Community Arts Fund Program
Current Project News:
Much Ado About Something, a Shakespearean take on homelessness written and performed by talented community actors and led by Raincity Housing, played to packed houses in the DTES, Granville Island, and Surrey this October as part of Homelessness Action Week. Congratulations to the cast and crew!
Terroir: Urban Cloth Project is well underway with their Downtown Eastside activities, including an exciting fibre processing band experiment at Hastings Urban Farm on Nov 9! Watch for their music, they’re going to be big! If you are curious about how plants grown right in the DTES turn into clothing, come on out this winter to free workshops in the ‘hood with artist Sharon Kallis and friends.
Upcoming Workshops:
At Enterprising Women Making Art 56 East Hastings
Tuesday/Wednesday November 25 & 26 2-5pm
Fibre Blending and Spinning Workshops
These two workshops offered for women in the downtown eastside community will explore blending of local plant fibres and teach the basic fundamentals of drop spindling, making cordage and thigh spinning using locally grown linen and milkweed from Hastings Urban Farm. Further workshops in the community will see our fibres dyed with plants from the farm, and crocheted into pollinator markers to showcase the areas of Hastings Street that support the Hastings Urban Farm bees. Bracelets as technique mementos will also be made. Led by Sharon Kallis
Workshops are free, but space is limited – only a few spaces left!
most space reserved for EWMA studio members, register here for a space
At Maclean Park Field House Studio 710 Keefer Street
Sunday January 10 2-5pm
Natural Dye Workshop: Dying Pollinator Markers Fibre
What plants make a good yellow dye? Many plants have a yellow base as far as natural dyes go- inspired by the honey bee, we will use various local plants known for their yellow shades: Oregon grape bark and dahlia flowers are two of the yellows we shall explore! Learn some natural dye basics and assist in preparing our fibres for later spinning and crocheting workshops for the Hastings Street Pollinator Friendly Zone Markers. Led by Sharon Kallis
Free, registration required: pre-register here
At Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre 302 Columbia Street (Wellness room)
Sunday December 14 2-5pm
Weaver’s Talk and Fibre Processing Workshop
Tracy Williams (Sesemiya) is a fifth generation cedar weaver and member of the Squamish Nation. Tracy has had many teachers and is invested in sharing her knowledge with youth to continue the foraging and hand technology traditions of her culture. Women in the community are invited to spend time hearing Tracy talk about her work weaving and re-learning traditional technologies and then work with Tracy and Sharon Kallis in processing some of the fibres that were grown and foraged this past year for the Urban Cloth Project. Learn fundamentals of fibre processing, thigh spinning and rope making. The final materials to be used in future workshops of crocheting pollinator markers for Hastings Street.
Monday January 19 2-5pm
Fibre for Spinning and Cordage
Learn the fundamentals of rope making and drop spindling, learn how the techniques are related and how little tools are required beyond your own hands! Sharon Kallis demonstrates what kinds of local natural plant fibres can be spun into workable line, or processed into rope by cordage making. Spend time practicing with a drop spindle with locally grown linen while helping make the fibre for our pollinator markers. Fibres include: linen from the flax plant, stinging nettle, milkweed and left over coconut fibre from old hanging planters.
Monday January 26 2-5pm
A Crochet Bee: waxing line and Crocheting Markers
Work with Sharon Kallis to wax some of our dyed spun fibres and crochet the first markers for later installation along Hastings Street. No experience necessary as basic chain-link crochet stitch will be taught but experienced crocheters are welcome and encouraged to try more complex stitches.
Please send an email to dtes-arts@cacv.ca if you are interested in the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre workshops, otherwise follow the links to register.
Next Community Arts Fund Application Deadline: March 3, 2015
The deadline for the next opportunity to apply for project funding will be Tuesday, March 3, 2015. An updated version of the guidelines will be posted on our website no later than December 15, as well as information about grant-writing and information sessions in the new year.
Are you an organization in the Downtown Eastside with an idea for a community-engaged arts project? Contact Kelty at dtes-arts@cacv.ca to see if it is a fit for our program!
Eligibility Check:
The project must be led by an organization with an address within the indicated DTES geographic boundaries: Clark to Cambie, Terminal to Waterfront.
Projects should demonstrate primary impact within the Downtown Eastside community, although activities taking place outside of the neighbourhood can be included.
The project must collaborate with a professional artist, and projects involving meaningful collaboration with another organization will be preferred.
Projects must take place between April 2015 and March 2016.
Maximum funding per project is $5000. There is a requirement of matching funds from the organization(s) involved to at least the level being requested. These can be “in‐kind donations” including volunteer time.
The lead organization must be incorporated as a society in good standing with the Province of British Columbia and have operated as an incorporated society for at least one fiscal year prior to the application deadline.
Individuals and on-going programs are not eligible for funding.