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Veronica Antipolo joined the London Arts Council team as Administrator, Cultivating Allyship in 2022. She brought with her 20+ years of administrative experience, as well as extensive experience in writing, storytelling, and event production, with an emphasis on amplifying the voices of equity-deserving communities. With LAC’s Writer-in-Residence, Silence Genti, Veronica co-curated the Cultivating Allyship Storytelling Series, and has facilitated listening sessions with IBPOC communities focused on building meaningful connection and developing equitable and accessible programming and practices. Veronica will be starting at TAP Centre for Creativity as Outreach Coordinator, and will spend more time on her storytelling and event production passions. While we’re sad to see Veronica go, we’re excited for her and wish her the best on the next leg of her artistic journey! Thank you for bringing so much enthusiasm and passion to our team, Veronica! ❤ - The LAC team

ATTENTION local Non-Profit Arts Organizations! Applications for 2023 CAIP funding are now open! Spread the word, and make sure to get those applications in by FEBRUARY 10, 2023, 4:30PM.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) To celebrate and promote the UNESCO City of Music designation, the London Arts Council (LAC) invites artists and creators residing in London, Ontario, surrounding First Nations (the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, the Oneida Nation of the Thames, and the Munsee-Delaware Nation) to submit expressions of interest (EOI) with a preliminary design proposal to be considered for the UNESCO City of Music Mural Project. For this highly prestigious opportunity to create a prominent mural at RBC Place London representing the unique and momentous designation, the artwork should be themed on the ‘City of Music’. A jury, encompassing members of the arts community will select four artists/creators (4) in total - three finalists (3) for the award of $500.00 and a winner (1) for the award of the commission, and the winner will complete the design proposal by working with LAC and the City. Submissions for this project are now closed. UNESCO City of Music Mural Project Description On November 8, 2021, the City of London was recognized as Canada’s first UNESCO City of Music, joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). UCCN strives to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. To celebrate and promote this unique and momentous designation, LAC will administer the creation of a large-scale mural project (approx. 40 ft wide by 4 ft tall) on behalf of the City of London Culture Services as part of the City of London Public Art and Monument program. The selected artist/creator for the commission will complete the design proposal by working with LAC and create a mural on five wooden panels (each panel is about 8 ft wide by 4 ft tall) specially constructed and primed by a professional carpenter for this project. The mural will be painted in an artist studio or, if available, in a designated space within the RBC Place London facility. After painting the mural, the artist/creator MUST apply a water-based sealant to protect it. When the mural is finished, the artist/creator MUST deliver each panel to RBC Place London safely for installation. For the installation, the LAC's professional installer will mount the panels to the bulkhead. The panels can be moved together or separately to a variety of locations. As a result, the artist/creator should consider different panel configurations for the mural design, such as horizontal, vertical, separately, together, or in groups. The mural design may be modular, with each panel able to be displayed together in various configurations or separately. [Mural location: Inside of RBC Place London, Main Lobby, Bulkhead] Timeline and Process (Project Duration: November 2022 – March 2023) The selected artist/creator will be expected to comply with the project’s general timeline dates, as listed below: Budget Please note: the artist/creator is NOT responsible for development of wooden panels, as well as the installation process and associated costs. **You MUST read the full information pacakage about this opportunity prior to filling out the online application.** This information package includes important information including jury criteria and the design proposal. To view this information package, please download the following file: Online Submission Artists/creators wishing to be considered must complete all application requirements. Please complete all required fields of the online application form and submit the required application documents. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be accepted. Applications submitted through other means, such as fax, mail, and email will not be accepted. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the application is submitted by the deadline. For any questions about this project please contact info@londonarts.ca For any Call to Artists updates please check the website at www.londonarts.ca

Each year, the London Arts Council invites nominations for the Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List for an honouree in the Arts category. Eligible nominees are professional artists and active volunteers whose artistic excellence or outstanding contribution of service deserves recognition. Through a juried process, a recipient is then recommended to the City. This year, Karen Schindler has been named to the Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List in the Arts category. Congratulations Karen!! A much deserved distinction for many years of passionate creation and support of the literary arts sector in London! Karen is a regular CAIP (Community Arts Investment Program) recipient for her professional, community-focused work with Baseline Press, which she started 12 years ago. Baseline Press is a micro-press based in London, through which Karen publishes work by Canadian poets (including many from London) in beautiful chapbooks that she binds with lots of heart, and completely by hand! She volunteered as the Director of the Antler River Poetry Reading Series for 10 years, and actively supports numerous literary events and initiatives in the city, is an inspiring mentor to emerging presses and writers within the community, and has been integral in developing London’s literary scene as a welcoming and thriving environment. You can find more information about Karen’s amazing contributions to the community, as well as those of the other recipients on this year’s list, by visiting: https://london.ca/mayors-new-years-honour-list

