IMAA NEWS ✦ Open Letter re: Cuts at Canadian Heritage ✦ IMAA & NIMAC Survey – CCA Funding ✦ Plan your Trip to Temporal Anchorings! ✦ IMAA Team at the SAT ✦ interConnect Resources are online! ✦ Reminder – Membership Campaign ✦ Next Meetups on Discord ✧ Temporal Anchorings: Discord Channel Launch ✧ Temporal Anchorings: About the Program
+ Panorama + Featured Member : PRIM + Opportunities + Cyber Safe & Sound
LES NOUVELLES DE L’AAMI ✦ Lettre ouverte au sujet des coupures à Patrimoine canadien ✦ Enquête de l’AAMI et NIMAC – Financement du CAC ✦ Planifiez votre voyage à Ancrages temporels ! ✦ L’AAMI à la SAT ✦ Les ressources interConnect sont en ligne ! ✦ Rappel – Campagne d’adhésion ✦ Prochaines rencontres sur Discord ✧ Ancrages temporels : Lancement du canal Discord ✧ Ancrages temporels : À propos du programme
+ Panorama + Membre à découvrir : PRIM + Cyber Sain et Sauf
As a member of the Canadian Arts Coalition (CAC) IMAA has signed onto an Open Letter to the Canadian Federal government in response to the cuts announced by Heritage Canada.
In addition to this, IMAA also sent a letter to Ministers Anand and Freeland expressing concerns specific to the Media Arts. We continue to work with the CAC in strategizing around the 2024 federal budget which will be released on April 16. We will continue to update membership on this topic.
During the summer and fall of 2023, interConnect brought together artists, arts professionals, and organizations to share and build knowledge about digital projects and practices. +INFO interConnect | Project Overview
Many insights and conversations are now available on Praxis, a platform for discovering and sharing knowledge for a more collaborative and open society. Anyone is also encouraged to contribute to this shared community resource! [Praxis, How-to Guide by IMAA] *Note: Praxis’ interface is only in French, but an English interface should be available soon!
All the material produced as part of the initiative is now available! Here are links to the main resources:
➤ Co-Learning Groups Reflection Notes (6 notes) Each group wrote a note giving more context about their conversations, detailing the notes they produced, and sharing the lessons they learned about their discussion areas and the co-learning process more generally.
➤ Finding and Working with Digital Tools in the Visual and Media Arts Sector (19 notes) This collection brings together an array of resources for working digitally in the arts, including guides to using digital tools, information on arts databases, and firsthand learning from engaging with digital platforms.
➤ Project Management for the Arts Sector (13 notes) This collection brings together notes on project management in media arts, particularly for in-person events, online presentations, or making spaces more accessible.
➤ INTERCONNECTIONS, the final event (1 note accompanying the 1h 45min recording) In the spirit of collaboration, this event presented insight from each co-learning group with the guiding prompt: How can we foster a more interconnected digital transformation in the arts sector?
➤ interConnect Web: A Gathering of Resources (95 notes) If you’re not sure of what you are looking for or would like to find resources about digital transformation, we invite you to take a look and explore!
Key takeaway for IMAA interConnect allowed for a vast consultation and mobilization of the arts community. The creation of the discussion areas was an important milestone to reflect on the impact of digital technology within our sector and the co-learning group structure was a much-needed framework for information exchange and collaboration.
The project’s focus was ambitious and priorities were, sometimes, difficult to establish. As an organization, interConnect improved IMAA’s capacity for collective inquiry by giving us an opportunity to revise many of our internal processes and test a new collective knowledge base system. Through these learnings, we strengthened our understanding of the role we play within the arts sector.
The 2024-2025 membership campaign is ongoing at the Independent Media Arts Alliance, the national alliance representing the media arts. Become a member or renew your membership now to contribute to the richness and strenght of the community!
If you haven’t had a chance to read it, we invite you to take a look at the IMAA’s Basis of Unity! The Basis of Unity states the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA)’s position on and commitment to anti-oppression principles. This document is a first attempt to capture, for IMAA’s membership and community, IMAA’s perspective on how to build a more equitable, robust, abundant and interconnected sector.
Help to ensure that in the independent media arts sector:
→ Artists from diverse backgrounds have access to resources and equipment to produce quality work and to support their exhibition, promotion and distribution within the country and abroad,
→ Artists are paid a minimum fee for the use of their work.
→ Artworks are collected, archived and preserved as part of Canadian Heritage.
→ Art organizations are able to compensate cultural workers appropriately for their highly skilled work.
→ Artists and organizations across Canada, especially those from underrepresented communities, have a forum to discuss key issues and contribute to the development of the sector.
Member Privileges & Benefits
→ Join IMAA’s Board → Join our committees: Membership Committee / EDI Committee / Independent Media Arts Access Network (IMAAN) Committee / Human Ressources Committee → Get a discount to register to the National Media Arts Conference → Be eligible for travel subsidies to attend national events like the National Media Arts Conference coorganised by IMAA → Reduce costs on health insurance for your staff and affiliated artists. → Be part of the Independent Media Arts Access Network (IMAAN)! → Join a vast network of nearly 100 highly dedicated media arts organizations, collectives and galleries and professional peers → Appear in our membership directory → Connect with the independent media community on Discord → Take advantage of opportunities to participate in IMAA’s projects! For example, add your voice to the conversation when voting the recommended Fee Schedule, participate in community projects such as interConnect or make your organization benefit from artist residencies through the Digital Skills for Youth program. → Attend regional meetings → Increase the visibility of your work Projects → And more, access a detailed list of membership privileges and benefit here
*The IMAA membership cycle begins on April 1 and ends on March 31 of each year. Members who begin the process after February 1 will have their membership extended for the upcoming cycle.
IMAA NEWS ✦ Register for Temporal Anchorings! ✦ Canadian Heritage 2024-25 Departmental Plan ✦ Membership Campaign 2024-25 ✦ Artists on the move with IMAAN! ✦ GGArts winners announced ✦ Next Meetup on Discord ✧ Temporal Anchorings Travel Funding
+ Panorama + Featured Member : National Campus and Community Radio Association + Opportunities + Cyber Safe & Sound
LES NOUVELLES DE L’AAMI ✦ Inscrivez-vous à Ancrages temporels! ✦ Plan ministériel 2024-2025 de Patrimoine canadien ✦ Campagne d’adhésion 2024-2025 ✦ Les artistes se promènent avec le RAAMI ! ✦ Gagnant.e.s GGArts 2024 ✦ Prochaine rencontre sur Discord ✧ Aide financière pour les déplacements à Ancrages temporels
+ Panorama + Membre à découvrir : L’Association nationale des radios étudiantes et communautaires + Cyber Sain et Sauf
IMAA NEWS ✦ Communications with the CCA – Cancellation of the MAEAF ✦ IMAAN Spotlight ✦ INTERCONNECTIONS ✦ Temporal Anchorings ✦ Presenting DS4Y’s Recipients ✦ Next Meetups on Discord ✧ Introduction to TourNet ✧ Temporal Anchorings Travel Funding
+ Panorama + Featured Member : S.A.T. Société des arts technologiques + Opportunities + Cyber Safe & Sound
LES NOUVELLES DE L’AAMI ✦ Communications avec le CAC – Annulation du FAEAM ✦ Lumière sur le RAAMI ✦ INTERCONNEXIONS ✦ Ancrages temporels ✦ Récipiendaires CNJ ✦ Prochaines rencontres sur Discord ✧ Introduction à TourNet ✧ Aide financière pour les déplacements à Ancrages temporels
+ Panorama + Membre à découvrir : S.A.T. Société des arts technologiques + Cyber Sain et Sauf
At the beginning of February, we launched a campaign to put forward the Independent Media Arts Access Network (IMAAN) on our social networks! This campaign aims to introduce IMAAN to the artists who are members of the participating organizations, since they are the ones who can benefit from the advantages offered by this network. Follow the IMAAN Spotlight campaign on Instagram and Facebook in the coming weeks!
What’s the Independent Media Arts Access Network (IMAAN)?
The Independent Media Arts Access Network (IMAAN) facilitates artists in accessing equipment and facilities from the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) participating organizations in other cities, without having to take out multiple memberships. A number of festivals and organizations working in sectors other than production are also part of the IMAAN. They offer benefits to artists who are members of participating centres and organizations.
Who can benefit from IMAAN?
THE ARTISTS! Artists who are members of an IMAAN organization are encouraged to travel within the country, outside their city, since they have access to privileges at other participating organizations. These privileges typically take the form of member rates for equipment rental, training or use of spaces, but could also include advantageous rates for participation in events, for example.
The National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC) and its members benefit from the IMAAN since 2022!
Who makes IMAAN possible?
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS! Participating organizations decide how they participate in the network! Whether it’s with certain equipment, workshops or facilities at member rates, or through discounts on participation in events and festivals, IMAAN organizations can choose and modify the benefits offered at any time. Find the organizations on IMAA’s website and contact them to find out more!
