#CEDays2021 offers two days of virtual workshops including keynotes, panel discussion, and interactive breakout groups targeting goal setting, getting grants, understanding your taxes, marketing yourself as an artist, and figuring out how to use social media effectively. Creative Entrepreneurship is for emerging artists of all disciplines and ages.

This year’s theme is Embracing Change. We’re focused on moving forward from the challenges of the pandemic, creating art for social change, and promoting equity in the arts.

Creative Entrepreneurship 2021 will be presented online via Zoom and is FREE for members of Creative Manitoba. Individual memberships range from $15-$25 per year. Click here to become a member.

As a member, you also have the opportunity to access 3 FREE coaching sessions in our new Online Coaching Program!

*Please register for each day that you plan on attending in real-time. Spaces are limited and sessions may not be recorded.*

SCHEDULE

DAY 1 – Friday March 12 , 2021 – 10am to 3pm

10 – 10:45am: Owning your Online Presence with Natalie Bell

You’re online, now what? Simple strategies to increasing and maintaining your confidence, speaking your truth and bringing authenticity when sharing your voice online.

11am – 12:30pm: Artist Panel: Moving Forward Post-Pandemic

with Ashley Au, Chukwudubem Busayo Ukaigwe, Carol-Ann Bohrn
Moderated by Roger Boyer
Join four local artists who have been keeping creative and promoting the value of the arts during the pandemic. This is sure to be a very timely and thought-provoking discussion on how to keep the momentum going and use arts as a way to push through.

1:15 – 2pm and 2:15-3pm: Breakout Sessions

Choose TWO of the following topics: Art for Social Change, Personal Branding, Managing Your Theatre Practice

DAY 2 – Saturday March 13, 2021 – 10am to 2pm

10 – 10:45am: The Bullet Journal: Keeping Track While Embracing Change with Heidi Hunter

Things are challenging for self-employed artists at the best of times. What about these days, when the world may feel overwhelming and restrictive, and we feel exhausted by the idea of embracing change? What better time than now to begin tracking what you are doing in your life, while planning your future, all in a format which you streamline for your needs? If mindfulness and productivity had a child, it would be the Bullet Journal. In this 45 minute presentation, Heidi hopes you fall in love with the idea that a handwritten bullet journal is an effective and creative way to organize and thrive as you wander into an intentional future. You’ll assess priorities, break down goals into tasks, and leave knowing what your next step can be through learning a system for planning, celebrating and archiving your life.

11 – 11:45am and 12:15-1pm: Breakout Sessions

Choose TWO of the following topics: Tax Talk for Artists, Social Media, Grants

1:15 – 2pm: A Conversation with Alan Greyeyes of sākihiwē festival facilitated by Brenden Gali

Breakout groupS

Breakout sessions are opportunities to network and discuss amongst each other in small groups. The conversation possibilities are endless! Come with questions and a desire to collaborate across disciplines and screens.

There are multiple breakouts for each topic led by different artists and community leaders. Please look over the bios below to help you choose which breakout sessions will be the most helpful for you and your career!

Art for Social Change: These breakouts will focus on questioning the institutions and structures that exist in order to advocate and forge new paths. Topics can include: starting your own organizations/communities/collectives, mentorship programs, arts-based community engagement, social commentary, and more.
Group Leaders: Hazel Venzon, Chukwudubem Busayo Ukaigwe, Ashley Au

Personal Branding: These breakouts will focus on figuring out your authentic brand and what you stand for (your values), how to market yourself (with the public and with potential collaborators), and how to control your image/how you are seen as an artist. If you hate the idea of branding, these sessions are for you. 
Group Leaders: Stefanie Blondal Johnson, Carol-Ann Bohrn, Karen Asher

Managing Your Theatre Practice: These breakouts are particularly focused on theatre. Topics can include financial stability, contracts, monetizing your talents, juggling multiple contracts, time-management, how to say no, burnout, and transitions as an artist.
Group Leaders: Dora Carroll, Joseph Sevillo, Melissa Novecosky

