ENGLISH // LONG NEWSLETTER //

IMAA News - June 2023

Digital 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

FRANÇAIS // INFOLETTRE LONGUE //

Les nouvelles de l'AAMI - Juin 2023

Compétences numériques pour les jeunes (CNJ)
Rencontre régionale du Québec
interConnect
CSMARI
RDV Discord
--» Le sacrifice comme point de départ, avec Nasrin Himada [À travers la tempête]
--» Faites connaissance avec l'AAMI [Prise 2!]
Fermeture estivale

Panorama
Membre à découvrir: VUCAVU
Occasions professionnelles

IMAA News - June 2023

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Here it is, our last monthly newsletter before the summer!

Until the next one in October, we invite you to follow our news via our website and social networks: Facebook / Instagram / Discord. You're also welcome to share your news on the Media Arts Connect Discord server, autonomously and at any time!

Here's a quick update on the various projects underway at IMAA, written in collaboration with the team:

Digital Skills for Youth - DS4Y

Over the course of the 2022-23 fiscal year IMAA has distributed over $500,000.00 in wage and training subsidies, supporting 32 interns and artists across 26 organizations. IMAA has applied to renew our DS4Y funding from 2023-2025 in hopes of continuing to offer opportunities for young people to advance their digital skills in the media arts and beyond. The results will be announced sometime this summer, although delays are expected following the PSAC strike. Once funding is approved, we will announce new program intake dates and details about the application process through our newsletter, website, and social media.

Quebec Regional Meeting

After a few years connecting through virtual meetings, the Quebec IMAA members finally gathered in person for a regional meeting at Sporobole in Sherbrooke on May 19. Throughout the day, members were able to discuss topics such as attendance at activities, human resources, the circulation of works and the defense of the Independent Media Arts community's interests. Concerns ranging from the non-existent indexing of funding, to the lack of access to our own data and the importance of raising the profile of culture in the eyes of decision-makers were also discussed. It felt very meaningful to be in the same room as colleagues and to address shared issues, knowledge and ideas! Marilyne, IMAA Communication and Membership Manager, was happy to be part ot the conversation. Thanks to Marianne Desrochers and Marianne Breton for organizaing this trip!
[From left to right: Marilyne Parent (IMAA), Éric Desmarais (Sporobole), Marianne Breton (Oboro), Myriam Lambert (Avatar), Mourad Bennacer (SAT), François-Xavier Schmitz-Lacroix (Coop Spira), Marianne Desrochers (Ada X), Emmeline Michaud (SAT), Lauriane Albert (Mutek), Dominique Sirois-Rouleau (Vidéographe), Imane Hammar (SAT), Geneviève Desmeules (La Bande Vidéo), Lola Baraldi (Mutek), Camille Desjardins (Eastern Bloc)]

interConnect

We would like to thank everyone who sent in an application to join interConnect. We received 125 applications, which is more than we expected! We are currently reviewing the applications, and those who have sent us an application should be hearing back very soon.

CSMARI

We're delighted to see the CSMARI project taking shape! This initiative led by project manager Faraz Abdullah aims to Build Anti-Racism Capacity and Action in the Media Arts. We'll be launching a web page and a call for participants in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more information! www.imaa.ca/csmari

Discord Chats

Sacrifice as Beginning with Nasrin Himada [Through the Storm]
--» June 15, 2023, 1H30-2H30 ET
https://discord.gg/U98jndMShC
We will be re-visiting the topic "Sacrifice as Beginning" from our Summer 2022 conference, with guest speaker Nasrin Himada. How can the media arts step beyond statements of recognition and easy gestures that primarily benefit those performing them, to a place of genuine engagement with and contribution to struggles of communities resisting settler-colonialism, state violence, and capitalism?

Get to know IMAA - [TAKE 2 on Discord]
--» June 22, 2023, 1H30-3H30 ET
1H30-2H30 (ET) - Open to all
2H30-3H30 (ET) - French session
https://discord.gg/U98jndMShC

Are you in the media arts community but not familiar with IMAA?
This meeting is for you! IMAA has about 70 members across the country, but the community we serve is much larger. Come and introduce us to your organizations, collectives, festivals and other media arts projects, and then we'll be happy to share our mandate, tools and resources available to members, and current IMAA projects.

