Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Call for Applications: Banff Adventure Photography Workshop


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: The Banff Centre <arts_info@banffcentre.ca>
Date: 31 August 2010 09:59
Subject: Call for Applications: Banff Adventure Photography Workshop



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The Banff Centre

Film & Media

 
     
         
 
 
         
Call for Applications
           

Call for Applications

 
           
           
 

Banff Adventure Photography Workshop

Program dates: September 24, 2010 – September 27, 2010
Application deadline: September 07, 2010

The Banff Adventure Photography Workshop provides the perfect setting to hone your skills and improve your photographic technique.Dedicated amateur and semi-professional photographers are invited to join us for intense and interactive fieldwork, seminars, and portfolio critique with the guidance of National Geographic photographers Gordon Wiltsie and Bill Hatcher and award-winning adventure photographer Alec Pytlowany. The four-day intensive program will take place at The Banff Centre and include field work at various Bow Valley locations.

More information

 
           
           
 

For more Information please contact:

1-403-762-6180
arts_info@banffcentre.ca
www.banffcentre.ca/film

 
           
           
 
 
 



 
           
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Friday, August 27, 2010

CRTC Community TV Policy Fails to Address Real Issue: CACTUS

CRTC Community TV Policy Fails to Address Real Issue: CACTUS


A new community television policy released by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is little better than the existing policy, says an industry group advocating for community TV.

Catherine Edwards, Spokesperson for the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) said, "The Commission ignored the request of the Canadian public-which was made abundantly clear at these hearings-that the time has come for community broadcasting to be in the hands of communities, as it is in all Western countries that have a community sector. This is how it operates here in Canada in the community radio sector. Why not TV?"

Citing dissenting CRTC Commissioner Michel Morin, CACTUS noted, "The Commission's 'paternalistic community model' leaves community cable channels and the money that is collected from Canadians firmly under the control of cable companies."

The CRTC's analysis acknowledges that a lack of funding explains why so few community licenses have been requested, CACTUS noted, but it says the new policy denies communities access to the Local Programming Initiative Fund that is available to private broadcasters, denies access to commercial advertising, and denies access to the more than $120 million collected annually from Canadians for "local expression", but which instead goes to cable companies for their professional regional channels.

Edwards reflected, "What's particularly sad is how outdated the Commission's model of community TV is. Approximately 40% of Canadians don't subscribe to cable, so a cable channel as a digital townhall for Canadians just doesn't work anymore. We also presented data to show that the majority of the more than 300 unique community channels and studios that once existed on cable have already been closed. This evidence appears to have been ignored. The relatively minor tweaks to the existing policy do nothing to address the closures."

The CRTC said in its decision that the new requirements will take effect on September 1, 2014. Included in the new policy are requirements that at least half of a channel's programming expenditures will have to be devoted to local origination programming, as well as to community outreach initiatives and the training and development of volunteers.




Thursday, August 26, 2010

RSF - CHINA - Private-sector companies in battle with journalists over information

Reporters Sans Frontières - CHINA - Private-sector companies in battle
with journalists over information
http://ow.ly/2vlrp

RSF - Entreprises vs. Journalistes : la bataille de l'information
http://ow.ly/2vlye
graves pour la liberté de la presse en Chine

Reporters Without Borders/Reporters sans frontières

26 August 2010

CHINA
Private-sector companies in battle with journalists over information

Chinese journalists and media are increasingly finding themselves the
targets of threats and censorship by private-sector companies (and some
state companies as well). Several cases with serious implications for
press freedom in China have illustrated this privatisation of censorship
and violence against journalists in the past few weeks. The phenomenon is
not new, but it is tending to grow in an alarming manner.

In one case, two journalists had a run-in with the police for writing a
story about a biotech company. In another case, a respected Beijing
journalist was physically attacked a few weeks ago after several articles
about doctors and health sector entrepreneurs had a big impact.

Reporters Without Borders condemns the way certain companies harass
journalists. Often accused of corrupting local media, many Chinese
companies are nowadays using their influence over the authorities
(including the police and Propaganda Department) to avoid negative
coverage. Paradoxically, this is taking place at a time when the Chinese
public is taking more interest in consumer rights and the quality of goods
and services.

"We urge the government to take energetic measures to protect Chinese
journalists who sometimes put their lives in danger to cover these
companies," Reporters Without Borders said. "We welcome the statement that
the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) issued on 30
July expressing its support for journalists. It is time the authorities
investigated all these cases thoroughly."

Reporters Without Borders has gathered information about all the main
press freedom cases involving Chinese companies.

One of the latest was the interrogation of journalist Liu Hongchang on 9
August by police, over an article he wrote together with a colleague, A
Liang, about the internal problems of Hanlin, a Laiyang-based company
based in Laiyang, in the eastern province of Shandong, and its ambitions
to become a biotech giant. The article was posted on the Qianlong.com
website, which was ordered to withdraw it after the Laiyang Propaganda
Bureau alerted the authorities in Beijing.