Veronica brings 20 years+ of administration experience and a commitment to amplify and provide access for diversity. Meet Veronica Antipolo Veronica brings 20 years+ of administration experience and a commitment to amplify and provide access for diversity. As a storyteller, she shares stories (sometimes through comedy) and helps others share theirs by telling them, writing them, and, producing events and shows. She co-founded MOSAIC Untold Lives – a storytelling platform for Women of Colour. She was the 2020 and 2021 livestream event producer for CineFam Film Festival which showcases films by creators of colour. Her stories and comedy have been featured in CBC’s The Doc Project, Reader’s Digest, Stories We Don’t Tell, and the award-winning RICE Asian comedy podcast. Ask Me Anything - with Veronica Antipolo Who is someone you admire, and why? There are two people. My son and my daughter. My son is funny, kind and selfless. My daughter is confident, strong, sure of what she wants. I make an effort to grow to be more like them. What do you want to make sure you do before you die? Live…like, really live – for the moments, for what I care about, for the laughter. I try to DO life as opportunities come up and make my own opportunities. A ‘before I die’ checklist would be forgotten at home like the grocery list. What do you think are the best skills that you bring to your job? I bring 20+ years of senior administrative experience. I understand how the granular makes up the bigger picture and vice versa. I like people - talking with, listening to, and observing them. As a storyteller who is second generation Canadian of Southeast Asian heritage, I’m passionate about amplifying, representing, and sharing diverse narratives.

Language is considered by UNESCO to be “a vehicle of intangible cultural heritage.” London Arts Council (LAC) acknowledges the undeniable link between a culture’s language and the expression of unique perspectives and beliefs that are conveyed through storytelling and the creation of culturally distinct and diverse artforms. As such, LAC and City of London, Culture Services support Indigenous language revitalization efforts by working with Indigenous community members to provide translations of written descriptions associated with the Indigenous artworks created through the City of London’s Public Art and Monument Program. “Intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.” Consequently, a loss of language results in the stripping away of cultural expression, creativity, and identity. As a result of the Residential School System that existed in Canada until 1996 which took Indigenous children away from their families and communities, and worked to strip Indigenous peoples of their cultural identity and memory, many Indigenous languages can be found listed in UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger as severely endangered (the language is spoken exclusively by grandparents and older generations) or critically endangered (the language is spoken exclusively by grandparents and older generations, partially and infrequently.) “Indigenous-languages experts know that if we are to reverse the trend of language loss, then the goal is to create more fluent speakers, and support immersion programs” writes Mohawk activist, Ellen Gabriel, in her paper “Indigenous Languages: A Fundamental Right to Defend.” In the case of endangered Indigenous languages, “first-language speakers are the Indigenous-language experts, and must be at the forefront of solutions…It is evident that in order for a language to survive, the youth and children must be speaking it, as they are the future.” For the We Are Still Here mural project, we worked with Ojibwe Language Teacher, Eli Baxter, to translate each panel description into the Ojibwe language. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work with community members such as Eli Baxter, as they work to educate younger generations and keep Indigenous culture and language alive. *This language revitalization initiative is supported by the City of London, Culture Services* You can download a pdf of the translated panel descriptions here:

Michael is a graduate of Fanshawe College in Business Accounting, and brings 17 years of accounting experience to the London Arts Council. Meet Michael Trudgen Michael is a graduate of Fanshawe College in Business Accounting, and brings 17 years of accounting experience to the London Arts Council. When he is not counting beans, you may find him performing around London as a solo guitarist or along side Leanne Mayer. Michael was chosen as the Forest City London Music Award for Fan Favourite 2021, 98.1Free FM’s Made in London 2017 for his then band With A Fox, and has been a part of the London Arts Live program since 2015. Ask Me Anything - with Michael Trudgen What is your artistic background? My artistic background is music writing and production. I started learning piano at age six and moved onto guitar in my early teens. I would spend countless hours exploring musical ideas and writing my own melodies ever since I was a child. I have produced two full length albums, most recent is “All the Pretty Things,” a collection of instrumental acoustic songs; I also have co-produced 2 EP’s for my late band “With a Fox,” which received a 98.1FM “Made in London” award in 2017. I’ve produced a total of 40 recordings, in multiple genres and projects over the years since 2013; and I am looking to do more recording, always. What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working? I have to say I am happiest producing and recording my artwork and/or being with my two dogs. You haven’t lived until you’ve play wrestled with a Newfoundlander pup!

- Nominations Closed - Deadline September 16th, 2022 at 4:30pm. When first awarded in 1976, the annual Honour List recognized only contributions to the arts. Several additional categories were added in 1989, and the Honour List now recognizes Londoners' professional and philanthropic work in nine diverse fields. ​ Each year, the London Arts Council invites nominations for the honouree in the Arts category. Eligible nominees are professional artists and active volunteers whose artistic excellence or outstanding contribution of service deserves recognition.

