You have 26 days to complete your challenge...

Starting today, you have only 26 days left to shake yourself off and get out to the Peel Heritage Complex to take in the visual culture, historical heritage and concrete records of Peel Region. After February 28^th, 2010, the Peel Heritage Complex is closed for over a year while renovations pursue expansions and revitalization. Re-opening is expected to happen in the fall of 2011. So take it all in while you can.... and because I said so. :) In case that's not enough, consider FREE days for the Complex are the 15th and 28th.

What you have to look forward to in 2011...

Photo Credit: Goldsmith Borgal & Company Archietects

Long time coming....

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Well, you might say it’s a bit late for such gestures but in my opinion you’re generally good for the first month of the year in doing the auld lang syne1. I wonder what etiquette dictates is the appropriate protocol? This is negligible.

So here’s the deal, I’m going to try post more often on this blog. I can’t promise but I’ll certainly put forth more of an effort even if it seems like nothing. I take photographs of things I find around this gosh-darn town. Perhaps I’ll post them with my imaginative ramblings and inquiries or perhaps pop culture and arts reviews/critiques. What do you think? I started this blog thinking people would tell me about things they were wondering that everyone else was wondering in conjunction with Brampton, arts and youth and there was something there initially but it seems to have died out. So putting a little more effort will hopefully work to everyone’s advantage.

Here are different events that are coming up that you might be interested in attending around town:

February 6th & 20th, 2010 – I’m pretty sure "the youth" know Facebook pretty well at least when you’re trying to keep in touch with people but what about shameless self-promotion? Facebook workshops on Page basics and intermediate are @ Chinguacousy Library, presented as part of the new HACE Mini Series. Check out the BAC calendar in February for more details. 9:30 am – 12:00 pm.

Feb. 9 - 13, 2010 Treeline Public School students, staff, family and friends exhibit their talents using a variety of media. Gala Reception: Thursday, February 11th, 2010 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.www.beaux-artsbrampton.com A celebration of Treeline's diversity and artistic talent, Intermediate students will be showcasing an eclectic collection of artwork and performance art ranging from animation to sculpture to mummy raps to acrylic on canvas.

February 18th, 2010 - Teen Author Readings at Four Corners Branch from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Teen Author Readings encourages and inspires published and budding teen authors to share their works. The evening promises magnificent presentations from aspiring and talented young writers and music composers, as they share their original poems, short stories, essays and musical compositions. Writers are encouraged not only to read in English but other languages of their choice.

February 21st, 2010 – Music with Momentum presents Youth Taking Action 2010, an all ages community music event and fundraiser in recognition of Family Day. Featuring David Metcalfe and guests, the event runs at the Rose from 4:00 – 7:00 pm. Pre-Ordered Tickets for $5. At Door for $20. Email david@416yourock.com for more info.

Not really an event so much as an opportunity. Submission Deadline: March 6, 2010. CALL FOR ARTISTS to participate in the 3rd ANNUAL OPEN JURIED SHOW presented by Beaux-Arts Brampton. Over $1, 000.00 in CASH Prizes. March 30 – April 24, 2010. Visit site for details: http://www.beaux-artsbrampton.com/exhibitions.php?exId=167

March 6th, 2010 at 8:00 pm The City of Brampton Concert Band will close its very successful 2009/2010 125th Anniversary Concert Series with a gaze towards the deep realms of space, presenting "2010: A Space Odyssey"at the Rose Theatre. Ticket prices are Adults $20, Seniors and Students $18 and Children 12 and under $10. For more information on our organization and other upcoming concerts and events in 2010 please visit our website, http://www.bramptonconcertband.com.

March 27, 2010. 8: 30 pm. The Brampton Symphony Orchestra presents ‘The popular Earth Hour flashlight concert with low lights, brilliant soloists and spectacular showpieces from stage screen and concert hall’ at the Rose. See website for more details, http://www.bramptonsymphony.com.

Last but surely not least, Visual Arts Brampton galleries through February and March are “Special Arrangements” (still-lifes) and “making faces” (portraits) at Artway in Shoppers World. For more details, check out VAB’s site: http://www.visualartsbrampton.com/artway.htm

Did you make a resolution? What was/is it? Are you still holding strong, is it done or did you fails!? (You can try, try again, ya know.)

For the love of Sarasvati, None and Brigid!

I've been so crazed, busy and the like that I haven't got a chance to review the Business of Arts Workshops that happened not this past weekend but the weekend before but know that IwillIwillIwill get to it. It's not just words but video to edit and photos to prettify but as soon as I do, I will post it whole. I wouldn't want to jip you. :( ;) My attentions have been assigned elsewhere for the moment here at the BAC so that's been my first concern.

In other news...
BAC and I are on Facebook, in case you didn't know. Add me. If you have any questions, just ask me there. I know sometimes Facebook is much more the medium people use to communicate than... email, IM and the like. I'm more often than not signed in on Mondays from 10 am to 4 pm so don't be shy. Say hello, chat, ask me who Brigid is, whatevs.

DIY!!!