The police who interrogated Liu Hongchang questioned him above all about
his sources and the bribes they suspected he and A Liang were given to
write the article. A Liang was not interrogated because he was absent from
Beijing at the time. The police threatened to issue a warrant for his
arrest if he did not respond to the summons. Several Chinese journalists
have publicly expressed their support for Liu Hongchang and A Liang and
accused the police of violating press freedom.

Dangerous for health, dangerous for journalists

Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for an exhaustive
investigation into an assault on Fang Xuanchang, a science reporter for
the magazine Caijing, as he was returning home on 24 June in Beijing.
Beaten over the head and back with a steel bar by two unidentified
assailants, Fang had to be rushed to hospital. Until now, the police have
conducted no more than desultory enquiries into what appears to have been
a murder attempt.

Fang told the US magazine Foreign Policy (www.foreignpolicy.com) that his
mysterious assailants clearly tried to kill him. But who tried to kill him
and why? Fang does not know the identity or motives of his attackers but
he has some theories. He thinks for example that they might have been
hired by a doctor he criticised in one of his articles. Fang has written
about medical charlatans, fake discoveries and the questionable practices
of several small health-sector companies.

There are other possible motives for the attack. Fang exposed the presence
of genetically-modified cereals in China. In a TV programme, he challenged
a scientist's claim to be able to predict earthquakes. And he exposed a
doctor who claimed to have found a miracle cure to cancer.

In another case, on 13 August, the Propaganda Department imposed
censorship on reports about Synutra, a brand of milk-powder produced by a
company based in the northeastern city of Qingdao. Several media reports
had blamed the powder for hormonal problems in young girls. The health
ministry issued a denial on 12 August, claiming that the powder had been
analysed by nine experts and that no link with the hormonal problems had
been established. Thereafter the media were told they could only use the
official news agency Xinhua's dispatches on subject.

Meiri Jingji Xinwen (National Business Daily), a newspaper based in
Shanghai, has also paid the price for questioning a product's quality. A
Hong Kong-based newspaper claimed in June that Bawang, a famous herbal
shampoo endorsed by film star Jackie Chang in ads, contained a very high
level of a carcinogen called dioxane. After Meiri Jingji Xinwen reported
these allegations, four people from the Bawang company stormed into its
offices on 30 July and threatened the editor and staff.

In May this year, Bao Yueyang was moved from his job as editor of the
newspaper Zhongguo Jingji Shibao (China Economic Times) to another post
within the Development Publishing Company as a result of his coverage of
allegations about contaminated vaccines in Shanxi province. It had been a
big story in the Chinese press since March until the authorities
restricted reporting on Chinese websites and ordered the traditional media
to just use Xinhua's dispatches. Bao, who refused to comment on his
demotion, had a reputation for encouraging his reporters to investigate
sensitive issues.

Censorship favouring companies

Here are some other recent cases in which the authorities have protected
companies and businessmen at the expense of media freedom:

Tang Jun's spurious doctorate claim
The Propaganda Bureau in Beijing banned the media on 12 July from
repeating allegations that Tang Jun, one of the former CEO of Microsoft's
operations in China, had not obtained the US university doctorate listed
in his résumé. The allegations caused a major stir online and led
journalists to check the authenticity of the diplomas claimed by other
prominent Chinese figures.

The magazine Business Watch and the state power company Grid Corp
The magazine Business Watch was suspended for a month in early May over an
article it had published in March about the state power company Grid Corp.
The authorities did not like the magazine's user of internal company
documents for the story.

Explosion in a Nanjing factory
When there was an explosion at a Nanjing factory with a toll of 300
injured and 10 missing on 28 July, a Jiangsu TV crew went there and began
broadcasting reports until an official intervened and told them to stop,
threatening them with "serious problems" if they did not. The footage that
had already been broadcast was then removed from the Internet.

Attack on Zhongguo Shibao reporter
When Chen Xiaoying, a reporter for the newspaper Zhongguo Shibao (China
Times), arrived at the place in Shenzhen where she was supposed to meet an
anonymous source on 29 July, a man punched her hard in the face several
times. She had gone there because she had been told she would be given
information about the Shenzhen International Enterprise Co., a company she
had already written about on 8 July. Chen thinks the attack was linked to
that story, in which she suggested that the company's CEO was involved in
illegal activity. The CEO had told her after its publication that: "This
kind of story will not be good for you." The company denied any role in
the assault.

Exemplary support for Qiu Ziming

Cases of this kind can sometimes have a happy ending. Economic Observer
reporter Qiu Ziming went into hiding in July after being placed on a list
of most wanted criminals by the police in the eastern province of
Zhejiang, for allegedly defaming Kan Specialties Material Corporation, a
Suichang-based company that is one of China's biggest battery
manufacturers. The Zhejiang authorities finally rescinded the warrant for
his arrest on 29 July after he won a great deal of support online thanks
to his blog, in which he said he stood by the allegations of improper
practices that he had levelled against the company.