Earlier today, IMAA sent an Open Letter to the Canada Council for the Arts on behalf of the Media Arts community regarding the termination of the Media Arts Equipment Acquisition Fund. We are sharing it with you here.
The letter was drafted by a group within the community in response to a number of sectoral discussions and a meeting with representatives of the CCA regarding the decision to cancel the MAEAF. Thank you to Chris Gehman and everyone on the writing and editing team for leading this process.
For reasons of capacity and expediency, the letter has been signed by only a small number of organisations: the number of signatures is not an exhaustive list of everyone whose thoughts, concerns, and positions are included in the letter. The list of organizations who participated in the meetings, as well as the organizations who sent in their statements to be included in the appendices document to the letter bring a valuable additional dimension to understanding the lived effects of the cancellation of the Fund.
We encourage you to share the letter with your members, and to continue engaging with Council regarding the impact of the termination of the Fund. IMAA will continue to advocate for resources for equipment for Media Arts organisations in all its interactions with the funders.
Welcome to Temporal Anchorings, a three-day Media Arts Gathering in Halifax in June 2024! This event will bring together arts administrators from media arts organizations across the country to discuss important issues of sustainability and resilience by looking back at the past and forward to the future while grounding ourselves in the present.
The 2024 Media Arts Gathering is meant to be a space for all arts workers from media arts organizations located in so-called Canada to connect with each other, and to foster a sense of solidarity and community. The goal of the gathering is to be a site for advancing arts practices in the media arts sector, nurturing professional development, collaboration, and exchange.
We invite all cultural workers – administrators, interns, programmers, managers, technicians and all other roles that steer organizations forwards – in the Media Arts Sector to attend this Gathering, including: emerging, LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC cultural workers, as well as long standing members of the community.
The Temporal Anchorings conference features a 3-day program of round-table discussions and panels with Q+A periods, as well as a community dinner hosted by CFAT. This year, we will additionally focus on experiencing artistic work from our own sector, in the form of live performances and screenings, concluding with the launch of Everyseeker, a festival featuring genre-fluid music and experimental sound. The complete program will be announced in March 2024!
➤ Registration opens in March, 2024 ➤ Format: In-person in Halifax, Nova-Scotia ➤ For any questions, please contact Marilyne Parent at info@imaa.ca.
Apply for Travel Funding In the spirit of preparedness, we encourage organisations intending to attend the conference and eligible for Arts Across Canada: Travel component to apply early! While IMAA will be offering a limited amount of travel subsidies, the Arts Across Canada Travel Grant will enable us to stretch our funds much further. This program offers funding for travel within Canada if the destination is at least 300 kilometers from your place of departure.
For members unsure if they are eligible, who have never applied to this component, or who may need a refresher on the application process, we are hosting a Travel Funding Clinic Discord session on March 21, 2024 at 1pm EST.
IMAA’s National Director, Barbora Racevičiūtė will introduce IMAA’s Fee Schedule on Thursday, January 25, 2024 from 1H30-2H30 PM (ET). The objective of the 2022-24 IMAA Fee Schedule is to raise the standards to which the entire independent media arts community should strive, in keeping with its values of fair remuneration for artists. We encourage organizations to use the new Fee Schedule when budgeting for future programming and to refer to it in grant applications.
For 2024, when applying for grants in particular, we recommend a minimum increase of 5% or the percentage of inflation in your area. The 5% recommendation is a simplified average of a 2% increase for 2023 and an additional 3% increase for 2024. Given that in 2022 the national inflation rate reached 8.1%, advocating for these inflation-based increases in your funding requests is both necessary and urgent.
Join us for the event INTERCONNECTIONS, a collective reflection about digital transformation in the arts!
Recent digital projects have allowed for experimentation in the arts sector and offered opportunities to rethink, develop, and innovate. It is now time for us to convene and understand where we have landed.
This event will cover leading “discussion areas” in the digital transformation of the arts sector. Join us to nourish collective reflection!
** If you need accessibility services, please register before February 5, 2024.**
For more information, including panelists’ bios, please read the event overview here.
Start time — Vancouver – 10:30 a.m. (PDT) — Edmonton – 11:30 a.m. (MDT) — Regina – 12:30 p.m. (CST) — Winnipeg – 12:30 p.m. (CDT) — Toronto – 1:30 p.m. (EDT) — Halifax – 2:30 p.m. (ADT) — St. John’s – 3:00 p.m. (NDT)
What is interConnect? — interConnect, a project by the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA), aims to bring together artists, arts professionals, and organizations to share and build knowledge about digital projects and practices. We want to foster the growth of a digital ecosystem created for and by our community, strengthening the sector overall.
The Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) announces its recommendation for a minimum increase to be added to the Media Arts Fee Schedule for 2024.
The current fee schedule was put in place by a vote from IMAA members at the 2022 AGM, as a goal to be achieved by 2024. That being said, these are only the recommended minimum fees. An updated fee schedule will be published in 2025.
For 2024, when applying for grants in particular, we recommend a minimum increase of 5% or the percentage of inflation in your area. The 5% recommendation is a simplified average of a 2% increase for 2023 and an additional 3% increase for 2024. Given that in 2022 the national inflation rate reached 8.1%, advocating for these inflation-based increases in your funding requests is both necessary and urgent.
The objective of the 2022-24 IMAA Fee Schedule is to raise the standards to which the entire independent media arts community should strive, in keeping with its values of fair remuneration for artists. We encourage organizations to follow the spirit of the Guiding Principles and to use the Fee Schedule when budgeting for future programming, as well as to refer to it in grant applications.
IMAA NEWS ✦ A Word from Barbora ✧ Media Arts Equipment Acquisition Fund & more ✦Save the Date - interConnect Final Event ✦ Next Meetups on Discord ✧ CARFAC-RAAV 2024 Fee Schedule ✧ IMAA's 2024 Fee Schedule ✦ IMAA Closure for the Holidays + Panorama + Featured Member : InterAccess + Opportunities + Cyber Safe & Sound
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LES NOUVELLES DE L'AAMI ✦ Un mot de Barbora ✧Fonds d'acquisition d'équipement pour les arts médiatiques et plus ✦ Réservez la date - Événement final d'interConnect ✦ Prochaines rencontres sur Discord ✧ Barème de tarifs 2024 CARFAC-RAAV ✧ Barème de tarifs 2024 de l'AAMI ✦ Fermeture de l'AAMI pour les fêtes
+ Panorama + Membre à découvrir : InterAccess + Cyber Sain et Sauf
Do you have questions about the CARFAC-RAAV Fee Schedule?
IMAA is hosting a webinar for media arts organizations on December 7 at 1:30 pm EST / 10:30 am PST April Britski, CARFAC’s National Executive Director, will provide an overview of how the Fee Schedule works, including recent changes for 2024 and beyond.
+ Panorama + Featured Member : Regent Park Film Festival + Opportunities +Cyber Safe & Sound
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Les nouvelles de l’AAMI – NOVEMBRE 2023 L’actualité de ce mois en un coup d’oeil –» Cliquez ici !
Fonds d’acquisition d’équipement pour les arts médiatiques Les réacteurs à microfusion sont prêts ! Des nouvelles d’interConnect – Enquête Prochaines rencontres sur Discord Remerciements à Naimah Amin !
+ Panorama + Membre à découvrir Regent Park Film Festival + Occasions professionnelles + Cyber Sain et Sauf
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We’re excited to announce new opportunities under the DS4Y program!
Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) is a program funded by the Government of Canada which aims to help underemployed youth enhance and develop their digital and soft skills. Between November 2023 and March 2024, IMAA is offering funding for a minimum of 20 internships and artist residencies for underemployed youth.
The Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) is seeking proposals from qualified web design and development firms to undertake a comprehensive redesign of our website. As a nonprofit arts service organization, an online presence is crucial to our overall operations, in order to maintain communication with members, and to present our various projects to the media arts community. We invite experienced individuals or design firms whose values align to our Basis of Unity to submit proposals for this project.
About the Independent Media Arts Alliance:
IMAA is a member-driven non-profit national organization working to advance and strengthen the media arts community in Canada. Representing over 100 independent film, video, audio, and new media production, distribution, and exhibition organizations in all parts of the country, the IMAA serves over 16,000 independent media artists and cultural workers.
Project Overview:
The project involves a complete redesign of our existing website, IMAA.ca, to create a modern, user-friendly, and responsive platform. The new website should reflect our organization’s branding, values, and objectives. It must also incorporate the latest web technologies and best practices for usability and accessibility.
Scope of Work:
The selected developer will be responsible for the following key tasks:
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of our current website and its shortcomings.
Collaborate with our team to define project goals, target audience, and design preferences.
Develop a detailed project plan, including timelines and milestones.
Create wireframes, prototypes, and design mockups for the new website.
Implement responsive design for optimal viewing across all devices and browsers.
Ensure high-level security and data protection measures.
Provide content management system (CMS) training to our staff for easy content updates.
Perform thorough testing and quality assurance.
Launch and deploy the new website.
Provide ongoing technical support and maintenance options.
