The Brilliance and Realities in Rural and Non-Urban Communities (Panel)
Extended session hosted by GVPTA
In English | Simultaneous interpretation in French and ASL
While creating art, sharing cultural practices, and building a more equitable sector may be common goals across the country, the resources, environment, and networks within rural and non-urban communities are distinct from their urban counterparts. This session will both celebrate the joys of making art in smaller and remote communities, while also unpacking the realities that contribute to challenges in addressing the needs of those who have been systemically excluded from the current system.
Carla Stephenson (she/her/elle)
Carla is deeply committed to rural arts advocacy and innovation. Living in the micro-rural community of Ymir BC on the unceded land of the Sinixt and Ktunaxa nations she co-founded the Tiny Lights Festival in 2012. In 2019 She founded the Rural Arts Inclusion Lab, this project works to address the intersection of equity and representation in rural Canadian arts organizations. Carla brings her lived experience as a mixed race woman of colour, an edge dweller and a social innovator to her work.
Colin Wolf (he/they)
Colin is a Métis performer, theatre maker, and activist from the North-East of Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary), AB on Treaty 7 Territory. Wolf graduated with a BFA in Dramatic Arts from the University of Lethbridge in 2014, and then spent 5 years making theatre all over the prairies. Wolf co-founded Thumbs Up Good Work Theatre Collective with his sister Caleigh Crow in 2013. Wolf felt the call of the North and moved to Whitehorse in October 2019 to serve as AD at Gwaandak Theatre on the Territory of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council.
Ovvian Castrillo Hill (she/her)
Trained as a designer, and honed as a design/art writer/consultant, she began sculpting in 2003 under the tutelage of her renowned sculptor dad, Eduardo Castrillo (+). For close to 20 years, she has created her art in 2 continents. She is an award-winning, active community participant, who has shown and curated shows (EX SITU) at the Peace Gallery North. She works on art projects in Canada (Fort St John) and the Philippines (via the family studio, CASTRILLO LEGACY ART STUDIO INC). Currently, she is working on a documentary series (EX SITU: Thriving in Our New Bayan), for TELUS Storyhive.