These cases show that more and more journalists are testing the limits of
press freedom in China. But, with increasing frequency, they are running
up against solid resistance from the government and both state and
private-sector companies.

---------------

CHINE

Entreprises vs. Journalistes : la bataille de l'information

Journalistes et médias doivent affronter de plus en plus fréquemment les
menaces et la censure des entreprises privées et d'Etat. Cette
privatisation de la violence et de la censure contre les journalistes
s'est illustrée au cours des dernières semaines par des affaires graves
pour la liberté de la presse en Chine. Tout récemment, deux journalistes
ont eu mailles à partir avec la police pour avoir publié une enquête sur
une entreprise de biotechnologie. Par ailleurs, un journaliste réputé de
Pékin a été sévèrement agressé, il y a quelques semaines, après plusieurs
reportages retentissants sur des entrepreneurs du secteur de la santé. Ce
phénomène n'est pas nouveau, mais il tend à s'accélérer dangereusement.

Reporters sans frontières dénonce ce harcèlement de certaines entreprises
à l'encontre des journalistes qui les dérangent. Régulièrement accusées de
corrompre les médias locaux, de nombreuses sociétés chinoises utilisent
aujourd'hui leur influence sur les autorités (police et Département de la
propagande) pour éviter les reportages négatifs. Paradoxalement, ce
phénomène va de pair avec un souci croissant des Chinois pour le droit des
consommateurs et la qualité des produits et des services.

Nous appelons les autorités de Pékin à prendre des mesures énergiques pour
mieux protéger les journalistes chinois qui se mettent parfois en danger
de mort pour enquêter sur ces entreprises. L'organisation note avec
satisfaction le communiqué de la General Administration of Press and
Publication (GAPP), en date du 30 juillet, qui apporte son soutien aux
professionnels de l'information. Il est temps que les autorités se
saisissent de toutes ces affaires.

Reporters sans frontières a recensé et enquêté sur les principales
affaires de liberté de la presse impliquant des entreprises chinoises.

Dernière en date, l'interpellation de Liu Hongchang, qui avait publié, en
association avec son confrère A Liang, une enquête sur une entreprise de
biotechnologie. Le 9 août, Liu Hongchang a été interpellé par la police
de Laiyang pour avoir divulgué des informations sur l'entreprise de
biotechnologie Hanlin, basée dans cette ville de la province du Shandong
(Est). Le rapport des deux journalistes révélait les ambitions du groupe
de devenir un "géant" du secteur, ainsi que des problèmes internes. Ce
rapport a été publié sur le site internet qianlong.com, ensuite contraint
de le retirer, sur ordre des autorités locales.

En effet, le Bureau de la propagande de Laiyang a alerté les autorités de
Pékin. Lors de l'interrogatoire de Liu Hongchang, les questions se sont
focalisées sur ses sources, et d'éventuels pots-de-vin qui auraient
poussé les journalistes à écrire ce rapport. A Liang, quant à lui, n'a
pas encore été interrogé, car il était absent de Pékin. La police a
menacé de lancer un mandat d'arrêt s'il ne se présentait pas de lui-même
à la convocation.

Plusieurs journalistes ont exprimé publiquement leur soutien à Liu
Hongchang et A Liang, considérant que les procédés de la police violent la
liberté de la presse.


Dangereux pour la santé, dangereux pour les journalistes

Reporters sans frontières réitère sa demande aux autorités de mener une
enquête exhaustive sur l'agression, le 24 juin dernier, à Pékin, de Fang
Xuanchang, journaliste scientifique du magazine Caijing. Alors qu'il
rentrait à son domicile, le journaliste a été violemment agressé, frappé
notamment à la tête et au dos à coups de barre de fer et a dû être
hospitalisé d'urgence. A ce jour, la police n'a pas mené d'enquête
exhaustive sur cette tentative d'assassinat.

"Ils ont essayé de me tuer", a déclaré Fang Xuanchang au journal en ligne
www.foreignpolicy.com en parlant de ses deux mystérieux assaillants. Mais
qui a essayé de tuer Fang Xuanchang et pour quelles raisons ? Le
journaliste explique ne pas connaître l'identité ni le motif de ses
assaillants, cependant il émet des hypothèses : ces hommes pourraient
avoir été engagés par un médecin qu'il avait dénoncé dans un de ses
articles. En effet, Fang Xuanchang s'intéresse au charlatanisme,
inventions mensongères, et autres incompétences scientifiques qui se
multiplient dans les milieux médicaux. Il a publié plusieurs enquêtes sur
des petites entreprises du secteur de la santé aux pratiques douteuses.

Autres hypothèses pour expliquer cette agression : il avait révélé la
présence de céréales génétiquement modifiées en Chine ; réfuté, dans une
émission télévisée, la thèse d'un scientifique qui affirmait pouvoir
prédire les séismes ; ou encore dénoncé l'abus de confiance d'un médecin
qui prétendait avoir trouvé un remède miracle contre les cancers.

