How do we shift from struggling artists and arts venues to thriving artists and spaces?
“The Business of the Arts” is an upcoming topic on May 10th at Sunset Labs, presented in partnership with Design Victoria, a 5-day event celebrating Victoria, B.C.’s growing design community on May 10-14th.
With many arts organizations still struggling to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, our expert speakers and panelists will share compelling and thought-provoking ideas for supporting and empowering the Arts economy to flourish.
The format features TED-style talks from thought leaders followed by facilitated design thinking to co-generate solutions and ensure a variety of ideas are discussed around arts funding, infrastructure, accessibility, and sustainability of the creative industries.
Through our carefully curated COMUNiTi Shiftmakers Series we bring together a diverse group of private, public, and non-profit stakeholders to engage in regional issues. So whether you’re an artist, designer, entrepreneur, or simply interested in the arts, this event promises to be an exciting and informative exploration of the important role the Arts play within our community.
Speakers
Derek Manns | Keynote Speaker
Derek Manns is the Founder & CEO of Stagehand, an open web platform that creates opportunities for emerging artists by working with non-traditional venues. With a background in engineering and a 30-year career in tech, Derek was inspired to launch Stagehand by his three daughters, who are up-and-coming performing artists.
To date, over 2,400 artists have signed up for Stagehand resulting in 11,000+ successful events, from airport terminals to coffee shops, and office lobbies to city streets. In 2022, Derek and his team received the Business/Arts Community Impact Award for their work with Calgary’s Music Mile during the pandemic.
In his upcoming talk, “The Case for Digital Infrastructure,” Derek will discuss the importance of digital infrastructure as a complementary tool to physical infrastructure for enabling thriving local culture in 2023.
Melanie Ransome | Keynote Speaker
Melanie is the Director of Communications & Engagement at Aryze Developments and a seasoned strategist in marketing, branding, and community building. She has a local-first, entrepreneurial spirit and a diverse background leading marketing for Rifflandia Festival, tourism campaigns with Destination BC, and city-building projects in the development sector.
At Aryze, Melanie has had the opportunity to collaborate on several projects that prioritize arts, culture, and community engagement, such as the murals at Tiny Homes Village or The Good City Project with Big Wheel Community Foundation. Her passion for placemaking and community building has been a driving force in all her work, and her focus on the intersection of the arts and urban development is what makes her an exciting speaker for our event.
In her upcoming talk, ‘Why collaboration and the arts are keystones for building legacy communities,’ Melanie will share her insights on how an intentional approach to creative collaboration can support the growth of the arts economy in our City. She will draw from her experience to offer thought-provoking ideas on how we can create vibrant, sustainable communities that support and empower local artists.
Panelists
Meet Britt Small – Co-Founder and Co-Director of Atomic Vaudeville Theatre Company. Originally from Treaty One Territory in Manitoba, Britt graduated with an MFA in theatre and has over 25 years experience as a director, producer, performer, facilitator, storyteller and teacher. She is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Atomic Vaudeville….
Deb Beaton-Smith has been the Executive Director of the BC Music Festival Collective for the past three years, and recently merged with the BC Touring Council. The organization was formed in 2020 to provide a unified voice for BC’s music festivals. She is active in her advocacy and works ardently to aid in developing expertise and knowledge transfer within the music industry.
Nathan Medd is new CEO of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and founder of Ardor Arts Management. A champion of artists and artistic institutions, Nathan held senior roles at the National Arts Centre (managing director, theatre) and Banff Centre (managing director, performing arts). In Vancouver, co-founded Progress Lab 1422 studio as managing producer of the celebrated performance ensemble Electric Company. In Victoria, co-founded the Metro Studio Theatre.
Jody’s passion for community arts comes from her longstanding career in social work where she specialized in community development. Jody is a Métis woman who has been fortunate enough to benefit from the abundance she has found as a guest on Lekwugen land and is most grateful for the relationships she has made with Indigenous people here. Jody is completing a master’s degree in communication at SFU where she is about to launch a project for social change.
MODERATOR: Daniel Murphy is Co-Founder and Managing Editor at The Bastion, an online resource for Victoria’s culture. His mission is to strengthen local pride by uncovering the personal stories behind our creative and business communities. By celebrating the vision and effort of the Victorians who are shaping our culture, he believes that we can enhance our own experience of this beautiful, unique city.
Our Partners
