The Music Gallery Presents: When Did Transparency Become So Opaque?

When Did Transparency Become So Opaque? 
Panel Discussion and Performance
Curated by Olivia Shortt
PWYW ($10 suggested)

Click here to RSVP

The Music Gallery presents a panel on transparency in music and arts programming in Tkarón:to. There is a deep need in this city and beyond to speak honestly about programming, curation and producing in a way that organizations can both benefit and learn from the discussions. This panel will explore questions around what programmers and curators (ie. people with power) from multiple artistic disciplines are doing (as well as not doing)  in their organizations to program, hire and work in a more inclusive and intersectional manner. The evening also features a performance by Carly Gordon and friends’ work which combines ASL and opera.

Curatorial statement:

“Personally, I am both frustrated and incredibly hopeful for the future of the arts in Toronto. There is a beautiful community in this city so willing to make changes and contribute to the artists who live here. We are so afraid to have both our errors become public. Failure is not allowed

Let’s make mistakes and be honest about it. Hindsight is 2020 as they say.

This is a period of time where equity-seeking folks are struggling to be heard without fear of pushback from the art forms that they exist and create within, which are often white-led organizations. Can we as the audience, the granting bodies, the foundation funding arts, the donors funding art, ask for art that reflects not only the people in our communities but also the voices and opinions of those art-makers? We are in a period of time where any questions that arise around what the intention of an organizations’ programming can become heavily scrutinized. Where is the transparency? Who are the voices leading these organizations? How are they supporting artists in their programming? When arts programmers look inward and criticize ourselves, do they end up patting ourselves on the back because of checked-off boxes, or do they realize that there is more hard work to be done?

Making mistakes in the arts feels difficult but is a very necessary part of growth. Let’s take space to discuss the successes of art-makers and organizations who are making the necessary efforts to do better, grow and what success looks like after making mistakes. This is an opportunity to hear and discuss examples of positive success in working to be more transparent in our efforts to develop arts programming.”

Moderator: Cole Alvis
Panelists: Ian Cusson, Menon Dwarka, Teiya Kasahara, Asad Raza

Performance: Carly Gordon and ASL + Opera Project