Proposal Submission:
Interested firms should submit their proposals by October 31, 2023. Proposals should include the following:
Company background, including relevant experience in website redesign projects.
Portfolio showcasing previous website design and development work.
Detailed project approach and methodology.
Estimated project timeline.
Itemized budget, including all associated costs.
Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Experience and expertise in website design and development for nonprofit organizations.
Prioritizing experience with microsite creation.
Ability to work bilingually.
Demonstrated understanding of our organization’s mission and goals.
Creativity and innovation in design concepts.
Proposed project timeline and methodology.
Cost-effectiveness and value for the budget.
References and client testimonials.
Timeline:
Proposal Submission Deadline: October 31, 2023
Evaluation Period: November 1 – 10
Vendor Selection: November 14th
Project Start date: November 21st
Contact Information: For inquiries and proposal submission, please contact: Yuko Fedrau, Operations Coordinator, at coord@imaa.ca
Disclaimer: IMAA reserves the right to accept or reject any proposals received, to request additional information, and to negotiate terms with any qualified proposer. The issuance of this CFP does not commit IMAA to award a contract or pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal.
We look forward to receiving your proposals and exploring the possibility of collaborating on this exciting website redesign project.
The Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada and the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) are once again coming together to honour the recipients of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts (GGArts).
We are looking to pair Canadian filmmakers with the 2024 GGArts winners to create artistic video portraits (3 minutes max., including credits/bumpers) and a 30-second teaser. We also encourage production centres and filmmakers to enter an agreement that would help cover the costs of services and equipment they might need.
Type of Service Required : Video Production Services Closing Date : 13 October 2023 Contact Person : Sol Inés Peca Phone : 1-800-263-5588 | 613-566-4414, ext. 4139 Email : rfp-dp@canadacouncil.ca
Supported through Heritage Canada’s Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives program, this is a first time, small-scale resource redistribution initiative for IMAA aimed at increasing capacity, connection and support within the independent media arts community. Led by the needs of our members, it will financially and administratively support selected organizations in finding and employing a ‘consultant’ to support their anti-racism capacity building project.
Five selected organizations within IMAA’s membership will receive a subtle yet powerful boost of up to $8,000 to put towards working with someone who will support your initiative. This careful fusion of resources is designed to empower smaller projects, equipping your organization with the tools and support needed to make a genuine and lasting impact.
IMAA News - June 2023 BDigital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) Quebec Regional Meeting interConnect CSMARI Discord Chats --» Sacrifice as Beginning, with Nasrin Himada [Through the Storm] --» Get to know IMAA [Take 2!] Summer Closure + Panorama + Featured Member : VUCAVU + Opportunities
Position: Research Intern Location: anywhere in Canada Wage: $18 per hour, 30 hours per week Contract Dates: June 20 2023 to October 23 2023
About the position: This internship will immerse you in the activities of the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA). This internship will immerse you in the activities of the Independent Media Arts Alliance, an exciting and dynamic workplace that is currently engaged in a number of ambitious projects, which advance and strengthen the independent media arts community in Canada. The primary focus of this internship is research of not-for-profit media arts organizations across the country undertaking digital transformation work. Over the course of this four-month internship at IMAA, you will first receive intensive on-the-job orientation and training and then have the opportunity to participate hands-on in the management and promotion of an IMAA-led project. You will become familiar with the latest standards, recommendations, and tools, sharing them within the media arts community and soliciting their feedback and recommendations. You will benefit from exposure to a very experienced and highly professional team of arts administrators, organizers, and other specialists, participating fully in an exciting and ambitious project over the course of the four-month internship.
During your time with IMAA, you will be responsible for: – Research support for the interConnect project – Note-taking and editing support for the interConnect project’s working groups – Documenting digital projects
Your general responsibilities will also include: – Updating membership contact lists to facilitate engagement and community participation – Communications-related tasks (website maintenance, social media campaigns) – Supporting administrative tasks for the IMAA team
Over the course of this four-month internship, you will first receive on-the-job orientation and training and then have the opportunity to participate hands-on in our organisation’s active projects. You will benefit from exposure to a collaborative and community-minded team of arts administrators, organisers, and other specialists, participating fully in our day-to-day work over the course of the internship.
By the end of the internship period, you will have increased your understanding of the Canadian media arts sector, gained knowledge regarding your future specialisation within the field, equipped yourself with tools for seeking further employment or self-employment options, and be better positioned to pursue those options.
About you:
– You hold a degree in arts administration, film studies, library and information science, Indigenous studies, or another field related to the position.
– You have an interest for, and preferably also hands-on experience working in independent media arts (film, video, audio art, and/or digital art).
– You’re seeking experience in arts administration and wish to contribute to supporting the development of the independent media arts sector. You’re interested in distributing information or stimulating conversations that support independent media artists in their work.
– You have strong organisational skills, including proficiency with all standard digital office tools, and well-developed work practices. You are responsible, accountable, and able to work largely in a self-directed manner. You have excellent communications skills and a demonstrated ability to work well in teams.
– English language skills (written and spoken) are essential for this position. Written and spoken French would be considered an asset, but not a requirement of the position.
IMAA is strongly committed to correcting historical employment inequities in the sector it serves and is working proactively to centre diversity within the organisation. We welcome all applications from women, racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Accommodations will be made available to applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please provide details in your application – you may append your requirements to your cover letter.
Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts – Discover the 2023 Winners!
The Canada Council for the Arts in collaboration with IMAA is pleased to present the winners of the #GGArts2023 Awards! Join us in congratulating and celebrating Germaine Koh, Nettie Wild, Evergon, Grace Nickel, Tim Whiten, Shannon Walsh, FASTWÜRMS and David Garneau. Bravo! en.ggarts.ca
IMAA News – March 2023 (Click here!) Become a Member or Renew your Membership! interConnect – Info Session: Call for Participation Upcoming Thematic Meetings on Discord Welcome to Faraz Abdullah, CSMARI Project Manager! DS4Y Funding Recipients 2022-2023 ASO Convergence Conference Ontario Arts Council Budget Cuts +Panorama +Featured Member : FAVA +Opportunities
$43,000 for approximately 39 weeks, at 28 hours/week
The Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) is a member-driven non-profit national organization working to advance and strengthen the media arts community in Canada. Representing over 100 independent film, video, audio, and new media production, distribution, and exhibition organizations in all parts of the country, the IMAA serves over 16,000 independent media artists and cultural workers.
Our organization is strong and dynamic, anchored in its diverse membership from all regions of the country, and supported by a small but dedicated staff. We are innovative, forward-thinking and inclusive in our commitment to serve independent media arts communities in all their diversity from coast to coast to coast.
For more information about IMAA, its members and activities, visit www.imaa.ca
IMAA is excited to be hiring a Project Manager to lead its interConnect project. This individual will see the project through all its phases from initiation, to research, and completion.
interConnect comes out of feedback among arts organizations that suggests that the Digital Strategy Fund’s fundamental goals have yet to be fully met. While much important knowledge is being generated thanks to the Fund, the dissemination & concrete application of its results remain incomplete and unevenly distributed. Within the fields of visual arts, media arts, digital arts & contemporary craft, the majority of organizations and artists have yet to benefit substantially from this work. A relatively limited number of organizations are making great strides towards digital transformation and enhancing their effectiveness & sustainability in their respective communities. If these successes could be more widely shared, these transformative impacts would be amplified across the Canadian arts sector.
Based on this analysis, IMAA proposes an initiative comprised of 3 related activities:
(1) take stock of the enduring pain points experienced by organizations, collectives & artists in fulfilling their mandates or creating work;
(2) perform an extensive review, analysis & distillation of the most promising Digital Strategy initiatives already completed or underway;
(3) Match the newly developed expertise in the arts sector with the unmet needs and challenges experienced by the bulk of the arts community, using a methodology based on cooperative inquiry and documenting the results through a collective intelligence platform.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lead the InterConnect project from April 2022 —January 2023
Manage project budgets in collaboration with the IMAA Director
Prepare reports and updates for public sector funders
Provide collaborative leadership to colleague contractors including the Communications Specialist and Researchers working on the InterConnect project throughout the research, outreach, hiring, interviews, communications phases of the project
Support community consultations with stakeholders to inform project deliverables
Coordinate outreach to expand the reach and relevance of InterConnect to new communities
Produce public reports at key milestones in the development process
Respond to any other related tasks and duties that are required.
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
Experience in project and budget management
Experience working in artist-run, DIY, and/or independent organizations and collectives
Knowledge of Canada Council for the Arts funding programs
Excellent organizational skills and practices
Consensus decision making and facilitation experience is an asset
An understanding of anti-oppression and equity frameworks
Strong communication skills and experience with remote work and project management
Multilingualism an asset, English will be the primary language of project work
IMAA is strongly committed to correcting historical employment inequities in the sector it serves and is working proactively to centre diversity within the organization. We welcome all applications from women, racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Accommodations will be made available to applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please provide details in your application.
