Speakers
We are very pleased to offer the following line-up of keynote speakers, workshop presenters, and special guests.
Judy Slivinski
Jordan L. Miller
Kris Goold
Tammy Zebruck
Laura Madison
Ontario Arts Council
Canada Council for the Arts
Shawn Brown, CA
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
Mort Goss
Judy Slivinski has been supporting and inspiring artists from her home base in Winnipeg for the past fifteen years.
In her work life, Judy continually challenges herself to expand her experience and range of skills. The variety of jobs she has tackled since her youth includes: farmer, RCMP constable, waitress, Parliamentary Page, typist, lawyer, gardener, civil servant, and magistrate.
The yen to be her own boss overcame Judy in the mid-90s, and she decided to leave a successful law career to start her own consulting business, EDGE Cultural Management. This adventure has taken Judy across Canada and to six other countries in the roles of: researcher, theatre and dance producer, artist's agent, fundraiser, facilitator, event planner, marketer, manager, strategic planner, and trainer.
Judy is currently serving a two-year term as the Arts Management Consultant with Manitoba's Department of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport, where she continues to study the importance of artists and their work to our quality of life.
Judy does not yet have the courage to work as a professional artist, but she has rendered amateur offerings in singing, acting, dance, writing, drawing, broadcasting and, most recently, the piano. Her family and friends would agree that Judy has elevated talking to an art form.
Judy is thrilled to have the opportunity to talk with the artists at ARTpreneur.
Jordan Leigh Miller moved from Carman, Manitoba to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1997 to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts education and to explore an artistic career. She graduated from the University of Manitoba's School of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (honours) in May 2002. In 2008, Jordan graduated from the University of Winnipeg's Arts and Cultural Management program. Jordan is a member and on the board of Arts and Cultural Industries (ACI) of Manitoba and is a member of MAWA.
From 2004 to 2006, Jordan was the founder and President of Outworks Gallery and Studio. In 2006, she, along with Shawn Berard, began to rennovate what is now known as cre8ery studio, gallery, and classroom spaces. (www.cre8ery.com) She has mentored artists through both ACI and Golden Prairie Arts Council. She has also worked for the Mantioba Arts Network and Manitoba Crafts Council. In 2009, Jordan was nominated to be a "future leader of Manitoba" in the arts field and considers that a huge honour.
Through cre8ery Jordan teaches two art classes: Abstracting Collage and Intro to Acrylic Painting....her favorite parts of managing cre8ery is working with artists, meeting new people, hanging exhibitions, and seeing artists excited about their acheivements! Jordan's artwork has evolved over the past few years, exploring different styles of art such as landscapes, abstract and expressive paintings. She has experimented with multi-media collages, sculpture, and installations. She has recently returned to a more abstract/expressive style of painting.
Kris choose to be at home raising her 3 chiildren instead of pursuing her B.A. in Fine Arts. She attended craft shows and was commissioned to do water colour paintings during this time. After taking a stained glass class, she was later hired to teach and create full time for a local stained glass store. When it closed 4 years ago, Kris opened her own business, Fragile Glass Studio.
Working with glass has given Kris an endless supply for creativity. From jewellery, kiln work, and painted glass there is much to explore.
She has recently relocated and expanded her business in the historical, 1894 Bethesda Church, locally known as the Belfry. She teaches and inspires others to create.
Tammy Zebruck is a Kenora artist. She grew up in Kenora and received her art education at York University and the University of Manitoba School of Art where she majored in printmaking and drawing, graduating in 2000. After university Tammy moved to Sioux Lookout Ontario to work as a 'Culture and Heritage Officer' with the Municipality of Sioux Lookout. There she helped to coordinate and promote local events and festivals.
Tammy moved to Kenora in 2007 to manage the Sunset Gallery. She is committed to promoting and encouraging the visual arts and local artists and acts as Treasurer for the Lake of the Woods Arts Collective. Currently she has shifted her artistic focus to painting, exploring pattern, texture and the creation of atmosphere in her realistic and semi abstract work.