Image: Residential School Survivors work on "We Are Still Here" mural panel together The City of London, N’Amerind Friendship Centre and the London Arts Council have been working together to develop “We Are Still Here” – a two-story, seven-panel Indigenous mural at N’Amerind Friendship Centre to honour the legacy of Residential School Survivors and the children who were lost through Canada’s Residential School System. Ojibwe educator and visual artist Mike Cywink has been working with Indigenous youth artists and Residential School Survivors to create the mural to be placed on the exterior wall of N’Amerind Friendship Centre. This mural will increase public awareness and knowledge of the history of Canada’s Residential School System; honour Residential School Survivors and the children who were lost through the system; and celebrate Indigenous arts, culture, knowledge, and histories. Residential School Survivors have contributed to the creation of the mural through consultation sessions, providing them with a meaningful voice and commemorating their resilience and their lives throughout the development of the project. The purpose of these consultation sessions was to better understand what the Residential School Survivors and the local First Nation and Indigenous communities would like the mural to focus on, to honour their memory and bring understanding and healing. This project is funded through the City of London’s Public Art and Monument Program. Image: Artist Mike Cywink and youth artist, Sir Frederick Nicholas, in front of a mural panel that they worked on with two other youth artists The mural will be formally unveiled at N’Amerind Friendship Centre on September 30, 2022, during National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. On this date, N’Amerind Friendship Centre will hold a ceremony to honour the lives of Residential School Survivors and children who were lost through the Residential School System. About the artist Mike Cywink is an Ojibwe educator and visual artist from Whitefish River First Nation near Manitoulin Island. Cywink has a very longstanding and deeply significant relationship with N’Amerind Friendship Centre, including its constituents, staff and leaders. He is a valued member of the community and a mentor to many Indigenous youth. Image: Lead artist Mike Cywink in front of "We Are Still Here" mural panel About N’Amerind Friendship Centre N’Amerind Friendship Centre plays a significant role in the urban Indigenous community in London. In addition to hosting a variety of culturally appropriate programming for urban Indigenous residents of London, it serves as a centre for education, culture and overall community development. About the Public Art and Monument Program The City of London’s Public Art and Monument Program facilitates the creation of public art in London, which bolsters civic pride, provides focal points for community celebration, creates meaningful employment for artists and attracts tourism and investment. Through this program, the City of London’s Culture Services division and the London Arts Council have been supporting the creation of the “We Are Still Here” mural. Project rationale Following the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action report, London City Council asked City staff to “report back to the Strategic Priorities and Policy Committee on developing a prominent memorial in London, acknowledging the history of Canada’s Residential School System and its former students”. Following this resolution, the City of London’s Culture Services division and the London Arts Council partnered for the administration of this directive and sought guidance from Indigenous community Survivors, Elders, Traditional Knowledge Keepers and leadership from various organizations and the local First Nations communities. From these sessions, a project Working Group was created that consists of representation from the City of London, London Arts Council, Indigenous Community consultants and researchers, Indigenous Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers to develop the seven-panel mural. For more information, please contact Jo Ann Johnston, manager of media relations at the City of London at jojohnst@london.ca or 226-973-4291.

Johnny Fansher became a member of the London Arts Council board in December 2017. After serving more than 4 years on the LAC board, Johnny is ready to begin his next chapter! Johnny Fansher became a member of the London Arts Council board in December 2017. He brought with him a great deal of experience in finance, strong support for community-led initiatives, and a love for the arts. Born and raised in London, Johnny’s earliest exposure to the arts involved playing clarinet in elementary and secondary school music programs. Johnny bought his first piece of fine art at a charity auction in Vancouver in 1999 and has been an avid collector ever since. Before joining the LAC board, he served in volunteer roles with Western’s McIntosh Gallery and the former Orchestra London. After serving more than 4 years on the LAC board, Johnny is ready to begin his next chapter! Thank you for your service, Johnny! Your years of guidance and support are greatly appreciated and your impact will not be forgotten ❤. - The LAC team