We strongly encourage applicants from equity-seeking groups to apply. If you are comfortable self-identifying as such, we ask that you do.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and CV (in English or French) by email to the IMAA Hiring Committee: hiring@imaa.ca
Thank you for your interest. Due to volume only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
*IMAA’s National Office is located in Montréal, but we will consider applicants based elsewhere in Canada. We are currently observing work from home protocols. The successful candidate may be required to travel as part of their functions.
This position is funded through the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategies Fund
The Independent Media Arts Alliance is pleased to announce the appointment of Barbora Racevičiūtė as the new National Director.
Barbora will guide IMAA in its mission to push for structural change with regards to labour and governance and to advocate for equity, anti-oppression and access. Barbora has held roles with various not-for-profit arts organizations and in the academy.
Her previous experiences as Interim Communications and Development Manager at Workman Arts and as Director of Operations with Images Festival have given her a focus on media arts, with a multidisciplinary mandate. She is committed to interdisciplinary partnerships and considers them essential to understanding the emerging priorities of the media arts sector and its overall development.
Barbora has been involved from the sector on the ad-hoc Basic Income Committee to provide resources and support for artists. She cares deeply about the next generation of arts workers and concentrates on building solidarity in the sector and combating labour precarity.
About IMAA
The Independent Media Arts Alliance(IMAA) is a member-driven non-profit national organization working to advance and strengthen the media arts community in Canada. Representing over 100 independent film, video, audio, and new media production, distribution, and exhibition organizations in all parts of the country, the IMAA serves over 16,000 independent media artists and cultural workers.
This workshop will be held on Thursday, November 25 and Friday, November 26 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST). Please note that this workshop will be conducted in French and follows up on the anti-racism policy clinic held for IMAA’s English-speaking members with MANO.
Workshop Objectives
This workshop aims to equip participants with tools to help them understand current and historical issues of inclusion and exclusion. It will allow participants to better understand the specific Canadian and Quebecois historical contexts and grasp the particular manifestations of these contexts in our local and national cultural sphere, as well as the particular realities that participants experience within their cultural organizations.
Following the workshop, participants will be able to :
Identify implicit forms of bias.
Understand historical and contemporary power relations in relation to these explicit/implicit forms of bias.
Better understand implicit/explicit bias and identify the larger impacts of exclusion.
Reflect on the nuances of past “diversity” policies to determine whether or not they are beneficial to their organizations and the communities they wish to include.
Design new and innovative approaches within their organizations, informed by required and optional prior reading and discussion, to rethink past mistakes and shortcomings and highlight new practices.
Become more comfortable and open in conducting dialogues about issues of inclusion and exclusion in the cultural sector.
Ultimately, the goal is for these new tools to lead to new and tangible forms of diversity and inclusion policy within organizations.
Methods of learning
Reading excerpts from books and articles, viewing short videos, large and small group discussions, lectures and formal presentations.
Programming
Day 1: Introduction to implicit/explicit bias, exclusions, historical contexts of racial exclusions, modes of analysis.
Day 2: Discussions about existing modes of inclusion in participants’ organizations (failures and successes) and ideal and critical modes of inclusion.
Participant Engagement
Participants should set aside the time to read approximately 40 pages prior to the sessions. These readings will provide a common ground for the course and will be the focus of the discussions.
James Oscar’s Biography
James Oscar is a writer, art critic and curator. He has studied critical thinking closely with poet/writer Édouard Glissant. His work explores how the complexity of identities is disseminated in the visual, literary and performative arts. James has 27 years of experience writing about contemporary art, cultural criticism, and sociocultural urban histories. James has 28 years of experience in the field of diversity as it relates to cultural inequality and human rights as it relates to urban racialized communities. He is currently advising the City of Montreal on issues of cultural inequity in the city’s current cultural institutions. With his group Montreal in Action, he was one of the main contributors regarding cultural inequity in the first public consultation on systemic discrimination and racism in North America – the OCPM on systemic discrimination and racism. Read the full biography (French)
Montreal in Action
In 2018, Montreal in Action made history by collecting 22,000 signatures from Montrealers to force a public consultation on racism and systemic discrimination involving over 7,000 Montrealers in 2019. The following summary of the full report has been published. https://ocpm.qc.ca/…/files/pdf/P99/resume-reds_english.pdf
Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis, as we are limited to 25 participants.
This workshop was initiated by IMAA and CQAM. Please note that CQAM is now the Regroupement de pairs des arts indépendants de recherche et d’expérimentation – Repaire, an organization born from the merger of CQAM and RAIQ.
The Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) announces new Media Arts Fee Schedule for 2022
Wednesday, October 20, 2021 – At its Annual General Meeting on September 28th, IMAA’s membership voted unanimously to adopt a new transitional fee schedule, as a step towards greater harmonization artist fee recommendations and standards in the Canadian and Québec arts communities.
The 2022 IMAA Fee Schedule introduces significant changes that will impact media arts presenters differently. We recognize that most organizations have fixed budgets and that many plan their programming well in advance. In some cases, transitioning to the new Fee Schedule may require time and adjustment.
We encourage presenters to gradually adopt the new fee structure throughout 2022 and 2023, with the goal of fully adhering to the IMAA Fee Schedule standards by 2024. The 2023 and 2024 fee schedules will be soon available on IMAASource’s website. Presenters should always follow the spirit of the Guiding Principles in implementing a transition that is appropriate to their own organization’s situation.
The objective of the 2022 IMAA Fee Schedule is to raise the standards to which the entire independent media arts community should strive, in keeping with its values of fair remuneration for artists. We encourage organizations to use the new Fee Schedule when budgeting for future programming and to refer to it in grant applications.
$52,000-$58,000 per annum plus benefits, 32 hours per week, 6 weeks paid vacation.
Years of experience: 5 to 10 years
Location: Canada*
Benefits include: 4 weeks paid holidays + 2 weeks during the winter season, health-care spending account, work-from home allowance and annual cost-of-living adjustment to wages.
The Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) is a member-driven non-profit national organization working to advance and strengthen the media arts community in Canada. Representing over 100 independent film, video, audio, and new media production, distribution, and exhibition organizations in all parts of the country, the IMAA serves over 16,000 independent media artists and cultural workers.
Our organization is strong and dynamic, anchored in its diverse membership from all regions of the country, and supported by a small but dedicated staff. We are innovative, forward-thinking and inclusive in our commitment to serve independent media arts communities in all their diversity from coast to coast to coast.
For more information about IMAA, its members and activities, visit www.imaa.ca
IMAA’s National Director is responsible for initiating and coordinating IMAA’s projects and activities. Candidates must have experience with grant writing and working in a non-profit arts environment, have comprehensive knowledge of the independent media arts in Canada, and demonstrate a strong understanding of arts funding and the political landscape in Canada.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
Chart a course for the Alliance, responding to challenges, seizing opportunities and achieving buy-in and consensus for projects and initiatives with IMAA’s Board and membership;
Work with colleagues and partners in the arts sector to prioritize and pursue advocacy efforts on behalf of the independent media arts;
Research and prepare all operating & project grants for submission to funding agencies;
Promote and maintain communication among IMAA’s membership, staff and Board;
Encourage participation and development of committees among the board and membership;
Develop partnerships within the Media Arts community (in both the private and public sectors);
Ensure sound financial and administrative stewardship;
Support and supervise permanent and temporary staff; and
Respond to any other related tasks and duties that are required.
Work with the IMAA Board of Directors to continue advocacy activities and develop and implement new advocacy campaigns;
QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
5 – 10 years experience in related field
Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in both English & French
Experience in grant writing & budgeting
Understanding of non-profit Board governance
Excellent organizational skills and practices
Experience in project management and supervising personnel
Commitment to responding to the needs of the independent media arts community
Willingness to develop new links and partnerships
Bilingualism
IMAA is strongly committed to correcting historical employment inequities in the sector it serves and is working proactively to centre diversity within the organization. We welcome all applications from women, racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Accommodations will be made available to applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please provide details in your application.
We strongly encourage applicants from equity-seeking groups to apply. If you are comfortable self-identifying as such, we ask that you do.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and CV (in English or French) by email to the IMAA Hiring Committee: hiring@imaa.ca
Thank you for your interest. Due to volume only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
*IMAA’s National Office is located in Montréal, but we will consider applicants based elsewhere in Canada. We are currently observing work from home protocols. The successful candidate may be required to travel as part of their functions.
IMAA engaged in a national conversation to address online presentation models. As a result of this research, we will update our Fee Schedule to include online presentation and produce a series of additional resources on intellectual property, remuneration, accessibility and technical considerations.
The updated Fee Schedule and accompanying documents will be hosted on IMAASource, a searchable collection of resources and tools. The objectives are therefore as follows:
Main Objectives
Create or update web-based layouts for our WordPress website to publish the new resources. They include:
Work with an accessibility consultant (or a team member) to optimize the website for screen readers.
Secondary Objectives
Implement additional web functionalities, such as
a fee calculator and flow charts.
Fix major bugs (such as the display of the landing page and mobile navigation).
