The FLeX Spotlight Sessions are part of the FLeX: Collaboration training program. This 3-part series is open to participants outside of the main program who are interested in learning more about how Canadian arts & heritage festivals can build and implement stronger collaboration strategies.

Our first Spotlight will feature guests from two inspiring international examples of peer-based collaborative frameworks:

• NEXT Festival, a yearly, international contemporary theatre and dance festival in the cross-border Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai & Valenciennes, organized by 6 French and Belgian co-organising artistic houses and 10 to 15 associated partners. NEXT invites about 40 international artists every year to create and present in the cross-border region. They tour the Eurometropolis to present in more than 15 venues and interact with the public during multiple forms of workshops and meetings.

• FiraTàrrega, an international market for contemporary performing arts and meeting point for professionals with a strong focus on outdoor and engaged practices, also actively involved in many European networks (Arts de Carrer, platform for Catalonia's street arts festivals; Circostrada, the European circus network; COFAE, the association for Spain's biggest performing arts fairs; IETM, international network for contemporary performing arts; and IN SITU, the European platform for artistic creation in public space).

To make sense of these international frameworks, we will be experimenting with a Collaborator-in-Residence framework, with artist & cultural diplomacy specialist Clayton Windatt as our first “local translator”. Clayton is the current Executive Director of ARCA, a pan-Canadian network that connects over 1,800 artist-run centres artist-run centres in the visual and media arts, contemporary craft and architecture and collectives represented through 9 regional associations.

Together, we will examine the conditions for generous collaboration, how to make space for generative conflict amongst peers and how to grow, maintain and end professional relationships.

Participants will also have the option to engage in a networking period at the end of our session with our speakers and with each other!

MEET OUR GUEST SPEAKERS:

• Benoît Geers, NEXT Festival: After studying communication management & journalism, Benoit Geers has been working as a communication and project manager in multiple (inter)regional performing arts houses and festivals since 2001. Cross-border cooperation in the Belgian-French territory, nowadays known as the Eurometropolis Lille-Kortrijk-Tournai (2008), has been a common career thread throughout the past 15 years. Since 2009, Benoit Geers has coordinated the yearly international arts festival NEXT. NEXT is a durable, cross-border cooperation platform involving 6 co-organising art houses and some 15 associated cultural partners from 10 Flemish, Walloon and French cities. Every November, they co-present around 70 international theatre and dance performances in more than 15 venues spread throughout the cross-border Eurometropolis region.

• Mike Ribalta, FiraTàrrega: Mike Ribalta is the head of the Department of Professionals of FiraTàrrega. He is responsible for the Performing Arts Market La Llotja, and the international co-operation strategy of Fira. As such he has been coordinator of the 2 EU funded projects led by FiraTarrega: “Meridians” (2007-2009) and “TransAC Transnational Co-production In Action” (2011-2013), and has piloted several other international projects, conferences and seminars. Currently, he is a member of the steering committee of Circostrada network. He is a graduate in History of Art from the Universtitat Autònoma de Barcelona and holds a Master in Creation and Production of Fiction and Entertainment.

• Clayton Windatt is a curator, multi-arts performer and filmmaker living and working in Ontario. As the former Executive Director of the White Water Gallery, Aboriginal Curatorial Collective and current Executive Director of the Artist-Run Centres and Collectives Conference, Clayton has an extensive history working in Artist-Run Culture and Community Arts. Clayton maintains contracts with various governments, colleges and non-government organizations as a writer, consultant and knowledge broker negotiating between peoples, places and communities. Clayton works in/with community, design, communications, curation, performance, theatre, technology, and consulting, and is a very active artist.

MEET OUR CO-HOSTS

Stephanie Draker, WorkInCulture

Stephanie is a creative and results-driven arts professional with over a decade of experience working in the arts, culture, & heritage sector across multiple disciplines. In her role as Program Manager for WorkInCulture, Stephanie oversees the development, delivery, and evaluation of a range of programs, projects, and partnerships focused on elevating the cultural workforce and supporting the life-long career development of the people who are a part of it. Stephanie sits on several committees in support of creating stronger collaborations within arts, culture & heritage and positioning the sector as one that contributes to vibrant communities and strong economies.

Fanny Martin, Art of Festivals

Fanny is an international creative producer & facilitator specialised in festivals, networks, interdisciplinary projects and art in public space. Born and educated in France, she developed an eclectic freelance project portfolio in the UK before moving to Canada and founding Art of Festivals, a creative & strategic production company that designs transformative events to spark change and enchant everyday life. She collaborates with artists, educators, researchers, technologists and activists to produce memorable shared experiences, experiment with participatory frameworks and design learning & evaluation programmes.

More details about our upcoming FLeX Spotlight Sessions coming soon! Please sign up for our WorkInCulture eNews for updates straight to your inbox.