Autre cas de censure imposé par le Département de la propagande est celui
datant du 13 août, qui concerne la diffusion d'informations sur le lait en
poudre de la marque Synutra produit par une compagnie basée à Qingdao
(Est). Plusieurs articles de presse avaient dénoncé le fait que ce lait
serait la cause de dérèglements hormonaux chez des fillettes. Après que le
ministère chinois de la Santé a démenti les informations le 12 août en
affirmant que le lait en poudre avait été analysé par neuf experts et
qu'aucun lien avec ces dérèglements hormonaux n'avait pu être prouvé, les
autorités ont imposé aux médias de n'utiliser que les dépêches de l'agence
officielle Xinhua sur cette affaire.

Autre média à faire les frais d'un article sur la mauvaise qualité d'un
produit est le Meiri Jingji Xinwen (National Business Daily) publié à
Shanghai. En juin, un journal de Hongkong dénonçait la présence de
substances chimiques cancérigènes dans un célèbre shampooing de la marque
Bawang. Ce shampooing aux plantes médicinales qui rendrait les cheveux
encore plus brillants, comme l'affirme la star de cinéma Jackie Chan dans
une publicité, contiendrait un taux très élevé de dioxane, un agent
cancérigène.

L'information a été reprise par le Meiri Jingji Xinwen, mais le 30
juillet, quatre personnes de l'entreprise Bawang ont fait irruption dans
les bureaux du journal pour menacer le personnel et particulièrement le
rédacteur en chef.

Des enquêtes sur les vaccins contaminés dans la province du Shanxi ont
également valu à Bao Yueyang, rédacteur en chef du journal Zhongguo Jingji
Shibao (China Economic Times), d'être écarté de son poste pour être
transféré à une autre fonction au sein de la Development Publishing
Company. Cette affaire de vaccins a fait grand bruit depuis mars 2010 dans
la presse chinoise. Le gouvernement avait restreint la publication
d'informations sur ce scandale sur les sites chinois, et les médias
traditionnels avaient été priés de se limiter aux dépêches de l'agence
officielle Xinhua.

Bao Yueyang est connu pour avoir incité ses journalistes à enquêter sur
des sujets sensibles. Il a refusé de commenter la sanction prise à son
encontre.


Censure favorable aux entreprises

D'autres affaires récentes révèlent comment les autorités ont couvert les
entreprises au détriment de la liberté d'informer.

L'affaire du faux diplôme doctoral de Tang Jun

Le 12 juillet, le Bureau central de la propagande a interdit aux médias de
reprendre l'information selon laquelle l'un des anciens présidents de
Microsoft en Chine, Tang Jun, était impliqué dans une affaire de
falsification de diplôme académique américain. L'affaire faisait grand
bruit sur le Web, et avait poussé des journalistes à faire des recherches
sur l'authenticité des diplômes de certaines personnalités chinoises.

Le magazine Business Watch et l'entreprise d'électricité d'Etat Grid Corp

Début mai, le magazine Business Watch a été suspendu pendant un mois suite
à une enquête datée de mars sur l'entreprise d'électricité d'Etat Grid
Corp. Les autorités n'auraient pas apprécié que le journaliste utilise des
documents internes.
L'explosion d'une usine à Nanjing
Le 28 juillet, à Nanjing, une usine a explosé faisant trois cents blessés
et dix disparus. Une équipe de la chaîne Jiangsu TV s'est rendue sur les
lieux et a diffusé des images dans la foulée. Mais un fonctionnaire a
empêché les reporters de continuer de prendre des images de l'usine, les
menaçant de "sérieux problèmes". Les images ont ensuite été retirées du
Web.
Agression d'un journaliste du Zhongguo Shibao

A Shenzhen, le 29 juillet, Chen Xiaoying, du journal Zhongguo Shibao
(China Times), a reçu plusieurs violents coups de poing au visage alors
qu'elle arrivait sur les lieux d'un rendez-vous avec une source anonyme, à
Shenzhen. Cet inconnu lui avait affirmé qu'il pourrait lui révéler des
informations sur l'entreprise Shenzhen International Enterprise Co. La
journaliste pense que l'attaque a un lien avec son article publié le 8
juillet, qui présumait que le directeur de cette compagnie était impliqué
dans des activités illégales. Le directeur l'avait menacé auparavant : "Ce
genre de publication ne t'apportera rien de bon." Après l'agression, des
responsables de l'entreprise ont nié toute implication dans cet incident.


