October 15: GRANTING BODIES PANEL (FREE)
with representatives from the Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and The Winnipeg Foundation
Learn about the various grants available to arts organizations – big and small. Each representative will share an introduction to their specific programming, followed by a Q&A session.

October 22: GRANT AND PROPOSAL WRITING
with Kate Fennell, School Managing Director for Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet
Welcome to the wild and wonderful world of grant writing! In this session, you will learn the who, what, where, when, why, and how of government investment in artists and cultural organizations. The focus of the presentation will be how to best position your organization in public funding applications and reports

October 29: HUMAN RESOURCES 101
with Dr. Lana Adeleye-Olusae, Director of Human Resources at the Manitoba Museum
Why is HR important? What are your responsibilities as an employer? What are best practices around hiring, training, retaining, firing? When do you need to bring in an expert?

November 5: ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE AND POLICIES
with Dr. Lana Adeleye-Olusae, Director of Human Resources at the Manitoba Museum
We’ve added a second HR session in order to properly cover 2020, COVID-19 related changes, diversity, and inclusion. What policies are critical for the health of your organization?

November 12: ANTI-RACISM BASICS FOR THE ARTS
with Karen Sharma, Executive Director of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission
This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the basic principles of anti-racism and anti-oppression. Karen will use storytelling to think about the ways that racism and oppression occur and are maintained in society. Participants will be challenged to consider the ways they can act, individually and collectively to address racism.

November 19: FUNDRAISING/SPONSORSHIP PANEL
with Tania Douglas, Director of Development at Manitoba Opera; Ian Morris-Grant, Director of Development of the International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards; Andraea Sartison, Artistic Producer of One Trunk Theatre; and Lou Gandier, Co-Executive Director of ArtsJunktion
Fundraising and sponsorship have taken a hit with the pandemic and all of its complications. Let’s talk about it. Join a wonderful group of arts leaders as they share their experiences and brainstorm ways to pivot your sponsor benefits, keep corporations engaged, and look for new partnership opportunities

November 26: BOOKKEEPING FOR ARTS MANAGERS
with Cheryl Baldwin, Owner of BCP Business Services
This session will give you some of the Do’s and Don’ts of Bookkeeping. Learn how to understand the difference between cash and accrual accounting, and how to understand your balance sheet and income statement. We’ll also go over some of the most common bookkeeping mistakes. Most importantly, you’ll get a chance to ask general questions that others may be wondering as well.

December 3: SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGEMENT
with Jennifer Cheslock, General Manager of Culture Days Manitoba
Take your “To-Do List” to the next level. Learn about the fundamentals of Project Management with an overview of some of the key principles, approaches, and tools you can apply when organizing yourself and adapting to changing situations. Let’s talk about how you can pull it all together into a comprehensive approach to support your work.

December 10: STRATEGIC PLANNING IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
with Michelle Kuly, Principal, Blueprint Inc.
Six months into a pandemic makes it clear that uncertainty is here to stay. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Now is the time for longer-term planning that focuses on impact to see us through. At this workshop with Blueprint Inc, you’ll understand how to evaluate and prioritize programs, practices, skills and revenue strategies; and how to develop a plan that positions your organization not only to persevere, but to adapt and thrive.

Presenters:

Kate Fennell | School Managing Director, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet

Kate Fennell (she/her) joined the administrative team at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet in the role of Publicity Manager in 2010. In 2011, she was promoted to the senior management team, first as the Director of Business Development and then as the School Managing Director. Prior to moving to Winnipeg, Ms Fennell was the Associate Producer for internationally renowned Toronto-based theatre company Necessary Angel. She also worked with the Walmer Centre Theatre, the Festival of Original Theatre (University of Toronto), Stephanie Gorin Casting, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, the Thousand Islands Playhouse, and Theatre Kingston. While living in Toronto, Ms Fennell was an Advisor for the Arts Program at The George Cedric Metcalf Foundation and she sat on the DreamNorth Theatre Company Board of Directors. Since her return “home,” she has sat as a member of the Executive of the Winnipeg Branch of the Queen’s Alumni Association and as Chair of the R.H.S. Child Care Board of Directors, and has participated in leadership training at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity. She is presently on the advocacy committees for both the Canadian Dance Assembly and Manitobans for the Arts.

Dr. Lana Adeleye-Olusae, CMC, CPHR, MBA, SHRM-SCP | Director of Human Resources, Manitoba Museum

Dr. Lana Adeleye-Olusae (he/him) is a seasoned human resource professional, researcher and coach skilled in offering employee and organizational development strategy solutions in support of business goals’ achievement. He brings a wealth of experience in developing and implementing strategic directions for business units, start-ups and projects in various industry sectors to bear on his assignments. He is currently Director of Human Resources at The Manitoba Museum and also offers management consulting services under Surefooting Consulting, Training and Coaching Inc. to small and medium-sized organizations in various sectors.

Karen Sharma | Executive Director, Manitoba Human Rights Commission

Karen Sharma (she/her) is a first generation South Asian, living in Treaty 1 territory – Winnipeg. She recently took on the role of A/Executive Director with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, where she oversees the Commission’s complaint process and human rights education and promotion mandate. Prior to assuming this role, Karen worked with the Commission as the Director of Investigations and Policy, as well as with the Government of Manitoba as the Director of Labour Market and Strategic Initiatives for Manitoba Labour and Immigration, and the Manager of the Secretariat to the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Working Group on Foreign Qualifications Recognition of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers. Karen co-chairs the Board of Directors of the Women’s Health Clinic and is an organizer with Queer People of Colour Winnipeg.