The first Get to know IMAA discussion, held on May 18, was a resounding success, providing an insight into the diverse (and sometimes similar!) realities of the independant media arts community across the country. To give interested individuals a 2nd chance to participate, we are pleased to propose a second edition!

LANGUAGE: It will be possible to express yourself in the language of your choice, although the last info session was naturally held mainly in English. If anyone prefers to speak exclusively in French, please join us online from 14:30-15:30 Eastern Time! At any time, you can ask someone to repeat, ask for clarification or request an informal translation from English to French.

GUIDE: To learn how to use Discord, please see our help document.
Not familiar with Discord? This is also the perfect opportunity to try and discover the platform!

IMAA Summer Closure

Please note that the IMAA offices will be closed from August 21 to September 4 inclusively. The whole team wishes you a wonderful and relaxing summer!

Panorama

Recommendations & Call-to-action for Independent Cinemas
Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors

NICE has launched recommendations and a call-to-action to remove barriers and support the growth of independent cinemas in Canada. Independent cinemas across the country share stories and build community. They are critical to the success and growth of Canadian film and NICE is deeply committed to the vibrancy of this important sector.

How to support Canada's independent cinemas

+ Network of Independent Canadian Exhibitors

17th Halifax Independent Filmmakers Festival
June 21-24 | Halifax

HIFF returns for its 17th edition from June 21–24 in the Light House Arts Centre (1800 Argyle Street) in downtown Halifax. Features from around the world, shorts from around the country, two retrospectives, and intimate and interactive artist talks will pack your days and nights full of innovative independent cinema!

You can see it all with a HIFF Festival Pass ($40/$30 for AFCOOP members) or catch films with single tickets for $14 ($12 for AFCOOP members). Plus, all screenings are FREE for students (with a valid student ID)!

+ www.hiff.ca

Creative Export Canada (CEC) program - Cohort 2023-2024
Canadian Heritage | Government of Canada

As part of the renewal of the Creative Export Strategy, the Creative Export Canada (CEC) program's funding envelope has been increased by $4 million per year due to the creation of the new Export Development Stream (EDS). This new stream under the CEC program will offer funding as a grant or a contribution to new exporters, start-up exporters, and experienced exporters. The EDS will enable them to strengthen their capabilities, expand in international markets, access new international markets, and develop new or existing international business networks.

The EDS funding application package is now available. The application deadline for submitting a funding application is July 26, 2023, for projects with expenses starting between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.

Before submitting your application, please read the Application Guidelines – Export Development Stream, and make sure you are eligible!

+ Application Guidelines – Export Development Stream - Canada.ca

RETROMANIA - PRIDE EDITION
This weekend at the Vic Theatre, Victoria B.C.

7:30pm Sunday cinema celebrates retro collective classics with forays into various big-screen themes. In June, the Victoria Film Festival presents four fabulous iconic queer films for Pride! Featuring: But I'm a Cheerle But I'm a Cheerleader, Dog Day Afternoon, Pride and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Join RetroMania and let the nostalgia wash over you!

+ Buy your tickets here

Featured Member

VUCAVU

This month, we're pleased to bring you a glimpse of VUCAVU's activities!

About: VUCAVU.com works with independent film and video distributors from across the country to improve access to Canadian artworks and provide greater national and international awareness of our filmmakers, video artists and culture. VUCAVU.com currently streams about 1,500+ films and videos with an additional 4000+ for research purposes that span 50+ years of Canadian moving image art to the public.

VUCAVU.com is a bilingual streaming platform that is unique because it is a multifaceted platform:

It offers online programming space for curated presentations, often free for a limited time, while paying artists for the viewing of their work.
Curators and educators can request a professional account to access the non-public catalog and view over 4,000 additional titles for programming, research and educational purposes.
Arts organizers can use VUCAVU for their online curatorial programming needs and to extend their reach to new audiences.
The shared catalog is a unique research tool on all kinds of Canadian artists.
Each artist has a profile page directing the public to their work on VUCAVU and to their professional artist website or social networks.
** NEW! VUCAVU has private online screening rooms that can be used for presentation and educational purposes.

