This virtual workshop was presented by Ontario Presents on April 23, 2025 as part of the Slow Touring Project. It was made possible thanks to support from the Canada Council for the Arts.
Speakers
- Veronica Johnny - The Johnnys & IndigenEd
- Aislinn Rose - The Theatre Centre
- Sophie Hayles - The Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast
- Fanny Martin - Art of Festivals
Workshop Highlights
Veronica Johnny opened the session with an invitation to ground ourselves — not just in the meeting, but in our intentions, our communities, and our personal healing. A multidisciplinary artist and educator, Veronica reminded us that arts spaces can’t be disconnected from spirit, land, and cultural practice. Through song and smudging, she created a space for reflection and release, offering a powerful reminder that healing is an essential — not optional — part of community work. Her song “Not My Spirit” spoke to resilience in the face of trauma, and her work exemplifies what it means to center Indigenous knowledge and cultural ceremony in the arts. She encouraged presenters to see beyond performance and consider how spaces can become sites of emotional, spiritual, and cultural restoration — particularly for communities often left out of institutional arts spaces.
Aislinn Rose, Artistic Director of The Theatre Centre in Toronto, offered examples of how an arts space can be reimagined as a true community hub. Faced with the question, "What can a theatre be to its community?" Aislinn and her team chose to invest in presence, openness, and radical hospitality. Rather than measuring success through ticket sales, they committed to providing a “third space” — a non-transactional environment where community members could gather, connect, and feel seen. From installing a café designed to attract foot traffic, to running free community meals and programming like “Night Shift” (where artists work from 10 PM to 6 AM and present shows at midnight), the Centre has reshaped its identity around generosity. She emphasized the importance of “reckless generosity” — a philosophy that prioritizes experimentation and care over financial return — and challenged us to consider what we’re truly offering when we say our doors are open. She made it clear: public space is cultural space, and vice versa, but it takes repeated, intentional effort to break down the perceived barriers that still keep many people out.
Sophie Hayles, CEO of the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast, spoke with precision about how her team has tackled systemic underfunding and a risk-averse cultural climate. With Northern Ireland receiving the lowest per capita arts funding in the UK and Ireland, her organization has had to build a sustainable model that balances public service with economic resilience. One standout strategy has been the introduction of a Pay What You Decide pricing model for their annual book festival. This approach shifted conversations with audiences from cost to value, challenging assumptions about who arts spaces are for and how they’re supported. Sophie also shared how her team uses detailed audience analysis to shape programming around community need — like running casual, recurring programs (Tech Tips, creative drop-ins) that meet people where they are and reduce barriers to participation. Her insights made a strong case for integrating evaluation and engagement at every level of programming. By prioritizing transparency, access, and flexibility, the Crescent isn’t just surviving — it’s becoming more relevant to a wider public.
Fanny Martin, an international producer and festival strategist, pushed the room to think more deeply about what “engagement” really means. She argued that too often, arts organizations confuse “outreach” with authentic welcome. At her festival in Zagreb, she uses publicly funded resources to distribute free passes intentionally — not just to boost attendance, but to seed the energy that comes from a full room. She reframed affordability as a civic stance, not a concession, choosing to freeze ticket prices during economic strain as a way to assert the arts as a public good. Fanny also made a compelling case for investing in relationships beyond the stage as an "invitation to belonging": she allocates budget for peer-to-peer hosting, ensuring visiting professionals connect, learn, and stay involved beyond a single project. One of her most important provocations was about depth: are we offering artists and audiences meaningful ways to engage, or just moments of access? She encouraged us to think about residencies not just as short visits, but as opportunities to build genuine relationships with place and people. Her talk reminded us that true engagement isn’t just about programming — it’s about showing up ready to be changed by the work and the people involved.
Fanny Martin’s Slide deck - https://bitli.pro/2rd6f_908ee936
Links and References
Debajehmujig Theatre Group
Debajehmujig Theatre Group is one of Canada’s first and longest-running Indigenous theatre companies, based in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory. Their work celebrates Indigenous voices, storytelling, and community-based creation practices.
The Johnnys (Veronica Johnny’s band)
The Johnnys are a high-energy Indigenous rock band led by Veronica Johnny. Their music blends rock, punk, and Indigenous influences to create powerful songs rooted in cultural identity and activism.
Future Arts Centres
Future Arts Centres is a UK-based network of independent arts venues focused on strengthening community connections through creativity. They champion innovative projects that put local voices and social impact at the heart of the arts.
The Festival (MBZ Festival)
The MBZ Festival (Music Biennale Zagreb) is an international contemporary music festival held in Croatia. It showcases avant-garde music and interdisciplinary collaborations from global artists pushing creative boundaries.
Slow Touring Project Spotlights (YouTube Playlist)
The Slow Touring Project Spotlights YouTube playlist features videos highlighting artists and presenters who reimagine touring with deeper community engagement and slower, more meaningful connections. It’s part of a broader effort to shift touring culture toward sustainability, wellness, and local impact.
Ontario Presents Spring Retreat
The Ontario Presents Spring Retreat is an annual gathering for arts presenters across Ontario. It offers workshops, conversations, and networking focused on building a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable performing arts sector.
Previous Workshops
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