L'affaire exemplaire de Qiu Ziming

Certains cas similaires peuvent avoir un dénouement heureux, comme en
témoigne l'affaire très médiatisée de Qiu Ziming. Journaliste de The
Economic Observer, il a été contraint, en juillet, de se cacher après
avoir été placé sur la liste des criminels les plus recherchés par les
autorités de police de Suichang, province du Zhejiang (Est). Il était
accusé de "diffamation" pour avoir dénoncé les mauvaises pratiques d'un
important producteur de batteries, Kan Specialties Material Corporation.
Le 29 juillet, les autorités du Zhejiang sont revenues sur ce mandat
d'arrêt, après que le journaliste avait gagné le soutien massif des
internautes grâce à son blog. Pendant sa cavale, il affirmait être
innocent.

Ces différentes affaires démontrent que de plus en plus de journalistes
testent les limites de la liberté de la presse en Chine. Mais ils se
heurtent encore trop souvent à un bloc toujours plus soudé, celui du
gouvernement et des entreprises aussi bien étatiques que privées.

Vincent Brossel
Asia-Pacific Desk
Reporters Without Borders
33 1 44 83 84 70
asia@rsf.org

CRTC changes community television policy to enhance local participation

CNW Group Portfolio E-Mail

Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission

Transmitted by CNW Group on : August 26, 2010 14:00


CRTC changes community television policy to enhance local participation

OTTAWA-GATINEAU, Aug. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) today issued a new policy that will give Canadians more opportunities to participate in their community television channels. The CRTC's policy will also ensure that these channels better reflect the realities and interests of local citizens.

"Community channels give Canadians the unique ability to see themselves and their neighbourhoods, towns and cities reflected on television," said Michel Arpin, the CRTC's Vice-Chairman of Broadcasting. "This can only be achieved through equal partnerships between cable companies and the communities they serve. Access to the broadcasting system must be as open as possible, especially for people who are new to the production of television programming."

Under the new policy, the CRTC will require that community members must be involved in the creation of at least half of a community channel's programming. This means that the original idea for a program must come from members of the community, who must also be involved in some aspect of the production, whether in front or behind the camera.

Additionally, at least half of a channel's programming expenditures will have to be devoted to this type of programming, as well as to community outreach initiatives and the training and development of volunteers.

Given the significant changes to the policy, the CRTC has determined that the new requirements will take effect on September 1, 2014.

The CRTC has also introduced measures to improve the accountability and transparency of the funds cable companies allocate to the operation of their community television channels. Cable companies will have to provide this information on a yearly basis starting in 2012.

Broadcasting Regulatory Policy CRTC 2010-622
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2010/2010-622.htm

The CRTC

The CRTC is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada.

Reference document:
Broadcasting Notice of Consultation CRTC 2009-661
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2009/2009-661.htm

These documents are available in alternative format upon request.

Additional information on community television stations

The Canadian broadcasting system is made up of three basic elements: private broadcasters, public broadcasters and community broadcasters.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission's community television policy is designed to:

  • ensure the creation and exhibition of more locally produced programming that is reflective of the community, and
  • foster a greater diversity of voices and alternative choices by facilitating the entry of new participants to the broadcasting system.

To meet these objectives, at least 30 per cent of the programming aired each week by community channels must be created and produced by local citizens and community groups. As of September 1, 2014, the minimum will be raised to 50 per cent.

On that same date, the Commission will require that community channels allocate 50 per cent of their programming expenditures to this type of programming. Initiatives to promote and generate programming and to train and develop volunteers will also qualify as eligible expenditures.

There are presently 119 cable systems funding community channels in Canada. Unlike local television stations, community channels are not permitted to air mainstream commercial advertising, with the exception of sponsorship messages. Any revenues generated through sponsorship messages must be reinvested in community programming.

As part of their total contributions to Canadian programming, the larger cable companies may allocate up to 2 per cent of their gross revenues to the operation of their community channels. This percentage resulted in contributions of approximately $119 million in 2009. The Commission considers that community channels have enough funds to achieve the policy's objectives, and has decided to maintain funding at current levels.

For further information:

Media Relations:
http://support.crtc.gc.ca/CRTCSubmissionMU/forms/Mediarelations.aspx?lang=e
Tel: 819-997-9403, Fax: 819-997-4245

General Inquiries:
Tel: 819-997-0313, TDD: 819-994-0423, Fax: 819-994-0218
Toll-free # 1-877-249-CRTC (2782),
TDD - Toll-free # 1-877-909-CRTC (2782)
http://crtc.gc.ca/RapidsCCM/Register.asp?lang=E




Grant MacEwan College's arts management certificate on-line course

http://www.macewan.ca/web/pvca/arts/Program/Distance.cfm?MenuOption=1&Line=8

Grant MacEwan College's on-line arts management certificate course

Courses offered from September 15, 2010 - January 15, 2011
The registration deadline is September 15, 2010 (click for course description)


Courses offered from February 1 to May 31, 2011
The registration deadline is February 1, 2011 (click for course description)

*for students primarily interested in the performing arts

**for students primarily interested in the visual arts


Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Art of Managing Your Career is a resource guide for self-employed artists & cultural workers

The Art of Managing Your Career

http://www.culturalhrc.ca/amyc/index-e.asp

The Art of Managing Your Career is a resource guide for self-employed artists and cultural workers in live performing arts; writing and publishing; visual arts and craft; film, television and broadcasting; digital media; music and sound recording, and heritage.