Tania Douglas, CFRE | Director of Development, Manitoba Opera

Tania Douglas (she/her) is the Director of Development at Manitoba Opera and brings over 15 years of fundraising experience in the charitable sector, working with such organizations as the Children’s Hospital Foundation, Inclusion Winnipeg, and Mentoring Artists for Women’s Art (MAWA). Tania is a past-president of the Association for Fundraising Professionals, Manitoba (AFP) Chapter and a session instructor for AFP’s Fundamentals of Fundraising course. She holds a Certified Fundraising Executive designation from CFRE International. Tania believes strongly in the power of the arts to elevate our quality of life and build bridges between communities.

Lou Gandier | Co-Executive Director, ArtsJunktion

Lou Gandier (they/them) lives in Treaty 1 Territory/Winnipeg and has been working at Artsjunktion for 4 years as the Community Outreach Coordinator and recently as a Co-Executive Director. ArtsJunktion mb Inc. is a community-based, charitable organization committed to redistributing reusable materials available take-what-you-need, pay-what-you-can. Lou applies their harm reduction training to create a space where art is accessible to everyone. Lou believes that art is healing and is passionate in how community is created in spaces like Artsjunktion.

Andraea Sartison | Artistic Producer, One Trunk Theatre 

Andraea Sartison (she/her) is a theatre artist and event producer. She is the founding Artistic Producer of One Trunk Theatre where she has captained the creation of 16 original productions and one festival, since the company’s inception. She is known for boldly creative performance concepts, interdisciplinary collaboration, devised theatre and integrating technology into live performance. Andraea has travelled internationally as a performer and director of new Canadian plays, from the Canadian fringe circuit to Broadway, New York. She works as an Associate Artist at Theatre Projects Manitoba, Co-leader of Manitoba Theatre for Young People’s Creators Unit (with Rick Chafe), and Co-Owner of Event Production and Arts Consultation Company Fête Jockey (with Jennie O).

*Photo by Kristian Jordan, Owl by Gabrielle Funk

Ian Morris-Grant aka Breeze | Director of Development, International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards

Ian Morris Grant’s Guyanese heritage, early life in London, England, and immigration to Canada as a youth all helped make Breeze the artist he’s become. Although he is the younger brother of singing star Eddy Grant (Electric Avenue, Gimme Hope Johanna), Breeze has been forging his own career independently from the start. He’s a self-taught musician who started by playing in local bands and later toured Canada, the US, Europe and Asia. In the 90s Breeze co-founded production and independent label Steel Hipp Records, which continues to operate in Japan. He has been privileged to share the stage with many industry greats, including opening for James Brown and Motown Records’ The Funk Brothers. Breeze also has several international and local production credits to his name, including a production credit on Canadian Idol winner Ryan Malcolm’s platinum-selling debut album, and has been a touring musician for many recording artists. Currently, he is the owner of the multi-media company, Nu Frequency Music & Media, Batcave Recording Studio and is the Development Director for The International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show 2021.

Cheryl Baldwin, CPB | Owner, BCP Business Services

Cheryl Baldwin (she/her) is the owner of BCP Business Services, a business driven by her desire to help small businesses and non-profits flourish. Cheryl has an extensive understanding of the non-profit sector from staff, volunteer, and board perspectives as a result of years of direct involvement in many roles at local and national levels. Cheryl is a Certified Professional Bookkeeper in addition to being certified in human resources and business continuity planning. Her diverse set of skills and experience maximizes the support she offers to her clients. Cheryl has also worked in the arts doing fund development, and currently has a number of Arts organizations as bookkeeping clients. Commitment to supporting her community is a core belief as proven by her numerous awards for volunteering, including being the recipient of both the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Awards.

Jennifer Cheslock | General Manager, Culture Days Manitoba

Connecting communities through arts and education has been the focus of Jennifer Cheslock’s career. Starting as a high school teacher, she worked with students and families from rural settings, diverse urban populations, reserves, as well as northern communities. When a new opportunity opened for her to join the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre in 2011 as their Outreach Manager, Jennifer was excited to advance her community-building skills as she engaged theatre-lovers. This led to roles as the Volunteer Manager and then Festival Manager with the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, where she developed skills in large-scale project management. Jennifer enjoyed a year at the University of Manitoba learning new technologies in her role as Online Orientation Coordinator but felt a strong pull to return to work in arts and culture management. This spring she joined Culture Days Manitoba as their new General Manager, allowing her to build community connections and facilitate the organization of events that add to the richness of life for all Manitobans.

Michelle Kuly | Principal, Blueprint Inc.

Michelle Kuly (she/her) has more than 15 years of experience in strategic planning, facilitation, and public engagement. During this time, she has worked with Creative Manitoba, social enterprise and other arts organizations including On Screen Manitoba, New Media Manitoba, Manitoba Music, Synonym Art Consultation and the Winnipeg Arts Council on strategic initiatives and strategic planning. Her understanding of the critical role strategic planning plays has made a difference for these organizations and for creative sector entrepreneurs as they work to navigate the challenges of resources and funding, sustainability, diversity, and engaging audiences, donors and build new markets. She has paired her knowledge with an entrepreneurial drive to build a team at Blueprint to offer a complement of services to serve our clients’ needs. Michelle is on the Board of Directors for the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. She is the founding chair of the Prairies Chapter of the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) and is a practicing member of the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) and IAP2. In 2019, Michelle was recognized as a finalist for Women Business Owners of Manitoba’s Women Entrepreneur of the Year Award.