- CLOSED - London Arts Council Administrator, Cultivating Allyship ​ Hours: part time (25-28.5 hours/week) Term: 1 year contract Compensation: Commensurate with Experience ($30,000 - $33,000) Job Description and Submission Process ​ Reporting to the Executive Director, the Administrator, Cultivating Allyship is responsible for performing a variety of programming and administrative duties. The position is responsible for execution and evaluation of all aspects of Cultivating Allyship work. The position requires a passionate and dedicated individual who can promote the organization’s mandate in accessibility and equity, especially in the areas of anti-racism, anti-oppression, decolonization, diversity, and inclusion. ​ About London Arts Council ​ The London Arts Council (LAC) works with public, private, and community partners to build and sustain Londoners’ awareness of, involvement in, and support for all artistic disciplines across the city. Our programs in education, health, and community provide paid opportunities for professional artists to create and deliver artworks as well as, support arts organizations in London, ON. ​ Cultivating Allyship ​ The London Arts Council is committed to confronting systemic racism and inequity that exist in London today. LAC works with many artists/creators from diverse equity seeking groups in support of equity, justice, and human rights. Allyship: Allyship is not an identity—it is a lifelong process of building relationships based on trust, consistency, and accountability with individuals and/or groups of people. Allyship is not self-defined—our work and our efforts must be recognized by the people we seek to ally ourselves with it is important to be intentional in how we frame the work we do *This definition of allyship is informed by: https://theantioppressionnetwork.com/allyship/* Our continuing role: LAC continues to promote and exercise the principles of equity in all that we do by amplifying the voices of those who are continuously marginalized and silenced.​ ​ Administrator, Cultivating Allyship Tasks and Responsibilities ​ Programming/administrative duties in Cultivating Allyship include: Supporting equity-seeking community members’ inclusion in projects and/or programs that are sponsored through the London Arts Council through consultations, meaningful dialogues, and reflective actions that are responsive to the needs of equity-seeking groups Developing and implementing practices/programs that reduce barriers, promote equity and accessibility, as well as increasing participation and visibility of artists from equity-seeking groups in London Arts Council projects/programs Conducting research in relation to supporting equity-seeking groups in LAC’s operations, services, and programming, and reporting on trends in public program areas occurring in other cities and countries Cultivating Allyship with community partners and arts organizations to support the work of Anti-Racism/Anti-Oppression/decolonization/diversity/inclusion in the arts Liaising with project partners and identifying/pursuing prospective community partnerships Leading specific projects assigned by the Executive Director Working with LAC’s Public Art Team and Programs/Marketing Team to create accessible and equitable guidelines and processes for curating/promoting selected works Working with LAC’s Development Team to identify funding support for artists from equity-seeking groups to connect with career building opportunities, amplify their voices, and build greater visibility for their work Working with LAC’s Finance Team regarding project budget expenses including invoicing and payment of professional artist fees, materials, supplies and travel Assisting in the creation of “Calls to Artists” as required by the various programs or projects Updating the program policy and contract Maintaining program documentation, as required Attending meetings, as required Meeting with the Executive Director to plan, discuss and seek approval for required adjustments to projects and budgets Drafting timelines/work-backs for programs and projects Developing and maintaining administrative processes Keeping an organized file system and saving all documents in the shared folder ​ Job Requirements ​ Post-secondary education in Arts, Education, Arts Management, Equity Studies, Social Science, Human Resources, or related discipline. Additional training or certifications in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are considered an asset Minimum 5 years of work experience in administration, program development and deliverables Deep connection to, and experience working with equity-seeking groups Experience working or volunteering in arts and/or non-profit organizations Effective written and verbal communication skills Works well in a team environment High level of critical thinking and logical analysis Good organizational and time management skills Able to work well under pressure and meet all deadlines Community organizing skills ​ Job Specifications General office hours are Monday to Friday 9:30am – 4:30pm Hours: part time (25-28.5 hours/week) Term: 1 year contract Compensation: Commensurate with Experience ($30,000 - $33,000) Location: Hybrid (work from home and office) Optimal Start Date: Monday, July 4th, 2022 Final candidates will be required to complete a Criminal Records Check from the London Police Services. ​ ​ ​ ​

- CLOSED - CALL SUMMARY The London Arts Council invites professional poets residing in the city of London, Ontario – party to the London Township Treaty of 1796 and the Longwoods Treaty of 1819 – to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to create an original poem to be filmed as part of a poetry project lead by Ontario’s Poet Laureate, Randell Adjei. The end result will be integrated into a larger collective video project by Destination Ontario. The selected poet from this call will develop a proposal in consultation with the London Arts Council. The poet may propose writing a poem, or they may propose a collaborative poetry project with another London artist. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The first stage of this project is the creation of the written poem, which will be followed by consultation with the London Arts Council team before moving onto the filming stage. Destination Ontario will provide the videography work and will work with the poet to film their performance or poetic collaboration. Each video would be approximately 1 minute in length. In writing their poem, the selected poet should consider the following: The unique characteristics of place (what it means to be a Londoner, to live in London, to live on this land, etc.) The history of London (taking into account the past(s), present(s), future(s) of this land and its inhabitants, London exists on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabeg, Lenaapewuk, and Haudenosaunee Nations; land that is also shared by Metis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous community members BUDGET (up to $2,500)