Grants: These breakouts will cover the basics of applying for grants: How to apply, where to apply, tips and tricks. Sessions are divided by discipline: Elise will cover music grants, Cam will cover film, Brenda will cover theatre, and Bev will cover visual arts and anything in between.
Group Leaders: Elise Roller, Cam Patterson, Brenda Gorlick, Bev Pike

Social Media: These breakouts will cover anything and everything about social media. Come with questions and examples of things you want to promote. All three group leaders are well-versed in social media marketing for  a variety of projects and mediums.
Group Leaders: Joy K. Balmana, Olivia Onuk, Lana Winterhalt

Tax Talk for Artists: This breakout session will help you de-mystify your tax issues, help you create and maintain wealth, and lead you to a better understanding of finances as a self-employed artist. Come with specific questions and any paperwork that needs explaining.
Group Leaders: Jan Skene and Jean-Guy Talbot

Presenters and breakout group leaders

Natalie Bell, founder of PegCityLovely and social dynamo, consistently infuses positive energy into everyday life as her method of influence. PegCityLovely, celebrating an 9 year milestone in 2021, evolved from a small cookie-cutter mommy blog to a growing and successful personal brand. Natalie fosters positive, authentic conversations through real-life storytelling on her blog and through her social media channels. An experienced HR professional for almost 20 years, Natalie has always been passionate about people, and their stories. Her ultimate purpose in life is to make meaningful connections with people while encouraging them to share their true selves. Natalie thrives on experiences as they happen, and is known for sharing who she is authentically and unapologetically while inspiring others to do the same. Natalie will open the event with the workshop “Owning Your Online Presence”, Friday, March 12 from 10-10:45am. 

Alan Greyeyes serves as the Festival Director for the sākihiwē festival and runs the artist and project management company, Ogichidaa Arts. He also volunteers with the Polaris Music Prize board of directors; the RBC Convention Centre board of directors; the Rap category committee at the JUNO Awards; the Mayor’s Indigenous Advisory Circle for the City of Winnipeg; and the Indigenous committees at the National Music Centre and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. In 2020, Alan received the Arts Award of Distinction from the Manitoba Arts Council and the Kevin Walters Legacy Award from Manitoba Music. Alan is a member of the Peguis First Nation. A Conversation with Alan Greyeyes will close the event on Saturday, March 13 from 1:15-2pm. 

Brenden Bhoy Gali was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised by first generation Filipino immigrants. Growing up he participated in arts through dance, music, and writing. Art was a way to participate within the community for him, an act of engagement through collective learning. He is one of the founders of RIND., a Winnipeg-based collective that aims to showcase the creative talents of the BIPOC community. He is currently involved in TakeHome BIPOC Arts House, Manitoba’s newest artist run centre, as a member of the organizational team. In practice, Gali is a performer and writer that translates memories and histories into stories that express the experience of reminiscing. Through his art he wishes to provide a similar opportunity to other people in how his art journey began, by engaging through collective learning. Brenden is facilitating A Conversation with Alan Greyeyes on Saturday, March 13 from 1:15-2pm.

Renaissance woman Heidi Hunter, has been a multi-disciplinary artist all her working life. Over the past 40 years, she has worked in visual arts, theatre, dance, music, TV and film. An ‘artist’s artist‘, Heidi is a gifted, experienced teacher and marketing consultant, but most importantly a forever student. She breathes in creativity in all she does, and enjoys a rich and colourful life working out of her Runs with Scissors Studio, west of Winnipeg Beach, MB. Heidi is presenting the workshop “The Bullet Journal: Keeping Track While Embracing Change”, Saturday, March 13 from 10-10:45am. 

Roger Boyer is an indigenous Writer, Director, Producer based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His films have screened at numerous film festivals around the world, including the American Indian Film Festival, imagineNATIVE Film Festival, the Accra Indie Film Festival, the Native Spirit Film Festival, and the Gimli Film Festival. Roger is the Executive Director of the Indigenous Filmmakers Association and also sits on the Vision Committee for BIPOC TV & Film. He is currently working on his short film The Fire and his feature film Coffee Express.Roger is passionate about movies and filmmaking. One of his goals is to help make Winnipeg and Manitoba a major film hub for indigenous filmmakers with the work he is doing through the Indigenous Film Summit. Roger is moderating the panel “Moving Forward Post-Pandemic”, Friday, March 12 from 11am-12:30pm. 