The Art of Managing Your Career was updated in 2009 to include fresh and original examples, brand-new links to useful websites, and up-to-date information on finance and technology. It also includes province-specific examples and procedures along with the information found in the original version.

The Art of Managing Your Career and its discipline enhancements were developed by artists and cultural workers to provide emerging self-employed artists and cultural workers with pertinent and practical information to better manage their careers.

Support material for The Art of Managing Your Career has been developed: a Teacher's Guide and Course Modules. The Teacher's Guide is designed for use with young and emerging artists and cultural workers. The Course Modules are designed for teachers at the college and university level and for use by professional associations.

Here is an overview of the 5 chapters:

Chapter 1: The Culture Biz (PDF)
Includes topics such as:

  • How do I establish my career goals?
  • What is a business plan?
  • How do I shape my career goals and business plan into a career strategy?

Chapter 2: The Art of Self-Promotion (PDF)
Includes topics such as:

  • What constitute an effective promotional package?
  • How can I economically promote my work?

Chapter 3: The A to Z of Project Management (PDF)
Includes topics such as:

  • How can I get organized?
  • How do I write a successful proposal?
  • Where else can I find financial support?
  • How do I develop an action plan?

Chapter 4: Money – Keeping Track (PDF)
Includes topics such as:

  • How do I prepare and administer a budget?
  • How does self-employment differ financially from employment?
  • How do I handle income tax?

Chapter 5: You and the Law (PDF)
Includes topics such as:

  • How do I establish and enforce contracts?
  • How do I protect my copyright?
  • How do I resolve a legal dispute?

Free Online Courses in arts and arts-related skills:

Free Online Courses in arts and arts-related skills:
http://www.onlineclasses.org/free-online-classes/free-online-classes-for-artists/

Why Continuing Education Is Important for Artists

Many times, artists become proficient at the creative side of their work while the business side of their work suffers. This is one of the many reasons it is important for artists to take part regularly in continuing education. Along with providing key training on the business and promotions side of the arts, continuing education can help artists keep up with the latest trends and techniques and learn Web design skills so they can make their art available to a wider audience. For some art forms, such as tattoo art, you may even be required to undergo continuing education in areas such as health and safety to maintain state licensure. Continuing education is important to artists so they will not become stagnant, but instead be constant learners, pushing their craft forward.

The Advantage of Taking Online Classes

The convenience of online classes is their greatest advantage to artists. Instead of having to drive to a campus at regularly scheduled times each week, you can go to class simply by turning on your computer and connecting to the Internet. This helps artists access the courses they need 24/7 without interrupting their busy and sometimes unpredictable schedules. Besides, artists are known for thinking outside the box, and may not prefer to go to class the traditional way. With online classes, you can advance your education in the arts from your home, a scenic outdoor area with Wi-Fi or a down-to-earth coffee shop instead of going to an institution. And since online classes are just as challenging as traditional classes, and taught by experienced, qualified professors, you won't be losing out on quality either.

How Free Online Classes Can Supplement Your Career

Typical college courses can cost a pretty penny, and if you're a "starving" artist, every penny counts. So why not take advantage of the wide variety of free online classes that are available to all takers? Many of the nation's top institutions are offering free, typically non-credit-bearing educational classes often called Open Courseware. Some of those institutions include MIT, the American Film Institute, Tufts University and Minnesota State University. There are a wide variety of free classes available to suit your interests, including: The Art of Color; Introduction to Sculpture; Creating Interactive Media; and Theatre & Society in the Age of Shakespeare.


Saturday, August 21, 2010

George Lessard's videos on Vimo

                           

RumbleSphinx


RumbleSphinx from George Lessard on Vimeo.
RUMBLESPHINX

"A wonderful cardboard travelogue through a peewee hermanesque two-dimensional black and white scenography - passes from the integrity of the image to a digitized color pointillism, from flowing time to saccadic rhythmic organization of temporal measures.

Tiptoeing through the unreality of stifling timid, bureaucratic passivity with Mr. Dream as low-key daredevil guiding us through a slide show that puts our would-be adventurer to sleep. His dream escape is then depicted in the form of a musical interlude. When he wakes up after his maudlin evening, it is only to go back to his safe home where he can hide from travel, plane crashes and everything frightening, i.e., his life in general.