Further improve web accessibility.
Propose updates to the website in areas including
navigation, design, and search functionalities.
IMAASource is a work in progress. We are looking for a partner who has an interest in continuing to improve this project in other contracts and who can accompany us in determining the priorities for the development of the resource.
Additional information
The content will be produced in French and English.
The number of pages is yet to be determined, but IMAA can be in charge of the content entry.
Good knowledge of non-profit organization and the independent media arts sector is an asset.
Budget
The budget for the design and web development is limited to $ 4000 with an additional $ 400 for accessibility user testing (all before taxes). If necessary, secondary objectives could be deferred to other projects with additional budgets.
Project’s Schedule
July to August 2021: Production of the resources
September: Translation of the ressources
September 28, 2021: Fee Schedule is voted at the Annual General Meeting (AGM)
September to November 2021: Web design, development and integration
We conduct interviews and/or hire the successful candidate at the end of August/beginning of September. The designer will be able to start working before the vote on the Fee Schedule at the AGM as we do not expect major change in the layout.
How to Apply
Please include in your proposal the following elements:
a short statement of interest including if you will recommend (or already work with) an accessibility consultant,
a quote or preliminary budget,
a portfolio presenting past projects (website can act as a portfolio).
All proposals should be sent to Benjamin J. Allard at proj@imaa.cabefore August 19th. Applications should have “OPS Web – [YOUR NAME]” as a subject line.For any questions, please contact Benjamin J. Allard, proj@imaa.ca, (514) 686-1005.
Give your opinion! Call out to the Independent Media Arts Sector: Have your say on the ONLINE MEDIA ARTS PRESENTATION FEE SCHEDULE.
IMAA is currently accepting registrations to participate in the June 23, 2021, Public Consultation. // Prononcez-vous! Appel au secteur des arts médiatiques indépendants, c’est le moment de donner votre opinion sur le nouveau BARÈME DE TARIFS POUR LA PRÉSENTATION DES ARTS MÉDIATIQUES EN LIGNE.
L’AAMI accepte actuellement les inscriptions pour participer à la consultation publique du 23 juin 2021.
Following the discovery of the remains of 215 children who attended the former Kamloops Residential School in British Columbia, IMAA extends its deepest condolences to all members of the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation, as well as to all indigenous peoples.
In light of the horrific situation, we would like to share various support initiatives:
The Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) whose mandate is to assist First Nation Peoples in British Columbia to recognize and be holistically empowered from the primary and generational effect of the Residential Schools by supporting research, education, awareness, partnerships, and advocating for justice and healing. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society also provides a crisis line. By phone: 1-866-925-4419 Donate | More about
The Hope for Wellness Help Line offers immediate mental health counselling and crisis intervention to all Indigenous peoples across Canada. Phone and chat counselling is available in English and French. On request, phone counselling is also available in: Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut. Call the toll-free Help Line at 1-855-242-3310, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or use the chat box below to connect with a counsellor on-line. More about
The KUU-US Crisis Line Society is a non-profit registered charity that provides 24 hour crisis services through education, prevention and intervention programs. By phone: 1-800-588-8717, or on the website: kuu-uscrisisline.com.
Introduction The sudden surge of new presentation models exposes an urgent need to formalize standards for streaming and other types of online presentation of media arts. Current recommended fee schedules in Canada only partially reflect these new models and lack consensus on recommended minimum fees or presentation standards.
To address these issues, IMAA is engaging in a national conversation with media artists, arts service organizations, media arts festivals and independent distributors, galleries and other presenters. We want to establish a minimum fee schedule and create a best practice guide on intellectual property, remuneration, accessibility and technical issues for the presentation of media arts online.
The present survey is intended for Canadian representatives of media arts organizations and media artists or independent producers. Responses are collected anonymously. Only aggregated data will be shared with the IMAA network or otherwise made public.
Terms used in the survey are defined in this glossary.If you require assistance to fill-out the survey or would like to provide responses over the phone, please contact Marilyne Parent at engagement@imaa.ca.
This internship will immerse you in the activities of the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) and its close partner the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC). Both organizations are exciting and dynamic workplaces that are currently engaged in a number of ambitious projects, which advance and strengthen the independent media arts community in Canada.
Your time will be split evenly between the two organizations.
During your time with IMAA, you will be responsible for:
Maintenance, expansion and promotion of our online resource hub IMAASource (imaa.ca/Source)
Participating in the early planning stages of a national media arts conference in 2022
While at NIMAC, your responsibilities will include:
Planning and promoting a series of online conversations on subjects of importance to Indigenous media artists
Logistics support (liaison with members, configuring communications tools)
Your general responsibilities at both organizations will also include:
Updating membership contact lists to facilitate engagement and community participation
Communications-related tasks (website maintenance, contributing to monthly newsletter, social media campaigns)
Over the course of this ten-month internship, you will first receive intensive on-the-job orientation and training and then have the opportunity to participate hands-on in our organizations’ active projects. You will benefit from exposure to a very experienced and highly professional team of arts administrators, organizers, and other specialists, participating fully in our day-to-day work over the course of the internship.
By the end of the internship period, you will have dramatically increased your understanding of the Canadian media arts sector, made concrete decisions regarding your future specialization within the field, equipped yourself with tools for seeking further employment or self-employment options, and be better positioned to pursue those options.
About you:
You hold a degree in arts administration, film studies, library and information science, Indigenous studies, or another field related to the position.
You have a passionate interest for, and preferably also hands-on experience working in independent media arts (film, video, audio art, and/or digital art). In particular, you have an affinity with or experience in the Indigenous media arts community.
You’re seeking experience in arts administration and wish to contribute to supporting the development of the independent media arts sector. You’re interested in distributing information or stimulating conversations that support independent media artists in their work.
You have strong organizational skills, including proficiency with all standard digital office tools, and well-developed work practices. You are responsible, accountable, and able to work largely in a self-directed manner. You have excellent communications skills and a demonstrated ability to work well in teams.
English language skills (written and spoken) are essential for this position. Written and spoken French would be considered an asset, but not a requirement of the position.
IMAA is strongly committed to correcting historical employment inequities in the sector it serves and is working proactively to centre diversity within the organization. We welcome all applications from women, racialized persons/persons of colour, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of all sexual orientations and genders, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas. Accommodations will be made available to applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process. If you require accommodation, please provide details in your application – you may append your requirements to your cover letter.
CQAM and AAMI are collaborating with Diversité artistique Montréal (DAM) to offer our members a discussion and training on inclusion issues in the cultural sector on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 27 and 28, 2021.
The first day will serve as a preparatory step for the workshop the next day, by providing a common vocabulary. Several concepts will be discussed using historical background, artistic references and statistics. It will also address the concrete impacts that issues of under-representation can have in the workplace as well as some avenues to initiate a process of inclusion.
The second part will be a dialogue. A workshop will be held to discuss what is an anti-racist approach. Participants will be invited to submit their concerns and questions without judgment before and during the workshop so that it can be adapted to your realities. The goal of the exercise is to accompany your personal and professional reflections and to open up the field of possibilities for changes that you can implement with your team, your organization and your community. Any process of inclusion must be thought out and planned within your teams and organizations, but we hope to give you some foundations on which to develop it.
The main objective of the iDAM cell is to raise awareness in the cultural and artistic milieu of the systemic obstacles that limit the equitable development of artists and diversity and First Nations organizations and to accompany them towards sustainable change.
April 27 (from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm):
Diversity and indigenous peoples
Racism and systemic racism (through history)
Implicit biases
White privilege and white fragility
Allies
Intersectionality
Equity vs. equality
Inclusion vs. integration
April 28 (9:30am to 12pm):
Anti-racist approaches.
Analysis of the symbolic, organizational, communication and administrative components of organizations.
Recommendations for concrete actions for a structuring inclusive approach.
Suggestions for tools adapted to your needs.
Inclusion measures and policies.
Discussions on concrete concerns raised by participants.
Registration will be done on a first come, first served basis, as we are limited to 25 participants.
*Please note that this event will be conducted in French and follows up on the anti-racism policy clinic held for our English-speaking members with MANO and IMAA.*
The sudden surge of new presentation models exposes an urgent need to formalize standards for streaming and other types of online presentation of media art. Current recommended fee schedules in Canada only partially reflect these new models, and lack consensus on recommended minimum fees or presentation standards.
To address these issues, IMAA is launching a national conversation with media artists, arts service organizations, film festivals, independent distributors, galleries and other presenters. This work will establish a minimum fee schedule and create a best practices guide on intellectual property, remuneration, accessibility and technical issues for the presentation of media arts online.
This project will benefit the media arts community by:
– Encouraging the fair remuneration of media artists when their work is shown online;
– Clarifying fees and best practices for the online presentation of audiovisual work;
– Building the capacity of Canadian presenters to present audiovisual work online;
– Enhancing the accessibility of Canadian independent media arts disseminated online;
– Expanding the technical knowledge of Canadian presenters of media art online.
