Snapshots is your overview of the last week in the arts and entertainment community. From the movers, shakers and moments that matter- and moments that could- Snapshots is everything you need to know at a glance to stay connected to the Hamilton arts sector.
Hamilton Happenings
- Hamilton City Council recently approved a budget increase for the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre of $385,000 from the City’s reserve funds. The Centre is scheduled to open in Spring 2022.
- Music Cities Forum, a global event that looks at regional best practices on the use of music to improve city life will host its 2022 event in Hamilton. Presented by Sonic Unyon, the City of Hamilton and Supercrawl, the 4th annual event will take place on September 7-8, 2022. The event brings together experts and industry professionals to explore the role and impact of music across education, economic development, health, community building, placemaking, tourism and more.
Award Season Is Upon Us
- The City of Hamilton was announced as the winner of the 2021 Music Cities Awards for Best Initiative to Directly Support Musicians. The award will be given to a city that has implemented the most outstanding support scheme or policy in direct support for musicians. The City was nominated for its fair payment policy, which guarantees musicians a fair wage for playing city-hosted and city-funded events.
- The City of St. Catharines held their 2022 Arts Awards on Monday, November 22. Winners include Curtis Tye (Arts in Education); Elise Naccarato (Emerging Artist); Peter Shea (Established Artist), Jean Bridge (Jury’s Pick Award) and Janet Partridge (Patron of the Arts).
- The Toronto Blues Society announced the nominees for the 2022 Maple Blues Awards, which celebrates outstanding achievement in blues music in Canada. A number of nominees have Hamilton connections, including multiple award nominee Jack de Keyzer (who used to call Hamilton home); blues singer Harrison Kennedy (nominated for acoustic act of the year, male vocalist of the year and the Lifetime Achievement Award); last year’s Keyboard award winner (and repeat nominee) Jesse O’Brien; Mohawk Music alum & Drummer award nominee Jim Casson; New Artist or Group of the Year nominee The Lowdown Dirty Mojos and Lifetime Achievement Award nominee Murray Porter, who is a former Six Nations resident. The winners will be announced at the Awards show on January 31, 2022.
Here & There
- The next Creative Exchange Event is December 1. This free virtual networking and info session provides the opportunity to connect individuals in the creative sector. Creative Exchanges require an RSVP and are presented by the City of Hamilton and coordinated by Lights Camera Hamilton.
- From November 23-December 4, the Hamilton Fringe Festival has collaborated with Jumblies Theatre to present the Artfare Essentials Workshop for local creators; a collection of best practices and approaches to making art in and with the community.
- Looking for a new favourite book? The City & The City Books has introduced a new podcast. Entitled New & Used: Book Talk, the podcast explores one new and one used book.
Paid Opportunities
- St. Catharine’s FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is seeking to fill multiple roles, including:
- Business & Partnership Associate. The deadline to apply is November 28.
- Facilities Manager. The deadline to apply is December 1.
- The Burlington Sound of Music Festival is seeking an Executive Assistant. While the deadline to apply is December 1, interviews will be conducted on an “as received” basis until a successful candidate has been identified.
- The Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts Dance Theatre is seeking an Operations & Production Manager. The deadline to apply is December 3.
- The Art Gallery of Burlington is seeking an Education Coordinator. The deadline to apply is December 6.
- The City of Hamilton will commission a permanent public art work(s) to be installed on Locke Street at the southwest corner of Jackson Street. Artists will be selected by a citizen jury through a two-stage process. Short-listed artists completing a Stage 2 submission will receive a $700 honorarium, with the winning project being awarded $70,000. Interested artists may participate in a virtual information meeting on Thursday, December 9 at 7pm by RSVPing to [email protected] by December 8. Submissions must be submitted by Thursday, January 13 at 3pm to be considered.
- The Hamilton Fringe Festival is accepting 60-minute original play submissions for their New Play Contest 2022. The submission deadline is December 15. The winner of the contest receives a free 60-minute production slot in the 2022 Hamilton Fringe Festival and a $300 cash prize. Two runners up receive a festival Fringe Binge pass.
