The collaborators of Dancing Kmɨtkinu perform a work-in-progress showing at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Created and choreographed by shalan joudry and Sarah Prosper, produced by Mocean Dance and Nestuita’si Storytelling. Performers (left to right): Sarah Prosper, Isaac Abriel, I’thandi Munro. Photo by Kevin MacCormack.
I really appreciated a little extra support for travel, and higher food costs for when I am on project (higher energy needs, but less time to prepare food!) It also makes me happy to know that other artists who I know have heavy loads as caregivers and rural artists were getting even more support.
Mocean Dance
Mocean Dance
Artist Care Fund
Level UP! Strategy Area: Compassion Fund
Pilot Project: A Care Fund to support artists engaged in Dancing Kmɨtkinu
Project Duration: January – June 2024
Continuing to Implement: Yes, the company is continuing to offer the Artist Care Fund for future creation and production phases of Dancing Kmɨtkinu, with the goal to expand the fund to all activities and projects.
Resources Shared: Project Overview and Field Notes, Artist Care Fund: Communications Resources
About Mocean Dance
Location: Nova Scotia
Artistic Discipline: Dance
Operating Budget: $100,000 to $1,000,000
Mocean Dance is recognized nationally as a leading contemporary dance company from the Atlantic region. We provide fertile ground for artistic endeavours and potential in the field of dance. We share perspectives from our region and create opportunities to engage the local arts ecology and connect to the national performing arts community. Through our work, we aim to support Halifax as a hotspot for creation, research, experimentation, collaboration, and performance, as well as nurturing community vitality through education and outreach programs that celebrate dance as a vehicle for transformation. Our activities range from professional opportunities for local artists to community-based classes for youth and senior citizens.
Mocean Dance’s Level UP! Project
Mocean Dance piloted an Artist Care Fund during the first phase of their research/ creation project, Dancing Kmɨtkinu. The pilot aimed to reduce some of the financial barriers to participation in the dance sector, particularly for caregivers and rural artists.
Funds were used to:
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- Offer compensation to artists interested in the project for expenses incurred to attend a project information session (e.g. travel, childcare, etc.)
- Support selected artists during the three-week creation period with care expenses (up to $200)
- Provide additional financial support for artists with the greatest need
Project Highlights:
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- Kept barriers to accessing funds low by not requiring receipts or explanations for what funds were being used for
Resources
Mocean Dance | Project Overview and Field Notes
About This Resource Mocean Dance created this Project Overview and Field Notes document in 2024 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. Their project focused on developing a Care Fund to support artists engaged in their research/creation project,...
Mocean Dance | Artist Care Fund: Language and Communications Resources
About This Resource Mocean Dance created this resource in 2024 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. The resource contains excerpts from communication materials and email templates developed by Mocean Dance related to their Artist Care Fund pilot...
More Information
For more information about the Mocean Dance visit moceandance.com.
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