Laura Madison is a mother, partner, academic, and a 20 year veteran of the music industry. She started out in the mid 1980’s as a promoter for Toronto's then burgeoning arts, club and events community. Through the years Laura has worked in just about every facet of the industry from event security, marketing management, talent buying, and even as a talent interviewer for several respected music publications. Eventually she worked her way to the coveted position of co producer for the Lollapalooza concert series. She took time off from the music industry for four years to pursue a joint degree in Criminology/Psychology from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has and still does on occasion, act as advisor and consultant to several leading event promoters and talent buyers. More recently, since settling in Kenora with her family in 2006, she manages and promotes several talented musicians, bands and composers; and is on an exclusive contract with the composer recording studio collective at Spanish Fly Music. She licenses tracks, commercial music, and published works to TV, film, and advertising agencies with groups from as far as Tel Aviv, South Africa and Vancouver. In October 2008 the band Catlow, under her management, had two songs featured on NBC'S show Heroes. Currently she is also busy working with her associates at MTV for further licensing in the TV series Making The Band and Paris Hilton's BFF for the spring/summer season 2009. Laura is well versed in the utility of social media for building audience in the arts and keeps track of future trends with other industry professionals in this regard. Laura is always willing to assist others in pursuing their dreams by teaching them the skills they require to excel in today’s exciting 2.0 marketplace. Laura is happy to offer her expertise to Kenora’s arts community and looks forward to a productive and engaging event.
The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is the province's primary funding body for arts activity. We offer funding programs based on artistic discipline. This includes craft, dance, literature, music, theatre, media arts, and visual arts. Plus we have programs based on sectors which include Franco-Ontarian arts, Aboriginal arts as well as Northern arts - which is open only to artists or organizations living in Northern Ontario. We also fund programs with a specific activity focus such as arts education, community and multidisciplinary arts, touring and the presentation/exhibition of artistic work.
The OAC provides funding opportunities for artists at various stages in their career and for a wide range of activities. You can visit our web-site at www.arts.on.ca for specific information on any of our grant programs.
Marilyn McIntosh is the Northwestern Consultant for the OAC and her role is to provide support to artists and organizations in the region who are interested in learning about and discussing potential project ideas. She also assists artists & organizations in completing applications. Marilyn can be reached in Thunder Bay at 1-866-391-2221 or via email at mmcintosh@arts.on.ca,
Sara Roque, the Aboriginal Arts Officer for the OAC, is responsible for the Aboriginal Arts program. She can provide assistance with inquiries about the program and filling out an application. She can be reached in Toronto at - 1-800-387-0058 ext 7454 or via email at sroque@arts.on.ca
The Canada Council for the Arts is a national arm's length agency created by the federal government in 1957 to "foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts." To fulfil this mandate, the Canada Council provides grants and services to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations in dance, inter-arts, media arts, music, theatre, writing and publishing, and visual arts.
For more information its programs and activities, please visit www.canadacouncil.ca.
Melisa Kamibayashi is the Information Officer for the Canada Council responsible for providing outreach to artists through information sessions and grant writing workshops. Melisa can be reached in Ottawa at 1-800-263-5588, ext. 4033 or at melisa.kamibayashi@canadacouncil.ca.
Shawn joined Meyers Norris Penny LLP in January 2007, in conjunction with the merger with the local firm John C. Brose, Chartered Accountant. Shawn was employed by John C. Brose for 5 years. As a senior manager located in the Kenora office and Red Lake office, Shawn is responsible for providing assurance and advisory services to our clients.
Prior to this, Shawn spent a number of years with a medium sized accounting firm of Chartered Accountants in Thunder Bay and provided Assurance and Advisory services to a variety of clients including government funded not-for-profits, First Nations and their related entities, as well as owner-managed small businesses.
Meyers Norris Penny is among the top seven accounting firms in Canada. As a full-service firm, MNP can deliver what its clients need. The Kenora branch is driven by local officers meaning they understand the issues facing its clients on a local basis.
Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC)
We're ready and waiting for you - for 20 years, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation has been building great ideas into great futures for Northern Ontario. Today, we continue to help new ideas take root in the North with six unique funding programs designed to foster job creation and strengthen our northern communities.
If you're an artist with the drive to develop your own business, our Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program may be right for you. With funding of up to $25,000 to kick start a business in the North, this could be your opportunity to craft your own future.
We're ready when you are! For more information visit our website at www.nohfc.com. Or come talk with Theresa Stephens, our Kenora Area Business and Industry Advisor, and tell us about your great idea. Theresa's academic background is in marketing and she has extensive experience in the retail, manufacturing and not-for-profit sectors. Theresa worked with NOHFC to develop the Young Entrepreneur Program and can be reached at 807-468-2804.
Bio coming soon.
