SAFER/BRAVER SPACES – The 2017 Intersection

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 13, 2017

Toronto, ON – April 13, 2017 – The Paprika Festival, in partnership with Native Earth Performing Arts, announces The Intersection: Safer/Braver Spaces, a conference for young artists in the Daniels Spectrum on May 20, 2017. Paprika Festival is expanding its latest initiative: a day of education, professional networking, and conversation aimed at serving artists under 30. Through the support of Native Earth, Paprika is excited to bring The Intersection to Regent Park and grow the programming options we offer, and connections we have within the community.

The 2017 Intersection will focus on the idea of Safer/Braver Spaces, examining political and artistic tools that empower young artists to pursue creativity and experimentation in their careers, also addressing how to practically support themselves. This conference will be an accessible and inclusive space to voice experiences in theatre, meet future collaborators, and critically discuss what skills or resources young creators need as they develop their careers as professional artists. This initiative is devoted to supporting the future of Toronto performance.

The day starts off with a meet-and-greet for young artists, with representatives from community organizations including: CSARN, Intermission, Spider-Web Show, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre,

Theatre Passe Muraille, and The Toronto Fringe Festival. The day continues with a choice of workshops in both artistic and practical skill sets. In the evening, special guests will take part in an interactive, long-table discussion in Native Earth’s Aki Studio. This “dinner party where conversation is the main course” will be hosted by Laura Nanni, featuring challenging questions, a diverse group of artists and professionals under 30 and plenty of opportunity for audience contribution. The evening will end with an after-party at a nearby venue.

DePerry (Blackfoot and Cree Nations) is a dancer, DJ, and instructor with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre.

Tepperman is an actor, playwright, educator, and co-artistic director of Convergence Theatre.

Gurza is a Disability Awareness Consultant and Cripple Content Creator.

Lyon is a writer, filmmaker, facilitator and healer, dedicated to changing perspectives on mental health.

Mytnowych is an award-winning arts leader and theatre director, and president of Smart Money for Creatives.

in partnership with

Daniels Spectrum

585 Dundas Street E, Toronto, ON M5A 2B7

TICKETS | paprikafestival.com/the-intersection/

MEDIA | paprikafestival.com/the-intersection/media/

Paprika Festival presents its 2016/17 season in partnership with Native Earth Performing Arts and is a Company-in-Residence at Theatre Passe Muraille.

Native Earth Performing Arts is Canada’s oldest professional Indigenous theatre company. Currently in their 34th year, they are dedicated to creating, developing and producing professional artistic expressions of the Indigenous experience in Canada.

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Paprika Festival is a youth-led performing arts organization focused on providing professional training and mentorship programs to emerging artists across Toronto. Paprika’s programming is delivered at no cost to the participants and culminates in a week-long festival May 22-28 2017 at the Aki Studio in the Daniels Spectrum, in partnership with Native Earth Performing Arts. Paprika  Festival gratefully acknowledges the support from the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council. This project is also made possible, in part, by the Youth Theatre Training Program of Theatre Ontario, funded by the Ontario Arts Council. Special thank-you to Rosamund Small who created The Intersection in 2015.