Original Peoples Investment Program
OKI / DANIT’ADA / TAN’SI
Our last Original Peoples Investment Program (OPIP) Community Circle was held in November at Pathways, which is centrally located in the Community Wise Resource Centre.
Its purpose was to bring together artists from the local Treaty 7/Mohkinstsis community to talk about the upcoming program, specifically the granting criteria and jury process.
Ten local Indigenous artists responded to the open invitation to discuss the program. We started off the gathering with an opening prayer by Brent Scout and a delicious feast of stew and bannock from a local Blackfoot caterer.
Mentorship was discussed as a very important component to the OPIP process that would provide an added opportunity for more experienced artists to connect with newer voices.
Another key conversation was around the designation of the terms emerging and established artists and how to rephrase these terms to something more reflective of Indigenous ways of learning and knowing. One of the terms suggested to replace the word emerging was new voices.
Our next gathering will be a free day-long workshop dedicated to help prepare First Nations/Métis/Inuit artists to apply to the program and practice useful skills that will be helpful with other grants:
January 19, 2019
9:00am – 5:00pm
Location: TBD
Lunch and light refreshments will be provided.
Topics covered include:
- Project budgeting and planning
- Selection process dos and don’ts and group agreements
- Storytelling: How to think, share, and talk about your art in the most compelling way
Capacity is limited. RSVP by January 16, 2019 to sable.sweetgrass@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Full workshop details and agenda will be announced in the new year, but if you have any questions or concerns please contact grants@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Sable Sweetgrass
Community Investment Officer