One thing I'm surprised that I love doing is helping people with their arts community questions. (Why so surprised, Kelly? I don't know. I'm introverted not introspective! :P) Mayhaps it's the thrill of digging for information, using my smarts to piece together a whackamole game [1] of info or contacting and talking to new people. I had to do quite a bit of research to come up with my last post and Brampton's open. Perhaps the spirit of DIY (Do it Yourself) is not as dead as I thought. People out there are getting it done and my thoughts have been re-ignited by the self-sufficient acronym and staple of punk subculture. Is there something you wish Brampton had in the way of arts entertainment and community? Stop wishing. Start doing!

What I didn't write about was another young man's initiative to put together a Brampton Indie Music Festival, asking me where to begin. I've decided to leave an extremely mini version of the tips I gave him on handling such a feat that could easily be used by anyone to put together any event.

1. Start with WHY and WHAT. Get a clear idea in your head of what it is you intend to do and the goals you want to accomplish whether it's fundraising, fostering community, promotions, awareness, etc. If you can't figure that out try beginning with what you don't want and it might become clearer. Contact those who have experience setting up similar events and see if they’re willing to advise from past experiences. A smaller but still significant WHAT to consider is what you need. Do you need a sound system? How much will it cost? Will your venue supply one? Will they supply the sound guy with one?
2. Once that's done, the real fun begins. Start with WHEN because you're going to need to book dates for venues (sometimes WHEN and WHERE work together) and a stop date for community involvement/applicants. Decide/estimate how long your event will be. Research other events around your time that could divide your audience
3. Location, location, location! WHERE will you hold your event. Consider the audience and previous events/shows at the your possible venue. Is it a good fit? Can you promote at nearby businesses?
4. WHO: Not just who is performing or displaying their work but WHO is working for you. VOLUNTEERS. Depending on how big your event is, you will need dependable, have-your-back help.
5. Never ever forget COST though: how much will things be. Keep a running tally and start to put together a budget. You might need community help through sponsors or charging attendees. Don't forget to give them proper accolades for doing so, whether it's through advertising their name on a banner and/or flyers, or spoken thanks your event.
6. Last (you thought I was done but I was not!) but certainly not least is the HOW. Our site has a list of media for anyone to use to get word out on events they're planning and of course you know about Facebook, MySpace and Twitter as promotional devices but also try the more obscure or local websites to get things abuzzing (NOW, the City of Brampton website, Snap Brampton, Brampton Guardian, etc.). Don't forget the power of in person meetings. Get out there, promote and talk up your audience.

Hopefully this was a helpful outline, peeps. Comments, questions, suggestions? Hit me up: kelly@artsbrampton.ca.

1. A whackamole game as in every time you think I'm done I pop back up with new info.

For real?! What the?

I had a guy, Kurt Arruda of the rap group Diablos Rejects, ask me this week where to go for open mics locally. When you live in Brampton and you want to perform, it's a bit of a hassle to get your butt down to Toronto all the time, especially when you don't have wheels. While I'm not sure if the rap they do would be entirely cohesive to the open mics, I had heard of one place down on Queen to perform but I didn't quite know where or the details. So I asked some local artists what was up and where to go. I was shocked because there are at least six places locally to go:

Monday Night:
9:30 pm - ?
The Harp - JAM NIGHT. A little farther out than the other places but it's the first in the series.
55 Lakeshore Road East
Port Credit, ON
(905) 274-3277

Wednesday Night:
9:30 pm - 12 am
Tracks BrewPub
60 Queen Street East
Brampton, ON
(905) 453-3063‎

9:00 pm - 1, 2 am
Brewsters Roadhouse & Restaurant
400 Steeles Avenue East
Brampton, ON
(905) 456-2093‎

Thursday Night:
9-10 pm - 1, 2 am
Allstars Bar & Grill
73 Bramalea Road
Brampton, ON
(905) 791-2315‎

9:30 pm - 1 am
Apple Jacks Restaurant
2225 Erin Mills Parkway
Mississauga, Ontario
(905) 403 0700

Last but not least an Open Mic night on October 20th, 2009. (Tuesday) at Metalworks Institute of Sound and Music Sign up begins at 6:30 but you should get there early to sign up for the night that starts @ 7 because the spots go fast. :)

The sad thing is that most of these performance opportuninties are not tailored for youth. Only Apple Jacks and Metalworks cater to an all ages audience. The rest are bars so legally speaking no one under 19 is allowed after 9.

Special accolades to Gayle for the newsworthy info. You can catch Gayle Ackroyd and Laura Thomas performing at St.Paul's Church for the Brampton Folk Club Concert Series on October 30th in Sanderson Hall.

Did you know...

Today's Brampton Day!

Check out the community booths, surprises and the going ons in Downtown Brampton. Swing by the BAC booth and say hi to me. :)

Currently listening to: Don't Do Anything - Sam Phillips

Back to School...

Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Or your school year. Or your work week. Or something.

For a lot of you out there, today's back to school. Back to drudergy and books and absorbing all that good information your teachers or professors give to you and until last year around this time I was one of you. Dragging my feet and cursing that month of September for rolling around, but now...

Now I'm kinda strangely wistful. I'm happy that it's over. I'm not the most scholastic person, but there was an easiness to life and knowing what one is to do. Wake up. Go to classes. Study. Do the best you can to get the good marks. Enjoy it while it lasts but plan for once it's over. :)

For now I wish the readers an awesome school/work year. Good luck and hard workings to you.