Chukwudubem Ukaigwe is a Nigerian born song, dispersed by a transient Atlantic breeze, currently passing through Treaty 1 Territory, so called Canada. He consciously uses a variety of mediums to relay a plurality of ideas at any given time. He views his art practice as a conversation, or a portal into one, and in some instances, as an interpretation of this ongoing exchange. Chukwudubem weighs an occurrence, feeling, or idea on a scale and then creates a narrative in his own language. Chukwudubem operates as an interdisciplinary artist, curator, writer, and cultural worker. Chukwudubem Ukaigwe is the founder of Patterns Collective. Chukwudubem is a board member of CARFAC and he has been involved in the establishment of a number of collectives and and spaces. He is an instructor at Graffiti Gallery Programming, drop-in workshop instructor at Studio 393, and has facilitated community arts workshops through the University of Manitoba, Blackspace Winnipeg, and Synonym Art Consultation. Chukwudubem is on the Moving Forward panel and is leading Art for Social Change breakout groups. Chukwudubem’s sessions will have a focus on social advocacy, starting collectives, and working with communities.

Ashley Au is a Winnipeg-based bassist, composer, sound artist, arranger, and queer creative. A multifaceted musician, Ashley specializes in the upright and electric basses—performing, touring and recording extensively. As a composer and sound artist, Ashley’s work can be found behind various theatre and dance productions as well as Winnipeg’s ephemeral pop-up stages. After completing a degree in Jazz Bass Performance (B. Mus) at Brandon University, under the direction of Michael Cain, Greg Gatien, Eric Platz, and Gilles Fournier, Ashley has become an active member of Winnipeg’s arts and cultural community as a performer, administrator and organizer. Ashley is the director of Cluster New Music + Integrated Arts Festival. On rare occasions, Ashley can be found moonlighting as a DJ under the alias, Chairman Au. Current and past projects include work with Weakerthans frontman, John K. Samson; folk roots songstress, Carly Dow; internationally-acclaimed Americana tastemaker, Scott Nolan; Juno award-winning songwriter, William Prince; composer/trumpeter Chuck Copanace; Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers; and Canadian live hip-hop outfit, Super Duty Tough Work. Ashley currently sits on the boards of Creative Manitoba, Girls Rock Winnipeg, West End Cultural Centre, and FACTOR Canada’s Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Committee. Ashley is on the Moving Forward panel and is leading Art for Social Change breakout groups. Ashley’s sessions will have a focus on getting board experience, understanding how they work, and applying for grants to make change.

Carol-Ann Bohrn grew up in Brandon, Manitoba and has been residing in Winnipeg since 2011. Select performance credits: Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (Jolene Bailie, Jera Wolfe), four seasons with Gearshifting Performance Works (Bailie, Marie-Josée Chartier, Rachel Browne), Sick + Twisted Theatre, Odette Heyn, Ming Hon, Saskatoon’s White Birch Ballet (Darlene Williams, Gioconda Barbuto, Josh Beamish), and for television commercials. Carol-Ann participated in the Cartae Open School at aceartinc; and the Foundation Mentorship Program at MAWA. She was nominated for a 2020 Evie Award for her choreographic collaboration with Alexandra Garrido and Thom Morgan Jones in Heavy Bell’s full-length song cycle show By Grand Central Station. Carol-Ann is a graduate of the School of Contemporary Dancers and also trained at Ryerson University and The Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Teacher Training Program. Carol-Ann is on the Moving Forward panel and is leading Personal Branding breakout groups. Carol-Ann’s sessions will have a focus on thinking holistically about the impression you make on potential clients and/or collaborators.

