ecosystems Symposium:
Strengthening Artist Relations


The ecosystems symposium is an introduction to a multi-pronged approach to strengthening artist relations. Each day of the symposium will focus on one of the three pillars of ecosystems: Artist Care, Advocacy and Repair, and Wise Practices. For three days we’ll join in learning and listening from knowledge holders with living and professional experience; we'll share meals, participate in ceremony, and witness art. On the fourth day we will be hosting a community market and show.

We would like to offer this space for our peers and colleagues who are looking for tools to enact systemic change in tangible ways, with help from community members who are leading trailblazing work. This professional development opportunity will include workshops and panels curated with the care and intentionality that characterizes our work. We’re proud to offer an opportunity to gain knowledge that centres anti-oppression, liberation, disability justice, and other values that we believe serve artists and arts workers. We hope that you will join us!

The team at Vines Art Society is excited to introduce the ecosystems Symposium: Strengthening Artist Relations. This four-day symposium (Nov 29-Dec 2) is an opportunity for arts and culture workers to come together to nurture our relationships to each other and sow seeds for growth in our sector. 

Dates

Wed, November 29 to Sat, December 2, 2023

Location

Famee Furlane Hall
2605 E Pender St.
Vancouver BC, V5K 2B6

Artwork by Jaime Blankinship

Tickets

All tickets include lunch and refreshments

Early Bird (until Nov. 11th):
1-day Ticket:  $75
3-day Package: $200-300 sliding scale

Regular Pricing:
1-day Ticket: $100
3-day Package: $250-350 sliding scale

Tickets

Accessibility

Accessible washrooms are available, as well as a ramp to enter the building.
Masks are highly encouraged and will be available.

We will be offering live transcription and are able to offer sighted guiding at attendants’ request.

Limited free spaces for marginalized independent artists are available. Please email us at ecosystems@vinesartfestival.com to inquire.

You can find our full accessibility report and venue accessibility offerings at the link below.

Symposium Accessibility



Day 1 (Nov. 29): Mycelium | Artist Care

10:00 - 11:00 AM
Opening and Welcome with Audrey Siegl, Musqueam
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Panel: Being Responsive to Community - Survival and Healing in the Arts
With Joyce Rosario, Katia Asomaning, Manuel Axel Strain
Moderated by fanny kearse

How do we build communities of care in an institutionalized art landscape? How do we practice mutual aid in a non-profit industrial complex fueled by charity? Join panelists as they discuss how they envision community led survival and healing in the arts.
12:30 - 2:00 PM
Lunch
GF and vegan options available
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Workshops (pre-registration required)

Queer and Outsider Ritual Building with Jillian Christmas
or
Caregiving through a land-based perspective with Jolene Andrew
Introduction to a Wit’suwet’in Wellness Rubric.
A reflection tool.

How are we engaging ourselves and others in collective healing, empowerment and action?

Through tools used in land-based-body-focussing-wisdom we can draw on our ‘hiltus’ – our strength, to understand our hurt and ecological grief and intergenerational knowledge and move to hope, grounded in strength based self-determination.
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Wind Down and Music with SoyJoy
Doors open
Coffee and tea available
9:30 AM



Day 2 (Nov. 30): Forest | Advocacy & Repair

9:30 AM
Doors open
Coffee and tea available
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Opening and Welcome with Cease Wyss and Senaqwila Wyss, Squamish and Sto:lo
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Panel: Why don't we address conflict?
With Elliott Hearte, jaye simpson, Starr Muranko, Vanessa Kwan
Moderated by Heather Lamoureux

Conflict is a natural part of working collectively, though addressing it may not come to us as easily. Conflict resolution is a skill that must be built intentionally. Panelists will discuss how they’ve addressed conflict in institutional settings, how power dynamics come into play, and explore resolution that centres integrity and compassion.
12:30 - 2:00 PM
Lunch
GF and vegan options available
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Workshops (pre-registration required)

Upholding Natural Law as a Pathway to Repair with Jada-Gabrielle Pape
or
Abolition as a Pathway to Repair with Tonye Aganaba
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Wind Down and Music with ebonEmpress



Day 3 (Dec. 1): Waterways | Wise Practices

9:30 AM
Doors open
Coffee and tea available
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Opening and Welcome with Miranda Dick, Secwépemc
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Panel: Beyond the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Industrial Complex
With Afuwa, Am Johal, jaz whitford, karmella benedito de barros
Moderated by Marcelo Ponce

At their inception, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)-focused businesses created opportunities for marginalized people to monetize system change work previously gone unpaid. They also promised to sell us the tools to improve our workplaces. Years later, we have witnessed the rise of the EDI Industrial Complex; the buying and selling of allyship and respectability certifications. Join panelists as they explore the shortcomings of EDI and dream up work that truly leads us to liberation.
12:30 - 2:00 PM
Lunch
GF and vegan options available
2:00 - 3:30 PM
Wind Down and Music with Ana Santos
3:30 - 4:30 PM
Workshops (pre-registration required)

Disability Justice with Siobhan Barker
or
Altered States and Harm Reduction with Ocean Shagor



Day 4 (Dec. 2): Foraging: Market and Music

Join us for the closing of our ecosystems Symposium on December 2nd, 12-5 pm with a plethora of handcrafted gifts and our lively lineup of entertainment. Free entrance for all guests, both symposium registrants and general audience. Local vendors to be announced soon.

Please email us at fanny@vinesartfestival.com if you would like to be a vendor.

12:00 - 5:00 PM
Holiday market with handcrafted gifts from local vendors
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Musical performances by Hampton, Tonk and SOLO RB

Afuwa

Am Johal

Ana Santos

Audrey Siegl

Cease Wyss

ebonEmpress

Elliott Hearte

fanny kearse

Hampton

Heather Lamoureux

Jada-Gabrielle Pape

jaye simpson

jaz whitford

Jillian Christmas

Jolene Andrew

Joyce Rosario

karmella benedito de barros

Katia Asomaning

Manuel Axel Strain

Marcelo Ponce

Miranda Dick

Ocean Shagor

Senaqwila Wyss

Siobhan Barker

SOLO RB

SoyJoy

Starr Muranko

Tonk

Tonye Aganaba

Vanessa Kwan