featuring
Community Centered Heart Work
About the Program
The Susan Barber Emerging Artists in Residency program is centered around viewing art as heart work that anyone is capable of engaging in.
It is important for us to learn to discover the artist in everyone.
The purpose of the program is to help individuals who may not have thought themselves to be professional artists recognize that they can be! This includes expanding our definitions of what professional art is. Art is an avenue through which individuals can share their stories – be that stories of their own journey or fictitious creations. The intention of the program is to help them learn how to create and produce a show – all while getting paid for their hard work!
Inspired by the work of Susan Barber, The Emerging Artists in Residency program came out of a perceived need to find a better way to support new artists who may not have the resources and knowledge needed to create a final work completely on their own.
Northern regions, in particular Sault Ste. Marie, have traditionally lacked access to supports, education, and resources when it comes to producing work. This lack includes theatre and expands into other artistic disciplines as well. The region simply does not have the infrastructure to help guide folks who are new and up and coming artists or those creating art on their own who currently may fail to recognize how they fit in the professional sphere. Have we ever stopped to think about how many artistic pieces have been started that have become shelved projects prior to becoming their final form? For those who have a story to tell but lack resources to get that story out this is sadly often what happens.
A little bit of encouragement. A little bit of monetary support. A little bit of access to resources. This is what allows once shelved projects to take shape and come alive; invites artists to do their best to bring their truth forward to share; and gives people the opportunity to hold space for themselves when it comes to participation in the arts.
Fringe festivals are all about collecting folks who are from the edges; especially those who are infant artists or those who have never considered themselves artists before. This program is designed to help youth and emerging artists engage in the arts – whether from the creation or production side of things - drawing them in from the edges and centering their voices.
It is important for us to learn to discover the artist in everyone.
The purpose of the program is to help individuals who may not have thought themselves to be professional artists recognize that they can be! This includes expanding our definitions of what professional art is. Art is an avenue through which individuals can share their stories – be that stories of their own journey or fictitious creations. The intention of the program is to help them learn how to create and produce a show – all while getting paid for their hard work!
Inspired by the work of Susan Barber, The Emerging Artists in Residency program came out of a perceived need to find a better way to support new artists who may not have the resources and knowledge needed to create a final work completely on their own.
Northern regions, in particular Sault Ste. Marie, have traditionally lacked access to supports, education, and resources when it comes to producing work. This lack includes theatre and expands into other artistic disciplines as well. The region simply does not have the infrastructure to help guide folks who are new and up and coming artists or those creating art on their own who currently may fail to recognize how they fit in the professional sphere. Have we ever stopped to think about how many artistic pieces have been started that have become shelved projects prior to becoming their final form? For those who have a story to tell but lack resources to get that story out this is sadly often what happens.
A little bit of encouragement. A little bit of monetary support. A little bit of access to resources. This is what allows once shelved projects to take shape and come alive; invites artists to do their best to bring their truth forward to share; and gives people the opportunity to hold space for themselves when it comes to participation in the arts.
Fringe festivals are all about collecting folks who are from the edges; especially those who are infant artists or those who have never considered themselves artists before. This program is designed to help youth and emerging artists engage in the arts – whether from the creation or production side of things - drawing them in from the edges and centering their voices.
History
The Emerging Artists in Residency Program first kicked off during Fringe North’s digital festival back in 2021.
4 projects were created in the first year the project launched. These projects included 4 youth artists and one adult collective.
One a grandmother who saw this need in our community to talk about poverty and stigma tied to mental health. A beautiful piece evolved from inner artists who needed to tell the truth of what that experience was like. This group of community focused activists, Mental Health Advocates, submitted a lovely literary theatre piece. Many members of the group had never been involved in the arts prior to the project – mostly due to barriers to access. Every single person who participated felt it was meaningful. They are continuing to write even today.
McMillian-Newbery Space Gear featured a team of two teen artist friends who came together in a way that allowed each of their strengths to truly shine. Their project explored an original scripted detective story focused on a missing vinyl disc. From super sleuthing to music their performance captured audiences as one of the most attended shows that year.
Poetry at it's finest, Claire Mitchell's performance of The Truth's of Claire Mitchell, showcased her original writings reflecting back on her experiences as a trans person. Heavy themes of mental health, and living as her authentic self interwoven with touches of humorous moments invited audiences members to meet her true self. What can perhaps best be described as a deeply moving experience her raw truths embraced reflection and exploration.
The final project involved the musical stylings of Jared Vecchio, a young artist passionate about both theatre and music. This piece involved a showcase of musical theatre from Broadway musicals. Featuring fun and uplifting nods to some of Jared's favorite pieces, this showtune extravaganza most definitely struck a chord.
