Arts Exposed Conference promotes thinking big

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 4, 2014
By: Laura Finney

Organizers of the Arts Exposed Conference want people to think big.

That was the theme of their fourth annual event at the Springhill Suites Marriott in Vaughan last week.

“This year’s event is really geared on inspiring and educating local artists and arts organizations and municipalities to really think big,” said Samantha Rodin, executive director of the York Region Arts Council. “Not just having inspiration, but learning how to put those things into action.”

The event was emceed by CBC presenter and author Gill Deacon and featured a variety of guest speakers, including the keynote Yannick Spierkel.

He is company manager with Cirque du Soleil and he spoke about the show’s growth from Quebec street performers to a world-renowned powerhouse.

“Cirque de Soleil is a great case study of thinking big. They are the ultimate, then we have ‘think big’ stories in our own backyard,” York Region Arts Council general manager Nancy Bodi said, mentioning Antonio Ienco and Mark Pagliaroli, co-founders of the Vaughan Film Festival, who were also speaking at the conference. “These guys represent a massive ‘think big’ story and they are continuing to grow their vision and they’ve been so successful.”

Ienco and Pagliaroli spoke about their even’s growth and discussed how art groups can partner with a municipality without expecting financing.

“Obviously, you are always looking for funding, but you limit yourself if you are only looking at it from that aspect," Ienco said, noting the benefits of utilizing the town’s other outlets and connections.

Along with the speakers, the conference provided the opportunity for networking, idea sharing and collaboration.

While there was a diverse group of people in attendance, such as artists, municipal planners and members of arts councils, they share all a connection, said Bodi.

“We do have a lot in common, we just have a passion for that creativity,” she said. “The passion comes through when you bring a diverse group of people together.”

Collaboration can be very powerful, she said, and the conference can help connect people.

“It fuels ideas,” she said.

Ienco agreed. He and Pagliaroli met Janice Price, CEO of the Luminato Festival at a previous conference. They ended up having a meeting with her. She gave them some advice and said they were on the right track.

“To hear from someone like that, that we were on the right path, it’s a rewarding feeling,” said Ienco. He also said it has been great to have her support.

For the first time, the conference featured a Big Pitch event. Then pre-selected candidates pitched a local arts project. The top three finalists won money for their projects.

Arts Exposed was organized by a collaborative of leading arts and cultural organizations, including York Region Arts Council, Markham Arts Council, Arts Society King, Georgina Arts Centre and Gallery and Arts Richmond Hill, along with cultural planners from the region’s municipalities.

The event was also part of Vaughan Small Business Week and received funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

 

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