Hazel Venzon‘s career as a theatre maker has not only been about producing great ideas or events, but about creating alternative ways for the public to think deeper about social issues. Venzon’s focus and artistic practise is based around “Canadian” identity – how it shifts and how to appreciate the uniqueness of “our ” collective make-up. Her work often circles her back to her roots. She makes plays and events that highlight current themes of migration, cultural integration and the human cost borne by globalism. With an artistic background rooted in Sculpture and Performance Art (University of Manitoba’s School of Fine Art) and formal Acting Training (Studio 58), Venzon has made a living from being a full-time actress, writer, dramaturg, director and producer. Close to 20 years later, after having lived and worked throughout Canada, having produced theatre around the world, she has become more interested in supporting artists at home; serving their unique needs to create and share their stories. In 2016, she founded U ‘N I Together (UNIT) Productions, a producing company that serves writers, devisers, creators and artists of colour. UNIT offers 1:1 mentorship, consultation, dramaturgy and producing support of live art events, social engagements, performance art, plays, musicals, films, documentaries, animation, digital shows and any other hybrid entertainment combination imaginable. Hazel (she/her) was born on Treaty 1 Territory and is a proud descendant of 1st generation Filipino Canadians. Hazel is leading Art for Social Change breakout groups. Hazel’s sessions will have a focus on independent production and bending the rules by 1% to eventually add up to lasting change.

Stefanie Blondal Johnson is a singer-songwriter and one half of the duo in the Winnipeg based Indie Rock band, Mise en Scene. They have been nominated for Canadian music awards, toured the world, played many national and internation showcasing and taste making festivals, released three full length records and one EP and are signed to Light Organ/604 Records out of Vancouver. Stefanie is the songwriter, singer, guitarist and manager of Mise en Scene. She has done contract work in marketing, photoshoots and branding for other bands and emerging artists. She has attended the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity for Independent Residencies and Singer-Songwriter Residencies, has been to Nashville for cowriting sessions and has collaborated with Grammy winners and Hall of Fame inductees. She has a degree from McGill University with a major in English Cultural Studies and minor in Media and Communications, and also went to the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design to study film, video and photography. She has dealt with many areas in the music business having worked both sides of the industry as a musician and manager and as a content creator (filming, directing and editing music videos and photoshoots). Stef is leading Personal Branding breakout groups. Stef’s sessions will have a focus on making sure the work you do correlates with the image you present and DIY branding/content creation.

Karen Asher is an artist living on Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg whose work explores her obsession with stress, absurdity, and the catastrophe of everyday life. She received her BFA Honours in photography from the University of Manitoba in 2009. Her most recent solo exhibition, Class, was exhibited at Plug In ICA in spring of 2019. The installation featured photography, live performance, a 90 minute video, flashing neon and a peep show. Asher is currently participating in a three month residency with Young Lungs Dance Exchange an working on Preaching to the Perverted, which will premiere at the Gimli Film Festival this summer. Karen is leading Personal Branding breakout groups. Karen’s sessions will have a focus on making sure the aesthetic of your work translates to all that surrounds your work and being your most authentic self when thinking about branding/marketing.

Melissa Novecosky is currently the Director of Development for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. Melissa started her career as a stage manager and since 2006 she has had the pleasure of working on over 50 productions at theatres across the country. Trained at the National Theatre School, she honed her skills on a variety of productions from some the smallest stages to some of the largest including the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Prairie Theatre Exchange, Rainbow Stage, and Soulpepper. Melissa stays connected to the theatre community by mentoring young artists and teaching stage management at the University of Winnipeg. As a member of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and a current member of Equity’s National Council, representing the stage management region, she is committed to advocating for stage managers. Melissa is leading Managing Your Theatre Practice breakout groups. Melissa’s sessions will have a focus on stage management, the creativity and art of administration, staying connected, focused, and organized.

A professional artist in a wide array of creative live arts, Dora Carroll works to create and support art in the spirit of collaboration. Working predominantly in her hometown of Winnipeg, Dora has over 15 years of professional experience as an independent contractor in theatre and film as an actor, director, producer, instructor, and administrator. A graduate from the University of Winnipeg honours theatre program and recent participant in Stratford’s Michael Langham Workshop for Assistant Directors in Classical Theatre, Dora’s training in voice, movement, direction and classical theatre has led her down an enriched artistic path. As a director Dora strives to produce risky, non-traditional work in safe, supportive settings where every person in the room has a voice. Artistic Producer of Shakespeare in the Pub, Artistic Associate of Bravura Theatre, Artistic Producer of play ON Theatre, instructor with Manitoba Theatre for Young People and Youth Mentorship Manager at Creative Manitoba – Dora wears many hats. Dora is a driven cheerleader for our Winnipeg arts community. Dora is leading Managing Your Theatre Practice breakout groups. Dora’s sessions will have a focus on theatre & film, administration, and juggling the life of a multi-hat-wearing artist.

