Connecting Artists and Audiences from Coast to Coast
CanDance’s Creative Exchange Project allows Canadian artists to share their work outside their communities—and to grow from peer artistic exchange.
At CanDance, we believe that dance belongs to everyone. That’s why we help bring the unique perspectives of Canadian artists to audiences across the country, while encouraging the sharing of ideas, stories, and skills among those from different communities and experiences. The Creative Exchange Project is designed to instigate both.
Creative Exchange Project (CEP)
Established to promote the meaningful exchange among artists and presenters based in different Canadian communities, CEP offers artists a unique opportunity to perform outside of their home community, while also participating in an artistic exchange with their peers.
Simply put, artists from one community travel to another community or two, to present work, connect with each other, lead outreach activities, and engage in community animation.
CEP in Action | Three Creative Exchange Project Case Studies
Here are three CEPs that demonstrate exactly how artists from across the country can share their work with each other and their communities.
PROJECT 686KM ARTISTIC EXCHANGE (2020-21)
Named for the distance between Calgary and Vancouver, PROJECT 686km offers a roadmap for creative exchange for emerging artists of color who are living and creating in each centre. Brought to life by Springboard Performance and Dance West Network (formerly Made in BC – Dance on Tour), the exchange for emerging dance artists built on the network’s annual residency for artists of color. Two five-day exchange programs held space for emerging artists of color from Vancouver and Calgary to dialogue, collaborate, and connect with local artists and audiences.
Photo credit: Isabelle Van Grimde, The Body in Question(s)2, photo by Jérôme Delapierre
THIS IS ACTIVELY BUILT (2019-20)
A curated five-day exchange program, This Is Actively Built carved out a space for performing artists from the queer communities in Calgary and Montreal. The artists occupied a shared workspace, to explore their practices with one another, and to articulate the questions, challenges, and dreams they have in relation to their work and queerness. Studio performances brought together the artists with local audiences in unique, intimate settings.
Devised by Nate Yaffe, the exchange program’s framework challenged dominant hierarchical, capitalist art-making structures by proposing forms of collaboration that value autonomy, cross-pollination, and mutual support between artist-artist, and artist-institution.
Photo by David Wong
BODY OF WATER: A CREATIVE STREAM OF EXCHANGE (2015-16)
Body of Water invited three artists from three different communities— Aimée Dawn Robinson (Whitehorse), Anne Troake (St. John’s), and Wojtech Mochniej (Calgary)—to address themes and issues of water in their respective cities.
Together, they created a focused accumulation of evidence, experience, questions, histories, and debate through dance, the body, photographs, video, collaboration, community participation, and performance.
Photo by Wojtek Mochniej
Questions and Answers about Creative Exchange Project
How many projects are selected per year?
There is one CEP project selected each year.
How many presenters can be involved in CEP?
The CEP needs a minimum of two to three CanDance presenters from different cities or communities working in partnership. The presenters’ own communities are the “home base” for Exchange Projects, however presenters are welcome to extend Exchange Project activities into communities that may not have a CanDance member (e.g. Edmonton reaching out to Red Deer, or Vancouver reaching out to Kelowna).
What financial support does CEP offer?
Each presenter contributes $5,500 towards the project, and their total contribution is matched by CanDance. Presenters who are members in good standing of The CanDance Network may apply for matching funds to support a Creative Exchange Project.
What is covered in the project budget?
While each project is unique, here is what artists have received in a CEP:
• Fees for choreographers and performers
• Rehearsal Expenses
• Animation/outreach fees
• Air and ground travel
• Accommodation & per diems
• Technical Director and Tour Coordinator services
• Marketing materials distributed in each community
• Administrative expenses related to the project (telephone, printing, etc.)
What is the deadline for CEP applications?
The annual deadline for presenters’ applications is set following the CanDance Annual Presenters’ Meeting.
Can an artist apply to CanDance for a Creative Exchange Project?
No. Only presenters may apply for a CEP. However, artists are welcome to propose CEP ideas to their local CanDance member(s). If you are not sure which presenters from your community are CanDance members, please see our membership list on the website.
Is the Creative Exchange Project a residency program?
