Without the childcare stipend offered by Native Earth, and made possible through Balancing Act, I would not have been able to accept the freelance contract of Festival Producer for Weesageechak 35. This contract has led to various other professional opportunities through relationships I built during that time, that I would not have had access to otherwise.
Balancing Act is a critical initiative to our industry, and a leading voice in the inclusion and consideration of caregivers in the arts.
Native Earth Performing Arts
Native Earth Performing Arts
Childcare Subsidy to Support Producers
Level UP! Strategy Area: Compassion Fund
Pilot Project: Offering childcare subsidy toward supporting arts workers on term contracts
Project Duration: November 2021 – January 2023
Continuing to Implement: Yes, 2% of the overall budget is set aside for childcare subsidies
Resources Shared: Project Field Notes, Childcare Subsidy Recipient Testimonial
About Native Earth Performing Arts
Location: Ontario
Artistic Discipline: Theatre
Operating Budget: $100,000 to $1,000,000
Native Earth Performing Arts is Canada’s oldest Indigenous performing arts company. The company is dedicated to sharing stories of the Indigenous experience through theatre, dance, and multi-disciplinary arts. For 41 years, Native Earth has led the creation of the Indigenous body of work in Canada and developed the work of over 200 artists through Weesageechak Begins to Dance, an annual development festival of new Indigenous work.
Native Earth’s Level UP! Project
This pilot was originated by former Managing Director Isaac Thomas. In 2022, Managing Director Himanshu Sitlani implemented the project that saw Native Earth providing Childcare Subsidy for producers of Weesageechak Begins to Dance and the Animikiig Creator’s Unit.
Project Highlights:
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- Offered funds as a top-up to contracted fee
- Created a new expense account in accounting software specifically for child care
Resources
Native Earth Performing Arts | Project Field Notes
About This Resource Native Earth Performing Arts created these Project Field Notes in 2023 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project. Their project focused on providing childcare subsidies for artists/arts workers with childcare needs.
Native Earth Performing Arts | Childcare Subsidy Recipient Testimonial
About This Resource Native Earth Performing Arts shared the following testimonial from Lucy Coren, Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival Producer, in 2023 as part of their Balancing Act Level UP! Pilot Project.
More Information
For more information about Native Earth Performing Arts visit nativeearth.ca.
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