LABOUR ARTS CATALYST

MAYWORKS’ LABOUR ARTS CATALYST PAIRS ARTISTS AND WRITERS WITH LOCAL LABOUR ORGANIZATIONS FOR COLLABORATIVE ART-MAKING

This initiative aligns with the vision of Mayworks “to incite the creation and production of art that engages diverse artists and workers in the advancement of cultural, economic and social justice.” The initiative was launched in 2021 and four projects were developed and presented at the Mayworks Festival in May 2022.

For the 2nd edition of the Labour Arts Catalyst, we are collaborating with Labour Against the Arms Trade, Asian Canadian Labour Alliance and Rising Tide Toronto.

Labour Against the Arms Trade is a coalition of labour and peace activists working to end Canada's participation in the international arms trade. We organize for arms conversion and a just transition for arms industry workers.

Asian Canadian Labour Alliance (ACLA) In May 2000, a group of Asian Canadian labour activists met to talk about setting up an alliance representing the voice of Asian Canadian trade union members, Asian Canadian workers and the Asian community at large. ACLA is the fruit of those meetings.

Rising Tide Toronto is a grassroots collective that challenges environmental injustice and the root causes of climate change on Turtle Island through direct action, in solidarity with people’s struggles locally and globally.

We're excited to announce that Sonali Menezes, Zinnia Naqvi & Kamika Peters were selected to participate in our 2022-23 Labour Arts Catalyst. Stay tuned for updates on their projects!

Submissions closed
Please watch this space for updates about our next call for submissions. Annually, we invite submissions from artists working in all disciplines: visual art, film and video, digital media, music, dance, theatre, performance, installation and beyond. Artists select the organization with whom they wish to work during the submission process. Mayworks staff facilitate initial meetings with the labour organization. Artists are then responsible for following up with their labour organization to continue  research. Artists create an artwork inspired and or informed by their selected labour organization.

Artists retain copyright and creative control of their work, but are expected to share a work in progress with the labour organization for feedback prior to completion of the artwork. The goal is to present the work at the Mayworks Festival. 

Eligibility
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, reside in Ontario and be available according to the timeline and locations listed above.

Mayworks acknowledges we live in a society rooted in oppression and inequalities; that structural injustice and unconscious prejudice influence our experiences; and the importance of incorporating the knowledge and guidance from oppressed people’s experience within the organization. We encourage applicants from members of these groups to apply.