There are many ways to support this work:
1- Become a project supporter: Please consider making a financial contribution to this important work! By doing so, you will help ensure that all research participants are fairly compensated for their time, that project contributors reflect a broad diversity of voices and regional representation, and that our project’s outcomes are widely circulated and broadly accessible to our community free of cost. We suggest a contribution amount of $500. Your organization’s financial support will be acknowledged and displayed at all related events, press releases, media and promotional materials. IMAA is a charitable organization and can issue receipts for your donation if required.
2- Take part in the discussions: Join us for a round table discussion of these issues on March 24th. Follow this link to register. A second round table will be organized in June.
3- Spread the word:Sign up to our mailing list and subscribe to our social media channels below to follow our process and receive regular updates. Relay news from our project through your own communications channels and invite your community to join the upcoming round table.
4- Declare your support for these standards: Once the updated fee schedule and best practices have been approved by IMAA’s membership, we’d like you to demonstrate your commitment to upholding these standards. Stay tuned for details on how to display your support for our new fee schedule and best practices guide!
Get in touch with us:
If your organization is able to make a financial contribution please contact our Project Manager, Benjamin J. Allard.
For more information about the upcoming roundtable or to get involved in the process, please write to our Engagement Manager, Marilyne Parent.
_____________
About IMAA
The Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) is a member-driven non-profit national organization working to advance and strengthen the media arts community in Canada. Representing over 100 independent film, video, audio, and new media production, distribution, and exhibition organizations in all parts of the country, the IMAA serves over 16,000 independent media artists and cultural workers.
IMAA is a charitable organization and can issue receipts for your donation, if required.
IMAA is currently accepting registrations to participate in its March 24, 2021 Roundtableon Online Media Arts Presentation Standards.
🌎 Background and Invitation
— The sudden surge of new presentation models exposes an urgent need to formalize standards for the streaming and online presentation of media art. This is why IMAA is engaging in a national conversation to establish a minimum fee schedule and create a best practices guide.
How are media artworks currently presented online? What principles and best practices should guide us? What tools should be developed?
We want to hear from you! Attend the roundtable and contribute to the discussion.
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced the eight recipients of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts. Up to eight awards are distributed every year: six awards recognize artistic achievements, one award recognizes excellence in the fine crafts (Saidye Bronfman Award) and one award recognizes an outstanding contribution to contemporary visual arts, media arts or fine crafts. The winners receive a medallion and a cash prize of $25,000 each.
Since 2013, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Independent Media Arts Alliance have put out a call to professional Canadian filmmakers to create video portraits of the award winners. The following are the directors and the GG Award winners they have profiled.
IMAA salutes the outstanding work of each of these GG Award winners, and especially acknowledge the artistic achievement award given to Luc Courchesne (Media Artist)and Cheryl L’Hirondelle (Interdisciplinary Artist).
“Luc Courchesne is a pioneer in media art and design. From interactive portraiture to immersive experience apparatuses, he has developed innovative approaches that have earned him prestigious awards […]”. Read more
“Of Cree/Halfbreed and German/Polish ancestry, Cheryl L’Hirondelle is an interdisciplinary, community-engaged artist, a singer/songwriter and a critical thinker whose family roots are from Papaschase First Nation, amiskwaciy wâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta) and Kikino Metis Settlement, Alberta. Her work critically investigates and articulates a dynamism of nêhiyawin (Cree worldview) in contemporary time-place with a practice that incorporates Indigenous language(s), audio, video, virtual reality, the olfactory, sewn objects, music and audience/user participation to create immersive environments towards ‘radical inclusion.[…]’”. Read more
>> Video portraits of the winners will be available on Air Canada’s domestic and international flights from May 1 to October 31, 2021.
As part of its Cyber Safe and Sound resource, the Independent Media Arts Alliance invites you to a Cybersecurity Workshop! Come share your inspiring initiatives, discuss your situations with colleagues and meet our experts.
This sharing and solving session of two-hour is designed to support arts organization employees in their cybersecurity efforts. If you consulted our cybersecurity resource, and if you wish to start to implement cybersecurity measures in your organization, this event is made for you.
This session will be divided in two parts: 1. A sharing information session on cybersecurity issues. This part will be confidential.
2. A collaborative brainstorming session to meet our cybersecurity experts. This part will be recorded and available on Cyber Safe and Sound website to inspire other organizations in their management of digital risks.
The event is open to all, but spots are limited. Please read this Participation Guide before registering.
English Session: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 Start time according to your time zone : PST (Vancouver) at 10am, MST (Edmonton/Calgary) at 11am, CST (Winnipeg/Regina) at 12pm, EST (Toronto/Montreal) at 1pm, AST (Halifax) at 2pm, NST (St. John’s) at 2:30pm.
The sudden surge of new presentation models exposes an urgent need to formalize standards for streaming and other types of online presentation of media art. To address these issues, IMAA is engaging in a national conversation with media artists, arts service organizations, media arts festivals and independent distributors, galleries and other presenters.
With this project, we want to establish a minimum fee schedule and create a best practices guide.
Interested in taking part in the conversation? You can join one of the three working groups:
Intellectual Property and Remuneration
The online presentation and distribution of media artworks challenge existing models for the remuneration of artists. The use of digital technology to disseminate works also raises specific issues related to intellectual property, including copyright, attribution standards, moral rights, fair dealing, etc. This working group will be directly involved in the development of a national media arts fee schedule for online presentation and support the development of best practices regarding intellectual property and digital practices.
Online Accessibility
Putting into practice accessibility-driven values – offline and online – is an ongoing process in which the media arts community is engaged. There is much to accomplish in this area, least of which is the development of a common understanding of what is meant by accessibility and how this translates into online presentation practices. This working group will lay the groundwork for the development of best practices for making online presentation accessible to audiences with diverse realities. We specifically value the contributions of those who have experienced lack of access to this working group.
Technical Considerations
Digital technology changes the playing field for media arts presenters and distributors, providing multiple new ways of disseminating work and reaching audiences. However, from a technical point of view, online presentation comes with its own set of issues. Setting security parameters, using a third party or custom-built platform, configuring geo-blocking, ensuring that works cannot be downloaded, these are only a few of the additional considerations that come with online presentation. With the goal of increasing the media art community’s capacity when it comes to online presentation, this working group will support the development of best practices related to technological issues and digital presentation contexts.
Engagement
These three groups will meet regularly to support the research, discuss best practices and provide feedback on working documents. The meetings, organized according to participants’ availability, will last between 1 and 2 hours (with some requiring up to 1 hour of preparation before the meeting). A compensation of $75 per meeting is offered.
February to end of April – Research Phase: Approximately 1 meeting per month.
May to end of August – Writing Phase: More frequent meetings as needed.
We encourage individuals with lived experience of oppression and self-identified members of marginalized communities to apply. If you require accommodations to participate, please address it in your application.
To participate
Send a brief letter of interest describing your relevant experience and skills and specifying the group(s) you would like to join (500 words max.) to engagement@imaa.ca.
Date: Tuesday, December 8th, 2020 Time: 1PM EST Free for IMAA and MANO members Session offered in English
IMAA andMANOhave partnered to bring a series of policy clinics to our members over the coming months.
The Anti-Racism Policy Clinic looks to expand the sector’s anti-racism work, not only by examining existing organizational policies, but by going beyond and exploring how these policies are enacted, or not; how they contribute to systemic change or how they might hinder real transformation.
Facilitators will review a sample of existing policies from the sector, provide feedback and an action plan to see these activated by indicating milestones and wins in a process that is complex, takes time, organizational and sectoral buy-in and requires both human and financial resources.
Particular attention will be paid to the challenges faced by organizations as well as strategies to move beyond diversity and into inclusion, belonging, equity and retention. The session will be facilitated by Malissa Bryan and Jess Notwell from the Rainbow Diversity Institute.
To sign up, please email Adriana at membership@mano-ramo.ca with the name of the person attending from your organization, their job or volunteer title/role, name of organization or group and email address.
Registrations will be managed on a first come-first served basis as we are limited to 24 participants nation-wide.
If you would like to submit your anti-racism policies for review, please indicate whether these can be shared with the group at the clinic in an anonymized format, or not.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
The cultural, heritage and sport sectors were among the first to experience the immediate financial impacts of COVID-19 and will be among the last to return. These sectors are not only an important driver of the Canadian economy, but also play a critical role in nation building, fostering Canadian identity, and social cohesion. These guidelines are intended to assist with the development and consideration of written proposals that aim to support arts and culture, heritage, and sport organizations in the recovery period, where COVID-19 health and safety risks are expected to remain significant and normal economic linkages may still be damaged. If applicable, information is also requested on partnerships, costing, and return on investment.
Request for video proposals to honour great Canadian artists from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories
Note: Due to COVID-19 and unpredictable travel restrictions, which may be tightened in the coming months, it may not be possible to film the GGArts 2021 video portraits on location. Should this be the case, the video portraits will have to be produced remotely without the possibility to meet and film the winners in person.