The Susan Barber Emerging Artists in Residency Program remains to be in development as the festival learns and grows each year.
4 projects were created in the first year the project launched. These projects included 4 youth artists and one adult collective.
One a grandmother who saw this need in our community to talk about poverty and stigma tied to mental health. A beautiful piece evolved from inner artists who needed to tell the truth of what that experience was like. This group of community focused activists, Mental Health Advocates, submitted a lovely literary theatre piece. Many members of the group had never been involved in the arts prior to the project – mostly due to barriers to access. Every single person who participated felt it was meaningful. They are continuing to write even today.
McMillian-Newbery Space Gear featured a team of two teen artist friends who came together in a way that allowed each of their strengths to truly shine. Their project explored an original scripted detective story focused on a missing vinyl disc. From super sleuthing to music their performance captured audiences as one of the most attended shows that year.
Poetry at it's finest, Claire Mitchell's performance of The Truth's of Claire Mitchell, showcased her original writings reflecting back on her experiences as a trans person. Heavy themes of mental health, and living as her authentic self interwoven with touches of humorous moments invited audiences members to meet her true self. What can perhaps best be described as a deeply moving experience her raw truths embraced reflection and exploration.
The final project involved the musical stylings of Jared Vecchio, a young artist passionate about both theatre and music. This piece involved a showcase of musical theatre from Broadway musicals. Featuring fun and uplifting nods to some of Jared's favorite pieces, this showtune extravaganza most definitely struck a chord.
The Susan Barber Emerging Artists in Residency Program remains to be in development as the festival learns and grows each year.
The Program's Importance/Relevance to the Community
Sault Ste. Marie and the greater Algoma district tends to lack access to supports, education, resources and funding when it comes to producing work. This impacts theatre artists in particular but extends beyond to all kinds of art. Northern Ontario as a whole simply does not have the same level of resource-based infrastructure to help guide folks that can be found in more densely populated regions. Many Northern individuals create work but don’t know what to do with it once it has been birthed. Shelved projects are all too common here. The Susan Barber Emerging Artists in Residency Program is designed to help talented folks take some of these projects back down, give them new life, and encourage them to continue creating for years to come.
If you don’t give young folks a reason to stay in the North they won’t. Our community needs their vibrate passion and creative skills. Arts and culture is kept alive from the heartbeat of community. It’s what binds and shapes us. Wherever there is a failure to support youth, community slowly begins to deteriorate. It is vital to feed and nurture the seeds of community in any way that we can.
Likewise fanning the flames of artistic passion in emerging adult artists is equally important. When people lose their artists selves they forget how to play. Without play we disconnect from each other, and community. We need to remember how to laugh and play and love and cry and share truths and stories. For every person who comes forward and shares a story there is someone standing behind them who told that story. Just as families carry stories they pass on from generation to generation, so to do communities. Stories allow us to hold space to listen, hear each other, and grow together. Bringing play back into our daily exchanges allows us to see people as people. This program helps people rediscover that play within themselves.
You can do a lot with a little if you find a way to reach people and pull them in with you. When you find that way to build a bridge and hold out your hand, the impact can grow exponentially. This program is Fringe North’s way of building bridges and holding out a hand to those individuals curious about growing their own artistic voice. It's time we start breaking down barriers, reconnecting with each other, and building community again in an intentional and connective way.
If you don’t give young folks a reason to stay in the North they won’t. Our community needs their vibrate passion and creative skills. Arts and culture is kept alive from the heartbeat of community. It’s what binds and shapes us. Wherever there is a failure to support youth, community slowly begins to deteriorate. It is vital to feed and nurture the seeds of community in any way that we can.
Likewise fanning the flames of artistic passion in emerging adult artists is equally important. When people lose their artists selves they forget how to play. Without play we disconnect from each other, and community. We need to remember how to laugh and play and love and cry and share truths and stories. For every person who comes forward and shares a story there is someone standing behind them who told that story. Just as families carry stories they pass on from generation to generation, so to do communities. Stories allow us to hold space to listen, hear each other, and grow together. Bringing play back into our daily exchanges allows us to see people as people. This program helps people rediscover that play within themselves.
You can do a lot with a little if you find a way to reach people and pull them in with you. When you find that way to build a bridge and hold out your hand, the impact can grow exponentially. This program is Fringe North’s way of building bridges and holding out a hand to those individuals curious about growing their own artistic voice. It's time we start breaking down barriers, reconnecting with each other, and building community again in an intentional and connective way.
