Radical Hospitality

Radical Hospitality [Workshop]

October 21, 2025

This virtual workshop was presented by Ontario Presents on Oct 25, 2024 as part of the Slow Touring Project. It was made possible thanks to support from the Canada Council for the Arts.

 

 

Speakers

Veronica Johnny (opening welcome)
Indigi-Queer Multi-Disciplinary Artist, Residential School Survivor & Knowledge Keeper
Music: www.thejohnnys.com 
Education & speaking: @IndigenEd

Kevin Matthew Wong 
Theatre creator, dramaturg, producer and video artist / Director of Producing at WhyNot Theatre
Broadleaf Creative: broadleafcreative.ca
WhyNot Theatre: whynot.theatre

Lori Marchand

Managing Director of Indigenous Theatre at the National Arts Centre
NAC Indigenous Theatre: nac-cna.ca/en/indigenoustheatre

Franco Boni

Executive and Program Director for Terra Bruce Productions

 

Selected Discussion Points

The Ontario Presents workshop on Radical Hospitality offered unique insights into fostering inclusive and respectful relationships between presenters and artists. Here are a few key ideas that resonated with us:

Cree Perspective on Hospitality: Veronica Johnny's introduction of Cree concepts of hospitality, emphasizing that “there is enough time”, provided a powerful indigenous lens, highlighting the importance of cultural sensitivity and inclusivity beyond simple politeness.

Radical Hospitality Beyond Politeness: Kevin Matthew Wong's discussion moved beyond surface-level hospitality, focusing on the power dynamics inherent in guest-host relationships and the need for a proactive approach to addressing potential imbalances and ensuring genuine welcome. 'Radical' here is a relative concept as for many people and cultures, meaningful hospitality is considered to be basic decency.

Seek Clarity: Kevin suggested that we live in a “low-context culture” where many aspects of how we interact can’t be assumed based on shared context. In order to provide culturally sensitive hospitality, we should look for clarity with our partners to make sure we understand what their needs are - especially when there is an uneven power dynamic.

Values-based agreements: In his work, Kevin aims to have conversations and make agreements that are rooted in the company’s values. When partners can come to agreement about their shared values, it allows them to create frameworks that are aligned with these.

Cultural Protocols and Emotional Safety: Lori Marchand's experiences at the National Arts Centre Indigenous Theatre underscored the critical need for clear communication, understanding of cultural protocols, and prioritizing the emotional safety and well-being of Indigenous artists.  Her emphasis on specific territorial acknowledgements and community engagement highlights the importance of going beyond symbolic gestures. Respect for the people and the community where you are is key.

Venue's Role in Community Building: Franco Boni emphasized the responsibility of venues in fostering community, not just through programming choices but also by actively building relationships and creating accessible and inclusive spaces that encourage regular attendance.  It’s the programmer’s responsibility to build an audience. It takes a long time to build those relationships, and you need to approach it with no specific agenda. Franco suggests abandoning the “specialness” of art and making it a part of the everyday fabric of our lives. Start by knowing why you’re programming something.  

Other quick thoughts that were shared:

  • There is pressure on BIPOC folks to “go to HR” when there is an issue, but they don’t want to be marked as a ‘problem person’, or HR is not the way they want to address harms
  • Arts on prescription, good for our helps
  • Sarah Garton Stanley idea that audience needs to come first, above artist
  • Question to consider: How can we handle the situation when an artist with varying needs (e.g. chronic illness or dynamic disability) can’t say for sure how much engagement activity they can commit to when the booking is far into the future?

The workshop successfully integrated theoretical discussions with practical examples and actionable strategies, enriching the understanding of radical hospitality within the arts sector. The emphasis on collaboration, accountability, and centering the needs of marginalized artists suggests a significant shift towards a more ethical and equitable touring landscape. 

 

Links Shared During Meeting