The Canada Council for the Arts and the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) are once again coming together to honour the recipients of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts (GGArts).
We are looking to pair Canadian filmmakers with the 2021 GGArts winners to create artistic video portraits (3 minutes max., including credits/bumpers) and a 30-second teaser. We also encourage production centres and filmmakers to enter an agreement that would help cover the costs of services and equipment they might need.
The commissioned filmmakers will be acknowledged in every way possible as creators of these videos. The video portraits will be shown on Council’s web site and YouTube channel. They will be promoted via social media, on partners’ web sites and at public events. The commissioned filmmakers and IMAA members are also encouraged to show the works on their websites and social media channels.
The videos will be a key element of a national campaign to raise the profile of the winners and the visual arts, media arts and fine craft in Canada.
Each video will be an artistic and original portrait of the GGArts winner of which the commissioned filmmaker has complete creative control. It will celebrate the winner’s achievement and the impact his or her life’s work has made on the lives of Canadians. The Council reserves the right to use the video portraits for promotional purposes. The commissioned filmmakers retain copyright and ownership of their works and may use them as they wish to promote their own work.
Budget (max.): $7,000 Deadline for submissions: Sunday, November 1, 2020 Deadline for questions regarding the RFP: Friday, October 23, 2020
Digital Shift will be comprised of six weekly sessions, held online from 10am -12pm (Pacific time) each Thursday from September 17 to October 22, 2020. Each session will be made up of a one hour round-table conversation, followed by a virtual break-out, where participants will gather in working groups to discuss the issues raised during the conversation. These discussions will have French/English translation and ASL interpretation.
The first session on September 17 will feature speakers France Trépanier & Chris Creighton-Kelly, co-directors of Primary Colours/Couleurs primaires. They will present “A Shifting Landscape” by approaching the immediate challenges in the Canadian arts system. Using a historical perspective, they situate the development of this Eurocentric system in the context of colonialism; the post World War 2 ‘cultural nation building’ period; the 80’s and 90’s push by IBPoC artists to gain access to this system; the 25 year response of Canadian arts institutions/organizations and the current resetting of this system in the wake of Indigenous struggles and the BLM uprisings.
Register for the first session here: bit.ly/RegisterWeek1 —– Digital Shift will also showcase the work of artists from the Pacific Region (BC and the Yukon) through a rotating weekly program of screenings, online artists’ works, and virtual walks by artists through different territories within the region. These pieces will be shown on our website from September 17 to October 28.
Events for the first week of September 17 to 23:
Featured Screening – “At the Confluence” programmed by Yukon Film Society (YFS) and The Klondike Institute for Art and Culture (KIAC). Works will be available to stream on our website in the Cinema.
Featured Artist Works by Farheen HaQ and Anchi Lin will be shown on our website in the Gallery.
Informal Meetup Sessions focusing on Artistic Staff and Technical and Production Staff will be held simultaneously on our website in the Main Hall on Sept. 22, 10am–12pm PST.
Digital Shift is hosted by the FLUX Media Gallery, which is situated on the ancestral and un-ceded territories of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, including the WSANEC peoples of the Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tseycum and Tsawout First Nations (Victoria BC). The Gathering is presented in partnership with the Media Arts Alliance of the Pacific (MAAP), the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC) and IMAA.
IMAA to deliver Digital Skills for Youth program from 2020-2022
IMAA is pleased to announce that from September 2020 until March 2022, we will offer funding opportunities for youth internships as part of the federal government’s Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y) program.
The DS4Y program is a national initiative coordinated through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy overseen by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The program helps youth advance their digital skills, improve their employability and use their talent to their full potential in the digital economy.
Thanks to the DS4Y program, IMAA will help at least 35 underemployed post-secondary graduates develop their digital skills, gain valuable work experience and enhance their future employability through work and training internships hosted by nonprofits and small businesses in the arts and culture sector.
“Digital skills and work-integrated learning are key to future success, innovation and jobs in Canada,” said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “The DS4Y program helps graduates get the best possible head start so they can thrive in the digital economy, while delivering the highly skilled workforce that Canadian businesses are looking for.”
To learn more about the Digital Skills for Youth program or to submit your application to host internships, please visit IMAA’s DS4Y page.
Resource List – Some places to give working locally in the US – Some places to give working nationally in the US – Some places to give working nationally in Canada – Some places to give working locally in Canada – Take Action (Call Scripts + Petitions) – Resources and educational tools (Some incredibly helpful and comprehensive resource guides, Podcasts, Movies and TV and Books) Anti-racism resources – Where you can donate – Online reading – On protest – Practicing Allyship – Prison Abolition – Videos – Podcasts – Books – Follow + Support Support Black initiatives or Organizers Helping Black Communities in Montreal – Lawyer/Legal Aid/Mobilization – Culture – Education/Youth – Assistance to migrants – Assistance to ethnic and racialized communities – Fight against poverty and exclusion / Entrepreneurship Anti-racism resources for white people by Women do Stuff (France) – Books – Articles, blogs – Films, series, documentaries – Podcasts – Youtube – Organizations, associations, collectives, activists – Youth – Collections
Workman Arts’ Anti-Racism Resources – Donate – Petition – Directories – Action – Tools IMAASource – (Re)conciliation – Think Before You Appropriate: A guide for creators and designers – Interactive Territory, Treaty and Language Map (Native Land) – Understanding Aboriginal Arts in Canada Today: A Review of Knowledge and Literature (Canada Council for the Arts) – Impacts and Benefits Agreement – Indigenous Corporate Training (ICT) – Indigenous self-government – Indigenous Corporate Training (ICT) – Indigenous Peoples: A Guide to Terminology – Indigenous Corporate Training (ICT) – 27 valuable “must do” tips for Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples – Indigenous Corporate Training (ICT) – 23 Tips on What Not to Say or Do when Working with Indigenous Peoples – Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. (ICT) – United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN) – Guidelines for working with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Elders (CACE) – Cultural Representation in the Media Arts, Ethics and Freedom of Expression (FOFA Gallery) – Learning From Indigenous Non-Governmental Organizations: A Case Study of Three INGOs in Canada with Transformative Impact on their Communities (Tides Canada) – Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) – Cultural Diversity in the Media Arts (NIMAC – IMAA) Afrique au Féminin (Montréal-based) Afrobiz.ca: Black owned businesses in Canada BIPOC TV & Film Black Lives Matter: Ways You Can Help (unofficial) Black Lives Matter Vancouver Demands & Calls to Action
This internship will immerse you in the activities of the Independent Media Arts Alliance, an exciting and dynamic workplace that is currently engaged in a number of ambitious projects, which advance and strengthen the media arts community in Canada. This internship will cover two areas of activity: assisting in the coordination and planning of an online media arts gathering, and coordinating the operations of IMAA’s online resource hub IMAASource (imaa.ca/Source).
Over the course of this six-month internship at IMAA, you will first receive intensive on-the-job orientation and training and then have the opportunity to participate hands-on in the two projects described above: online media gathering and resource hub. You will develop new skills in the use of digital tools for sharing knowledge and facilitating conversation. You will benefit from exposure to a very experienced and highly professional team of arts administrators, organizers, and other specialists, participating fully in an exciting and ambitious project over the course of the six-month internship.
By the end of the internship period, you will have dramatically increased your understanding of the Canadian media arts sector, made concrete decisions regarding your future specialization within the field, equipped yourself with tools for seeking further employment or self-employment options, and be better positioned to pursue those options.
About you:
You hold an undergraduate degree in an arts or communications related field. You have a passionate interest for, and preferably also hands-on experience within the media arts (independent film, video, audio art, or new media/digital art). You have an interest in gaining experience in the use of tools to facilitate knowledge exchange and professional gatherings using online means. You have strong organizational skills, including proficiency with all standard digital office tools, and well-developed work practices. Familiarity with media streaming platforms and software would be an asset. You are responsible, accountable, and able to work largely in a self-directed manner. You have excellent communications skills and a demonstrated ability to work well in teams.
English and French language skills (written and spoken) are required, with preference given to fluently bilingual candidates with excellent writing skills. IMAA is committed to equal employment opportunities and encourages candidates who identify as women, Indigenous, members of visible minorities, LGBTQ2SIA+, and persons with disabilities to apply.
To apply:
Please use the young-canada-works.canada.ca portal to submit your application. Please include the following three documents with your application:
●your CV
●a cover letter summarizing your interest and relevant skills and experience
●a writing sample in either French or English (something you’ve written in the past either for work or for studies – we ask for this in order to get a sense of your writing skills)
Incomplete applications will not be considered. The application deadline is Friday June 26 2020 at 11:59 pm EDT.
The Independent Media Arts Alliance stands in solidarity with Black and Indigenous communities.
We are committed to confronting and fighting systemic racism, police brutality and oppression in all of its forms. We encourage members of the media arts community and beyond to amplify Black and Indigenous voices, to financially support initiatives in their local areas dedicated to racial justice, to engage with family, friends and colleagues in difficult and welcomed conversations of privilege and institutional racism.
