CADA New Client Induction Grant Program

Calgary Arts Development has announced the New Client induction Grant Program, and Protospace may qualify for funding for our activities over the next year. Going over the requirements and the application process, it looks like we could qualify. But I need help filling out some of these areas.

From CADA's website:

The goal of the New Client Induction Grant Program is to invest in organizations that are eligible, but not currently funded through Calgary Arts Development’s Operating Grant Program. Priority is given to diverse and emerging organizations that demonstrate high artistic and public impact while maintaining sound organizational resiliency.

A dedicated program for new clients enables Calgary Arts Development to plan for the future more effectively, while at the same time investing in organizations that often represent the next generation of artistic practice. The program also serves as a knowledge-building exercise for CADA, enhancing the ability to measure and communicate the impact of the arts on the long-term success of Calgary.

Important links:

http://calgaryartsdevelopment.com/Induction_Grant

http://calgaryartsdevelopment.com/eligibility

The words I've put together so far:

1) i) Mandate for artistic vision:

The human mind is a fascinating device, allowing us to store a near limitless supply of information while processing countless stimuli every minute of every day. Though the processing power alone is staggering, the underlying attribute that will always drive us forward as individuals and as a society is our minds’ creative capacity.

We are creators, builders, collaborators, makers, tinkerers and dreamers – we have been since the beginning of time and will continue to be until the end of the universe as we know it.

Protospace manifested through the creative drive of a few imaginative Calgarians who wanted more than just an existence in this city. Since our inspired beginnings, we have evolved into a community workshop that exists to facilitate member projects and ideas. Ideas are always improved upon when more minds are introduced, which is why we always encourage collaboration and the openness of information at Protospace.

2) Artistic Impact Section:

Protospace members are encouraged to use the space as they see fit and empower themselves to host any event/workshop that they believe grows the culture of the community. In practice this has allowed the membership to own the culture of the space as opposed to having it dictated to them. This procedural freedom (using the space is as simple as posting to the mailing list and seeing if anyone has an issue) has led to a diversity of events that seems to center around the "make" movement. Individuals unskilled in soldering, programming, circuit building have learned and shared process together.

And although there is a very technical heavy bend to Protospace, it has not been shy from artistic endeavors, and is trying to bridge the gap between people who create tools that can be used for expression and the people who need to discover a new tool to allow their expression and opinions to flow.

The freedom of inclusion and diversity of the community lends Protospace a very eclectic yet authentic personality. On one hand, Protospace has been an industry partner for SAIT's ITS Program, offering guidnace and mentorship for students building final keystone projects, forming the very technical arc of the community. On the other hand, Protospace has had multipul workshops of plays with community members offering feedback and comment to geeks who have a flair for the dramatic arts.

And in the middle, Protospace has colaborated with The Calgary illuminated Landscapes group, to be part of the Choose Yer Own Adventure festival in the Firefly Adventure club. Protospace helped design the "Firefly LED" which was used to light the popup festival, and Protospace members were on site providing a soldering workshop inviting anyone interested to participate in illuminating an often overlooked landscape.

In the coming year Protospace hopes to build stronger ties with the artistic communities. Collaborations with Endevor Art Gallery, spearheaded by member Tony Grimes and Shannon Hover, hope to engage the visual and interactive arts groups more strongly. Protospace hopes to produce it's first educational play, workshopped and written inhouse, under member Wil Knoll. Director Ben Gizmo has been communicating with the team at Beakerhead, hoping to build in creative outreach.

As for the broader question about the internal working artistic practices of our organization, it comes down to some of the core beliefs that our space is built around: do-ocracy and be excellent to each other. No one needs permission to begin an artistic project within Protospace, and they are in fact encouraged to do so as long as the space and other members are respected. Public performances can be arranged in the space, feedback pulled from the community, and workshops built with any artists the community member wishes to engage.

3) Public Impact

Accessibility:

2011 was a hallmark year for Protospace's engagement with the public. The community decided to give up the lease on our previous space and find a new home. This necessitated the creation of a mobile kit that allowed Protospace to have a presence at Market Collective and other festivals around the city. We are able to set up a pop-up creative presence in almost any location at any time.

This was best demonstrated at the Choose Yer Own adventure Festivals' Firefly Adventure Club, where Protospace set up a soldering station under the 4th stree bridge which allowed anyone at the festival to soldier their own Firefly LED.

Awareness

Protospace members formed ad=hoc groups to produce two physical peices of art this year, the Geek Tree and The Tesseract:. Both pieces were created specifically for the public, one as part of a visual installation in the East Village and one as a silent auction item at a community fundraiser.

Beyond public display of Protospace created work, Protospace rebuilt the website and brought all of our digital presence under one roof. We now have an active blog which discusses our creative efforts.

Public as participants:

• Dorkbot
• Awesome Calgary
• Maker Fair 2012

Educational Programming:

• Beakerhead
• Workshops

4) Programming List:

OpenHouses, Beakerhead Testrun Makerfaire 2012 Citizen's Primer - September Dorkbot...