In the closing scene, he goes to bed, book in hand (Freud's "The Interpretation of Dreams), on of the pages of which makes a wry commentary on the video's budget, he closes his eyes and goes to sleep. zzzzz's literally coming out of his mouth."
Francine Dagenais in Cinema Canada Magazine June 1988

Running Time : 12 mins  -  standard : ntsc color
Original Format : 3/4" u-matic  -  Audio : stereo ch. 1 & 2

Credits
Video Artists:
George A. Lessard, Robert Hamilton, Dave Clark

Camera:
Robert Hamilton, Dave Clark
Video Editing:
G.A. Lessard & Robert Hamilton
Digital animation & effects:
G.A. Lessard
Music composed, performed and recorded by:
Dave Clark
Sung by:
Dave Clark & Robert Hamilton
Sets by:
Dave Clark & Robert Hamilton
Story by:
Dave Clark & Robert Hamilton
Actors:
Mr. Dream played by Dave Clark
& the story teller is Robert Hamilton

Screenings

87.04.06 - ARTV - Broadcast - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
87.07.10 - Quebec International Festival of Young Cinema & Video  - public screening - Montreal - "Prix Radio-Quebec"
87.08.06 - 10th TOKYO VIDEO FESTIVAL - Tokyo, Japan - JVC screenings around the world - "Award of Excellence"
87.09.04 - 16e FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DU NOUVEAU CINEMA ET DE LA VIDEO - public screening - Montreal, Quebec, Canada
87.11.06 - 4th INTERNATIONAL LEICESTER FESTIVAL - public screening - Leicester, England
87.11.27 - THE SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - public screening - California, USA
87.11.30 - 21st ANNUAL FILM & VIDEO EXPO - public screening - Brooklyn Arts Council, NY, USA
1988    - XIII internacional Del Nuevo Cine Super 8 & Video, Caracas, Venezuela - public screening - "Mention"
88.01.29 - 12th ATLANTA FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL - public screening - Atlanta, Georgia, USA
88.03.28 - 24th YORKTON FEST. OF SHORT FILM & VIDEO- public screening - Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.
88.05.05 - CANADIAN VIDEO ART FEST. - public screening - Galerie Joyce Yahouda Meir, Montreal, Canada.
88.05.17 - BIENNALE VIDEO - public screening - Musee de Rimouski, Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
88.06.18 - MID-NIGHT MADNESS - public screening - Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
90.02.12 - LES LUNDIS DU JEUNE CINEMA - public screening -  at Le Cinema Parallele - presented by L'Association pour le Jeune Cinema Quebecois Montreal.

Call for Submissions / Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography

Call for Submissions / Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography / Artists and Curators / Toronto, ON / Deadline Date: Thursday, September 30, 2010

Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography is a non-profit artist-run centre committed to the advancement of photographic art. We encourage the submission of exhibition proposals from emerging, mid-career and established artists and curators who are innovative in their use of materials and approach to subject matter. Gallery 44 views photography within the larger context of contemporary artistic practices and relevant cultural issues in today's society.

Submission Guidelines
Please submit the following:

1. A maximum of twenty slides or digital images (CD must be readable on MAC OSX) representing a recent body of work or a specific project. Digital images should be: RGB, jpeg format no larger than 1024 x 768 pixels at 300 dpi. They should be numbered 01 to 20 (01_tree, 02_house, 03_car etc.) Gallery 44 does not accept original artwork.
2. An image list indicating title, year, medium and dimensions.
3. An artist's statement, curatorial statement, or other written description.
4. A physical description of the proposed exhibition, including the number of works, the space required and any unusual installation requirements.
5. A curriculum vitae, resume or biography of the artist(s) and/or curator (including all artists if it is a curated exhibition).
6. A self-addressed envelope (SASE) with sufficient return postage. Without an SASE we will not return submission packages and will dispose of submission materials appropriately.

Gallery 44 welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with other arts and community organizations. Please contact us to discuss your project.

Gallery 44 will take reasonable care with submission materials; however, we cannot accept responsibility for damage or loss to original photographic prints. Gallery 44 does not accept submissions by fax or email.

Late submissions will not be accepted. Submissions must be postmarked by the deadline. Please clearly label your envelope with the call that you are applying for. Artists are paid in accordance with the CARFAC Fee Schedule.

Please see Submissions o
n http://www.gallery44.org for a floor plan of the gallery and further information.

Contact for submissions:
Alice Dixon, Exhibition Coordinator
alice@gallery44.org | 416.979.3941

Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography
401 Richmond Street West, Suite #120
Toronto, ONM5V 3A8

Monday, August 16, 2010

Shoes



SHOES
A digital animation music video relating to second language learning and the repetition of common phrases by rote. Ironically, SHOES says that something as mundane as the purchase of a new pair of shoes can lead one along a new road towards doors as yet un-opened.