We invite member organizations to share this statement or to create their own, to ask themselves what more they can do and to commit themselves to the constant learning that racial justice demands.
IMAA is proud to present its ambitious new action plan for 2019-2023. In this document, you will find details about IMAA’s six key goals and the various projects we will be undertaking to accomplish them. For more regular updates on our activities and projects, you can subscribe to our newsletter.
Where do the parties stand? Non-partisan information on parties’ platforms. Note that this page will be updated regularly as the Coalition receives answers to their questionnaire.
The Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada and the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) are once again coming together to honour the recipients of the Governor General’s Awards in Visual and Media Arts (GGArts).
We are looking to pair Canadian filmmakers with the 2020 GGArts winners to create artistic video portraits (3 minutes max., including credits/bumpers) and a 30-second teaser.
Type of Service Required : Video production Closing Date : 24 September, 2019 Contact Person : Sylvain Laporte Phone : 1-800-263-5588 | 613-566-4414, ext. 5270 Email :sylvain.laporte@canadacouncil.ca
We are pleased to share the videos we produced this year for Arts Day on the Hill with theCanadian Arts Coalition in partnership with Saw Video and Playwrights’ Workshop Montréal. IMAA took part in Arts Day this year by interviewing several arts participants on the role of advocacy and promotion of the arts. Various messages were communicated by arts participants, among others, the essential need to fund the arts, Indigenous cultures, diverse cultural values, and official and minority languages.
Eight videos are now available for all to view on IMAA’s Youtube channel, including the speech made by the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez.
The Coalition’s messaging was focused on addressing weak links in the creative value chain. Arts Day delegates sought support in three areas: Arts presentation in Canadian communities; Training and internships; and Charitable donation incentives.
IMAA would like to thank the participants: Steven Smits, Producer and Independent Arts Manager,Niki Little, Director of the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC), Cynthia Lickers-Sage, Visual artist from Six Nations and Executive Director, Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance (IPAA),Ellen Hamilton, Executive Director of Qaggiavuut, Janita Grift, Independent Arts Administrator, Jean-François Packwood, Executive Director of CCAFCB, Howard R. Jang, Vice President, Arts and Leadership, Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, Carmen Gibbs, Executive Director of the AAAPNB,Monique Renaud and Ainslee Beer of the Canadian Arts Coalition.
In 2016-2017, IMAA presented a series of two-day gatherings within the Canadian media arts sector, focusing respectively on Sound Art, Analogue Film, and Digital Strategy. Each gathering took place in a different Canadian city, exchanging views and strengthening ties within these far-reaching communities, while also offering an important space for focused conversations on pressing issues faced by each sector. With the idea to continue the discussions in a public format, IMAA has commissioned written reflections from several authors on a subject of their choosing with relevance to the discussions.
This reflection by Missy LeBlanc is in response to the National Indigenous Media Arts Gathering that took place in June 2018 at Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon.
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June 12-15, 2018 – Saskatoon, SK
In June 2018 the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition (NIMAC) in partnership with the Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) held a national gathering at Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon. The gathering—Listen, Witness, Transmit— brought Indigenous scholars, artists and cultural workers, along with non-Indigenous allies and media arts organizations together for three days of panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, performances and screenings. The gathering was centered around Indigenous resurgence with each day dedicated to a specific resurgence practice— listening, transmitting, and witnessing.
The night before the official gathering start, there was a community feast to welcome panellists and participants. Alongside the feast was a viewing of Cree Métis artist Jason Baerg’s and Fransaskois artist Jean-Sébastien Gauthier We Are Star People, an interactive installation based on Cree cosmology that takes the viewer on a journey to Pakone-Kisik (Pleiades star cluster). The feast and installation was a way for all those involved to get to know one another and to start building relationships for the often heavy conversations that were to come during the remainder of the week.
For each day of the gathering, a film screening corresponding to the day’s theme was showcased over the lunch hour. All of the screenings were curated by Indigenous curators and featured films and video art created by Indigenous filmmakers and artists. On the first day, I had the opportunity to curate the first film screening, Reverberate, which reflected the theme of listening. Filmmaker, artist and curator Eli Hirtle (Cree, British, and German) used the theme of witness on day-two for his film screening micimwaci: kayâs, mekwâ, nîkânote // ᒥᒋᒪᐧᒋ: ᑲᔮᐢᒣᑳᐧᓃᑳᓄᑌ // timeless: past, present, future. For the last day of the gathering, Jennifer Smith (Métis) reflected on transmission in her film screening The Future.
The gathering kicked off with an opening from keynote speaker and powerhouse media matriarch, Métis filmmaker Marjorie Beaucage. Beaucage opened up the gathering with a poem and a discussion on storytelling. For Beaucage, stories are medicine and artists are storytellers. Stories connect us all and it is the responsibility of artists, as storytellers, to share and transmit these gifts and medicine. Beaucage ended her keynote with a screening of Giving Back, a video commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Aboriginal Film and Video Art Alliance gathering in Banff. The gathering was a way to create space where Indigenous artists could explore their stories in their way—something that is still being fought for today.
The first panel discussion “(Dis)Organizational Structures” was moderated by Jennifer Smith and featured panellists Lori Blondeau of TRIBE Inc. (Cree/Saulteaux/Métis), Dr. Erin Sutherland of Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective (Métis and settler), and Tania Willard of Bush Gallery (Secwépemc and settler). The panel explored Indigenous arts organizations from across Canada that operate in a collective framework and utilize Indigenous methodologies and ways of knowing within their organizational structures. Through the use of personal narratives, the panellists shared their thoughts on why such collective models—rather than the Western white-cube model of organization—was the best fit for their organizations. They also spoke on the use of Indigenous labour within non-Indigenous spaces and what that means when it comes to the presentation of artistic work; dedicated spaces, or lack thereof, for Indigenous artists and collectives; and what sovereign Indigenous spaces could look like.
Day two of the gathering started with a lively panel discussion. “The Canada 150 Hangover” was moderated by Ariel Smith (nêhiyaw and Jewish) and featured Jason Baerg, Jamie Isaac (Anishinaabe), and Janet Rogers (Mohawk/Tuscarora). The panel delved into the topic of post-reconciliation and post-Canada 150 funding, and how Indigenous artists and arts organization can continue with the important conversations that were started during the ramp up to Canada’s sesquicentennial in 2017. Rogers, a prolific poet and sound artist, suggested that artists need to occupy and take back space and use it authentically rather than taking up space that is given. For Rogers, Indigenous lands are not stolen, but occupied lands, and the only way we are to get them back is to take the land back. Artists, as carriers of culture, can facilitate the occupation by taking back physical (gallery) space, land, and even the airwaves. Indigenous occupation will lead to Indigenous survival. Isaac, who is the Curator of Indigenous and Contemporary Art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, works within and outside of colonial institutions. She noted that we are not at the beginning and that there has already been much work done by Indigenous cultural workers in the past, citing the 1992 Task Force Report on Museums and First Peoples, and that it is now time for institutions to address these calls to action. Baerg, an Assistant Professor in Indigenous Practices in Contemporary Painting and Media Art at OCAD University, spoke on his experience of decolonizing institutions by providing source material for his students and encouraging them through art. There has been much labour performed by many Indigenous artists and cultural workers to get us to where we are today, but it is time for colonial institutions to do some of the labour that is required for real structural change.
On the final day of the gathering, participants were encouraged to think about the theme of the day, transmit, and how they can continue the conversations that were started at the gathering once they return home. The panel “Publishing and the Self” moderated by Lindsay Nixon (Cree/Métis/Saulteaux), featured Joi T. Arcand (Cree) speaking on the zine Kimiwan, the blogger and arts writer Amy Fung, Victoria Inglis from Red Rising Magazine (Dënesułįne and Nîhithaw), and Dr. Julie Nagam, Chair of the History of Indigenous Art in North America, a joint appointment between the University of Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Art Gallery (Métis – Anishinaabe/French/German/Syrian). The panellists discussed ways of thinking and how, as Indigenous people, we can write our own histories and share our own stories. The panellists discussed the importance of archival documentation and dissemination for future generations by creating source material written from Indigenous perspectives and voices; the importance of giving space to voices that are not usually heard; and how and when to prioritize Indigenous languages over English within publishing.
Listen, Witness, Transmit focused on issues facing Indigenous media artists and organizations. However, these issues and topics are important to share with the larger media arts community. Indigenous artists and cultural workers have worked, and will continue to work, for the space and recognition they have received, but they cannot continue to do so alone. It is with the ethical allyship of non-Indigenous media artists and organizations that the space can be provided for these conversations to continue to grow.
BIO
Missy LeBlanc is an arts administrator and emerging curator of Métis, Cree and Polish decent. She recently completed an internship at the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC and is currently the Program Coordinator for Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective. LeBlanc holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta, majoring in the History of Art, Design, and Visual Culture and Sociology, as well as a Diploma in Arts & Cultural Management from MacEwan University. LeBlanc was born, raised, and is currently based in Edmonton, AB.
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