Canadian filmmakers and video artists who wish to be included on VUCAVU should inquire about distribution services with one of their content partners.

SYMPOSIUM - CANADIAN INDEPENDENT MEDIA IN EDUCATION

The distribution of Canadian Independent film, video and media arts is increasingly challenged by large corporate video distribution platforms. This reality leaves many stories, histories and cultures of people from across Canada out of the classrooms. VUCAVU is hosting an English and French language symposium at the end of June 2023 to discuss the challenges of distributing and programming in educational settings. VUCAVU is bringing together representatives from the academic and the media arts communities to find solutions, create connections and discuss our mutual concerns and goals for educational access.

ENGLISH SYMPOSIUM - TORONTO, JUNE 22-23, 2023
FRENCH SYMPOSIUM - MONTREAL, JUNE 26-27, 2023
+ vucavu.com/en/education-symposium

Discover what VUCAVU has been up to in the last months and stay tuned for their upcoming news here: vucavu.com

Opportunities

Some Resources for Artists related to COVID-19

Funding opportunities

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Version française
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Les nouvelles de l'AAMI - Juin 2023

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V ersion française ci-dessous
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Voici notre dernière lettre d'information mensuelle avant l'été !

En attendant la prochaine en octobre, nous vous invitons à suivre notre actualité via notre site internet et les réseaux sociaux : Facebook / Instagram / Discord. Vous êtes également invités à partager vos actualités sur le serveur Discord Connexion arts médiatiques, de manière autonome et à tout moment !

Voici un petit tour d'horizon des différents projets en cours à l'AAMI, rédigé en collaboration avec l'équipe :

Compétences numériques pour les jeunes - CNJ

Au cours de l'année fiscale 2022-23, IMAA a distribué plus de 500 000,00 $ en subventions salariales et de formation, soutenant 32 stagiaires et artistes à travers 26 organismes. L'AAMI a demandé le renouvellement de son financement CNJ pour la période 2023-2025 dans l'espoir de continuer à offrir aux jeunes des opportunités de développer leurs compétences numériques dans le domaine des arts médiatiques et ailleurs. Les résultats seront annoncés au cours de l'été, bien que des retards soient à prévoir en raison de la grève de l'AFPC. Une fois le financement approuvé, nous annoncerons les nouvelles dates d'admission au programme et les détails du processus de candidature par le biais de notre bulletin d'information, de notre site web et de nos médias sociaux.

Rencontre régionale du Québec

Après quelques années de rencontres virtuelles, les membres de l'AAMI du Québec se sont finalement réuni.e.s en personne lors d'une rencontre régionale dans les locaux de Sporobole à Sherbrooke le 19 mai dernier. Tout au long de la journée, les membres ont pu discuter de sujets tels que la fréquentation aux activités, les ressources humaines, la circulation des œuvres et la défense des intérêts de la communauté des arts médiatiques indépendants. Des préoccupations allant de l'indexation inexistante des financements jusqu'au manque d'accès à nos propres données, en passant par l'importance de valoriser la culture aux yeux des décideurs ont également été discutées. Se retrouver dans la même pièce que des collègues pour partager autour de questions, de connaissances et d'idées a été très enrichissant. Marilyne, responsable des communications et des servicesx aux membres de l'AAMI, était heureuse de participer à la conversation. Merci à Marianne Desrochers et Marianne Breton pour l'organisation de ce voyage !
[De gauche à droite : Marilyne Parent (AAMI), Éric Desmarais (Sporobole), Marianne Breton (Oboro), Myriam Lambert (Avatar), Mourad Bennacer (SAT), François-Xavier Schmitz-Lacroix (Coop Spira), Marianne Desrochers (Ada X), Emmeline Michaud (SAT), Lauriane Albert (Mutek), Dominique Sirois-Rouleau (Vidéographe), Imane Hammar (SAT), Geneviève Desmeules (La Bande Vidéo), Lola Baraldi (Mutek), Camille Desjardins (Eastern Bloc)].