No. The CEP is an artistic exchange, which involves artists travelling to one or two different communities for a short time, for performances, creative conversations, and outreach activities.
Is the Creative Exchange Project a commissioning program?
No. The budget does not support the creation of new work. CanDance’s Creation Fund, however, does. You can find out more about it here.
What is the selection process for CEP proposals?
Proposals are evaluated on how well they meet the program guidelines, including:
• Is the proposal supported by three CanDance presenters based in different cities or communities?
• Does it involve artistic exchange among artists from different regions?
• Does it have a realistic time frame that begins and ends within one year (April 1-March 31)?
• Has a balanced budget been submitted?
• Does it involve an element of community animation (e.g. workshops, outreach activities)?
Want to find out more about The Creative Exchange Project guidelines before submitting a proposal?
List of Past Recipients
2022-23: KickStart
Presenting Partners: Tangente, CanAsian Dance, The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: Marbella Carlos, Katherine Ng, Shion Skye Carter, Ashvini Sundaram, Miya Turnbull, Yui Ugai
2021-22: Pandemic National BIPOC Project
Presenting Partners: Dance West Network, Fall for Dance North, Mile Zero Dance, Neighbourhood Dance Works, Springboard Performance, Studio 303, The CanDance Network
Participating Artist Curators: Winnie Ho, Jessica McMann, Brian Solomon
Participating Artists: Thaina Rosinvil, Shayna Jones, Deviani Andrea, Cindy Ansah, Travis Knights, Vanessa Cardoso-Whelan
2020-21: 686KM Project
Presenting Partners: Fluid Festival, Made in BC: Dance on Tour (Dance West Network), The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: Eric Cheung, Kristy-Rae Janvier, Jessica McMann, Sabrina Naz Comanescu, Jason Owin, Zahra Shahab
2019-20: This is Actively Built
Presenting Partners: Fluid Festival, Studio 303, The CanDance Network
Lead Artist: Nate Yaffe
Participating Artists: Julie Ferguson, Winnie Ho, Kevin Jesuino, and Melina Stinson
2017-18: ReMix
Presenting Partners: Neighbourhood Dance Works, Mile Zero Dance, Studio 303, The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: Amber Borotsik, Bailey Eng, Melanie Kloetzel, Katia Marie-Germain, Louise Moyes, Thea Patterson, Candice Pike, Rebecca Sadowski, Sarah Stoker
2015-16: Body of Water
Presenting Partners: Neighbourhood Dance Works, Springboard Performance, Yukon Arts Centre, The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: Wojciech Mochniej, Aimée Dawn Robinson, Anne Troake
2014-15: The Prairie Dance Circuit
Presenting Partners: The Brian Webb Dance Company, New Dance Horizons, Springboard Performance, The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers
2013-14: Incandescent
Presenting Partners: The Dancing on the Edge Festival Society, Dusk Dances, Dusk Dances Ottawa, Public Energy, The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: The YES Collective (Kate Franklin and Meredith Thompson)
2012-13: 3 x 3 x 3
Presenting Partners: La Rotonde, Live Art Dance Productions, Tangente, The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: Jacinte Armstrong, Maryse Damecour, Dorian Nuskind-Oder
2011-12: The Prairie Dance Circuit
Presenting Partners: The Brian Webb Dance Company, Dancers’ Studio West, New Dance Horizons, Springboard Performance, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: Nicole Mion, Davida Monk, Robin Poitras, Brian Webb, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers
2010-11: The Prairie Dance Circuit
Presenting Partners: The Brian Webb Dance Company, Dancers’ Studio West, New Dance Horizons, Springboard Performance, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, The CanDance Network
Participating Artists: Joelle Arnusch and Robert Regala, Johanna Bundon and Branwyn Bundon, Hilary Maxwell, Andrew Milne, Jason Stroh, Raena Waddell
Photo credits: Top banner (Connecting Artists and Audiences from Coast to Coast) – Bboyizm, In My Body, photo by Jerrick Collantes. Middle banner (Questions and Answers about the Creative Exchange Project) – This is Actively Built, photo by David Wong. Bottom cover image (List of Past Recipients) – This is Actively Built, photo by David Wong.