Joseph Sevillo is a musical theatre artist, singer, dancer, actor, teacher, creator, choreographer, and entrepreneur. He has performed across stages in North America for 24 years, playing such roles as Angel in Rent, Paul in A Chorus Line, Joe Vegas in Fame, Chino in Westside Story, Pepper in Mamma Mia ( Rainbow Stage), and was part of the company in blockbuster hits such as Beauty and the Beast ( Citadel/Theatre Calgary ) Evita, Billy Elliot ( Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre ) Miss Saigon ( Drayton Festival ) Mamma Mia ( Mirvish Productions ) Seussical ( Young Peoples Theatre Toronto ). He spent 13 years under creative director Patti Caplette of Koba Entertainment, honing his skills as a choreographer and creator. Presently, he is the creator of Ma-buhay Musical Filipinos Singing For Their Lives , which is set to have it’s world premiere in 2022 at Rainbow Stage. Joseph is leading Managing Your Theatre Practice breakout groups. Joseph’s sessions will have a focus on musical theatre and embracing the evolution of yourself as an artist.

Elise Roller has been actively involved in the Canadian music scene since 2008, starting her career as an independent artist and dabbling in artist development and music business admin. Among the many hats Roller has worn, she’s booked and managed tours for a number of Canadian acts, served four years as Pride Winnipeg’s main stage producer, and written grants for a variety of musicians. Currently, she works as the Industry Development Coordinator at Manitoba Music, connecting artists and industry on an international scale. In 2019, Roller began Misfit Music Management, an artist development and management company in Winnipeg. Elise has raised over $40,000 in grant revenue for artists in the past year for artist development, recording, marketing, special projects, and performances
87.5% success rate.  Elise is leading breakout groups on Grants. Elise’s sessions will have a focus on music grants (Manitoba Film and Music and FACTOR) and the Safe at Home Manitoba grant.

Bev Pike has raised millions of dollars in art funding as a grant writer for artists and organizations since 1984. As an artist, she has received senior arts grants from the Winnipeg Arts Council, Manitoba Arts Council and Canada Council. Pike is known for her large-scale land-form paintings, her videos and her artist-books that have been shown across Canada in solo and group exhibitions. Her works are held in the Tate Modern and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England as well as in public and private collections across North America. Pike’s current artistic research includes performative landscape, underground shell grottoes and other Baroque spectacles. Bev is leading breakout groups on Grants. Bev’s sessions will have a focus on visual and new media arts (Canada Council, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council).

Cam Patterson is a screenwriter, director and producer through his production company, SoGo Productions. His screenwriting portfolio includes work for Canadian and U.S. producers in both TV and film, and multiple genres from war and thrillers to drama and horror. He has directed, written, and served as story producer / editor, delivering feature film, TV series, music videos, commercials, and documentaries. He is also a professional drummer having played on numerous albums and television shows and continues to perform live. Cam is leading breakout groups on Grants. Cam’s sessions will have a focus on film grants (Telefilm, NSI Script to Screen and Manitoba Film and Music).

Brenda Gorlick, an original Creative Manitoba mentor, has been a prolific part of the Manitoba arts community her entire life. As director/choreographer Brenda has designed over 250 productions nationwide and has been a member of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Banff Centre of Performing Arts Company and the Stratford Festival. As a performer, Brenda has had principal roles both onstage and on screen including featured roles with Rainbow Stage, Dry Cold Productions, Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and Hallmark movies. Brenda serves as Associate Artistic Director for Winnipeg Studio Theatre and helms the StudioWorks Academy program. Her artistic achievements include the 2020 Evie Honorary Award for Theatre Educator, YMCA-YWCA’s Women of Distinction Award and Rainbow Stage’s Wall of Fame. Brenda is leading breakout groups on Grants. Brenda’s sessions will have a focus on theatre grants (Canada Council, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council).