**********************************************
Running Time : 02 MIN 12 SECS
Original Standard : NTSC Color
Original Format : 3/4" U-Matic
Audio : Stereo
Producer / Director : George Lessard
Camera : George Lessard & Robert Hamilton
Video Editing : Robert Hamilton
Digital Animation and Special Effects on the
Victor Data Systems Aniputer: George Lessard
Music Composed, Performed, Recorded &
Edited by Dave Clark
Actors: Robert Hamilton, George Lessard, Mario Duchesneau
*************************************************************

Shoes International Video Festival Screenings & Broadcasts


87.04.06- ARTV - Broadcast - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
87.09.29- ARTS PROGRAM - Broadcast - CF Cable TV, MontrÈal, QuÈbec, Canada
87.10.16- LA MAISON DE LA CULTURE DU PLATEAU-MT. ROYAL- exhibition / Public screening - MontrÈal, Canada
88.01.18- 7th ANNUAL VIDEO SHORTS FEST. - public screening - Seattle, Washington, USA
88.05.30- LES FANTAISIES VIDEO INDIGENES de MontrÈal AUX FOUFOUNES ELECTRIQUES - public screening - MontrÈal, QuÈbec
88.06.18- MID-NIGHT MADNESS - public screening - Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
88.12.25- VIDEO SPECTRUM - Broadcast - New York, NY, USA

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

National Geographic Announces 4th Annual International Photography Contest for Kids

National Geographic Announces 4th Annual International Photography Contest for Kids

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Young photographers around the world are invited to take part in the 2010 National Geographic International Photography Contest for Kids. The competition is conducted in partnership with the U.S. edition of National Geographic Kids magazine (also available in Canada) and 12 local-language editions of the magazine in Bulgaria, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The international grand-prize winner will receive a trip to National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100810/DC48239)
    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100810/DC48239)


U.S. and Canadian contestants ages 6-14 may enter now through Nov. 1, 2010, by submitting one photo in any or all of four categories: People; Animals; Scenery; and Humor. Photos can be black-and-white or color, shot with a digital camera or with conventional film. Entries can be submitted online or via mail. Entry forms and official contest rules are found at http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/contests/photo-entry-form. Void where prohibited.

One grand-prize winner from the U.S. / Canada regional contest will be selected from the four first-place category winners to receive a trip for four to Toronto, Canada, courtesy of Tourism Toronto and the Delta Chelsea Hotel. The five-day, four-night trip includes CityPasses to explore Toronto's attractions, including the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere; the Ontario Science Center; Casa Loma; the Royal Ontario Museum; and the Toronto Zoo. The four first-place and four second-place category winners also will win digital camera kits as well as National Geographic books.

Each participating international local-language edition will submit its winning entries in each category to National Geographic headquarters to be judged alongside the winning U.S. / Canada entries by a panel of four National Geographic experts: Melina Bellows, National Geographic Kids magazine editor in chief; Annie Griffiths, National Geographic photographer; Steve St. John, National Geographic Image Collection senior editor; and Jay Sumner, National Geographic Kids photo director. The judges will announce the overall grand-prize winner of a trip to National Geographic headquarters in January 2011. Winning entries from each country will be featured in that country's edition of National Geographic Kids magazine.

National Geographic Kids, geared toward children ages 6-14, is an interactive, multitopic magazine covering animals, entertainment, science, technology, current events and cultures. The magazine has 20 international editions.

For further information: Ethan Fried, +1-202-857-7037, efried@ngs.org

Monday, August 09, 2010

At the request of Aurora Arts Society: To all photographers: CALL for VISUAL ART SUBMISSIONS

Aurora Arts Society
Who Makes Art? Artsweek & Symposium
CALL TO ARTISTS  for VISUAL ART SUBMISSIONS

When: Please drop off your artwork on September 8, 2010 by 5pm
Where: PWNHC museum Auditorium
                   (Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre)
Provide: Title of the Piece and medium
(Please ensure framed art is secured with wire for hanging)
Exhibit Dates: September 10 to September 26

Exhibit Opening September 10, 2010
Reception 7pm – 9pm

Trashformations prize awards presentation 7:30pm

This is our gala evening of the year. Come out and have fun and enjoy!

If you have any questions please contact:  Astrid Kruse by email:  astrid@theedge.ca

If you wish to display a piece of artwork, and you are NOT an AAS member: 
Memberships cost $10 with completed membership form.

All artwork MUST BE PICKED UP ON September 26 at 2pm until 5pm.

Sunday, August 08, 2010

Arviat, Nunavut, home of Susan Aglukark


3arvsign, originally uploaded by eanoee.

Photo by Eric Anoee Jr

Thursday, August 05, 2010

'White guilt' helps finance independent films - Dennis Allen offers advice for budding Northern filmmakers

'White guilt' helps finance independent films
Dennis Allen offers advice for budding Northern filmmakers
Published in the Northern News Services' News/North - Northwest Territories Volume 65 Issue 14 Monday, July 26, 2010 Page # 17 Click on image to enlarge

Monday, August 02, 2010

A new project of LIFE and Google has made millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive available for use.

A new project of LIFE and Google has made millions of photographs from the LIFE photo archive available for use. The photographs, many of which were never published, range from the 1750s to today. These stories can be added for no charge.
http://www.timelifepictures.com/ms_timepix/source/home/home.aspx?pg=1


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