedal Movement’ is an adventure: a journey to a new exciting creative plane. It is an indispensable tool for dancers, teachers and choreographers of all kinds.”
Julie Sasso, performer, choreographer, teacher

“We use Music for Bipedal Movement for dance classes and workshops.”
David Parsons, The Parsons Company.

“Next Of Skin”
http://cdbaby.com/cd/geoffbennett2

“Geoff Bennett’s organically joyful and profound music is a ritual for my dancers.”
Serge Bennathan, Artistic Director, Dancemakers

“It’s an incredible and rare gift for a musician to make a dancer feel inspired to explore dance technique, composition, and analysis, and to reconnect with a new level of artistry and musical awareness. And to make a teacher feel like she can’t wait to get back in the classroom and share it all.”
Alexandra Cilic, dance teacher/choreographer

“Geoff Bennett’s got a bass drum you can surf on.”
Christopher House, Toronto Dance Theatre

More Information: ttgmusic.com/geoffbennett

Announcement: 200 Theatre Seats Free To Good Home, Science North IMAX Theatre

With the generous funding support of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the Science North IMAX Theatre will undergo a renovation beginning in January of 2009 that will include a new projection system with 3D capability, new carpeting, acoustical panels and new theatre seating.

In anticipation of 200 new theatre seats arriving soon, Science North would like to donate the 200 theatre seats we currently have, free of charge, to an interested organization or group who will arrange to remove them from our site.

Detailed information on this donation can be found in the documents attached to this message. Organizations or groups interested in acquiring the IMAX theatre seats should complete and submit the required “Letter of Interest” no later than 12:00 pm (noon) on Friday, December 5, 2008. For further information, contact:

Janine Pigozzo
Financial Officer
Science North
100 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario CANADA P3E 5S9
Phone: (705) 522 3701 ext 201
pigozzo@sciencenorth.ca

Event: Artists, Performers, Vendors and Volunteers Needed, 2008 Parkdale Youth Festival

Are you an artist or musician looking to showcase your talents? Are you part of an organization that services young people? Do you want to get involved in a community event? Then you might be interested in taking part in the fourth annual Parkdale Youth Festival. It’s been dubbed the largest gathering of youth service organizations in the west end of Toronto, and this year we will once again be showcasing a spectacular line up of local entertainment for people of all ages.

On Saturday August 23 from 2:00pm -10:00 pm Masaryk-Cowan Park and Community Centre will play host to a day of music, art and information to raise awareness for various city-wide youth service organizations. The event will also include a Community Marketplace, Workshops, Interactive Art Zone, Massive Mural Mix,
Film Festival, Kidz Korner, and more.

Festival organizers are looking for:

Youth service organizations, artists and vendors who want to request a table, sponsors who want to get involved, volunteers, and performers who would like to be considered -dance, theatre, singers, MC’s, DJ’s, bands, and performance artists. Preference will be given to youth performers, vendors, artists and
volunteers.

All youth organizations are offered a complimentary community table to display their information on available youth services and programs.

Contact Festival Innovator info@parkdalefestival.com Deadline for application is July 31st, 2008.

Parkdale Youth Festival – Saturday August 23rd, 2008 – 2pm to 10pm Masaryk Cowan Park and Community Centre – www.parkdalefestival.com

Event: Free Furniture, SONY Centre for the Performing Arts

The Sony Centre will open its main doors on JULY 23RD at 10AM until 2PM for anyone who wants any of the following. It must leave the building – no storage is possible.

• 6 ashtrays – 2” brass
• 2 glass lollipop stands
• 1 wooden cabinet (small)
• 1 metal easel
• 4 drawer upright file
• 60” table tops – no legs
• 12 sets of blinds – white wood slats – fits standard door
• 14 patio tables
• 1 huge Xmas stocking (White Christmas)
• 1 desk
• 9 Xmas trees
• 1 arch with Xmas lights attached
• 52 plastic white chairs – patio
• 2 straw baskets
• 1 desk lamp
• 6 floor lamps
• 1 bolt of blue netting
• 3 storage containers of Xmas decorations
• 4 concession storage containers with tops
• 3 red carpets
• 2 signs – A frame
• 29 – 30” arborite tables
• 160 corn chairs – side chairs with arms, fabric seat
• 4 cash register stands
• desks – 3 metal, 1 wood grain MDF
• 3 – 60” arborite tables
• 2 candy display units
• 1 doorman’s desk
• 1 6ft gurney
• 1 8ft gurney
• 1 4ft bench
• 4 ticket bins with 4 garbage bins
• 6 blinds (main east lounge doors) x 2 – (main west doors)
• 1 storage cabinet
• 6 small square stools – upholstered
• 25 4ft square tables – tops only
• 13 patio umbrella holders
• 13 patio umbrellas
• 10 beige cloth screens
• 5 vanilla cloth screens
• 1 metal round table – 18”
• 2 metal easels
• 12 program bins
• 6 baby changing stations
• 4 pictures
• hairs – desk and side chairs
• 3 podiums
• 5 wooden benches (locker room)
• metal shelving unit – 2’ wide x 5 shelves
• Stationary, quantities of office supplies

Needed: Lighting equipment, analog dimmers & 24-channel console

NEEDED: Lighting Equipment, Analog Dimmers & 24-channel console

One Little Goat Theatre Company needs a set of analog 12 dimmers and a 24-channel console for an analog lighting system. Anyone with equipment or leads please contact Artistic Director Adam Seelig at 416 915 0201 or adam@OneLittleGoat.org