Joy K. Balmana is the Opportunities Coordinator with Synonym Art Consultation and Wall-to-Wall Mural & Culture Festival, a Festival Manager for Holiday Alley, and works as a freelance Social Media and Communications Coordinator. With time in-between, Joy conducts workshops for various art organizations in Manitoba. Throughout her various jobs, Joy dips her toes into media relations, marketing, content creation, event coordination, marketing, and sponsorships with a bit of mural and art facilitation on the side. Throughout her working and educational career, Joy has always found excitement in uplifting people around her and providing opportunities to artists and musicians. Joy has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the University of Manitoba and graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program. Joy has worked on a number of art-forward festivals in Manitoba including Nuit Blanche Winnipeg, Culture Days and Kultivation. Photo credit: BnB Studios Joy is leading Social Media breakout groups. Joy’s sessions will have a focus on media relations, event coordination, and content creation.

Multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer and indie-pop artist Lana Winterhalt delivers enigmatic and layered compositions inspired by junky breakups, insomnia, and true love, all in an attempt to leave you feeling sparkly and weightless. Whether it be her vocals that float effortlessly with warm restraint over ballads like Diamonds or Right, or playful pop melodies featured on her debut full-length album If & When (2018), Winterhalt’s production is experimental and bold yet warm and familiar. This upcoming year is Winterhalt’s most daring yet, showcasing her diversity by releasing contemplative instrumental songs followed by unabashed pop jams and cinematic anthems. From heartbreak to pure bliss and quiet ambience to exploding soundscapes, Lana Winterhalt’s artistry is the kind that sinks deep into your soul, and intends to stay there. File next to: Lucy Dacus, Enya and Feist. Lana is leading Social Media breakout groups. Lana’s sessions will have a focus on building online communities across platforms, digital ads on social media, and content creation and management.

Olivia Onuk is a Nigerian writer, counsellor & graphic designer who is passionate about the human desire to create. She writes poetry, designs, leads workshops and believes in Art as a tool for connection, growth & making sense of trauma. By sharing her own stories, Olivia holds space for people to connect with one another, and share their own stories. Creatives Connect, which held in 2019, was one such space where Creatives of all disciplines came together to speak about their work, connect, enjoy performance art & build support. Olivia also co-founded The Black Label Wpg in late 2019 which serves as Winnipeg’s Black Creatives’ collective. Olivia uses social media, particularly Instagram, to build and connect with a solid community of writers, readers, speakers & healers. Treating it as kind of a journal documenting the experiences of growth in art, work & life, it has drawn in people from parts of the world that she is yet to meet in person. Olivia is leading Social Media breakout groups. Olivia’s sessions will have a focus on vulnerability, truth, and the expansion of one’s own creativity through visual and verbal storytelling online.

Jan Skene has worked as a self-employed professional actor/singer and performer manager/arts consultant for the past 35 years. Her acting credits extend to most of Winnipeg’s live theatres and numerous television and film credits (IMDB). Jan has a deep network of connections in Manitoba’s film industry and cultural community, specializing as a consultant in the business of being a self-employed actor. Jan spent 5 years running Youth Mentorship programs at Creative Manitoba, leaving in 2020 to re-focus on her own creative and consulting work. Currently Jan manages Skene Stunts Inc. (which she co-founded with her husband Rick), Sean Skene Productions Inc. and is President and National Councillor for ACTRA Manitoba. Jan is leading the Tax Talk for Artists breakout group with Jean-Guy Talbot. 

Jean-Guy Talbot, FCPA, FCGA, believes that happiness is a choice you make every morning. Throughout his career, he has owned and operated several businesses, played drums in a band (and a bit of guitar and bass), and accumulated a vast treasury of knowledge on how to run a better business as an empathetic leader. Enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge and experience with others, he has celebrated success and has overcome challenges since founding Talbot & Associates in 1987. Through his own business success, including growing his accounting firm from a one-person operation in his basement to over 70 team members in seven locations across Manitoba, he’s discovered his true passion: mentoring other business owners to achieve greater success, profit, wealth, and overall better quality of life. Jean-Guy is leading the Tax Talk for Artists breakout group with Jan Skene.