From May 27 to 29, 2015, the Edmonton Arts Council (EAC) will host a three-day symposium for Indigenous artists, prairie art organizations and funding bodies. Channeling Connections brings together representatives from visuals arts, theatre, dance, film, customary arts and new media to expand artistic frontiers and understanding of contemporary Indigenous arts practices.

“The Edmonton Arts Council is committed to better serving Edmonton’s diverse communities,” said Christine Sokaymoh Frederick, Chair of the Edmonton Arts Council Aboriginal Initiatives Committee. “We understand that practices must be adapted to resonate with Edmonton’s Indigenous arts communities, and to correspond with the vision proposed by our community elders and working committees.”

The goal of the gathering is to ensure that Indigenous arts communities are vibrant, supported and connected with the broader arts and civic community, and to explore how arts funders can help to promote inclusion and engagement.

Conversations can be followed on Twitter using the hashtag #YEGchanneling. The outcomes of the summit will be communicated following the meetings with a publicly accessible report and video. For more information please visit our website at http://www.edmontonarts.ca/channeling_connections/

The Edmonton Arts Council would like to acknowledge additional funding support for Channeling Connections from the City of Edmonton’s Aboriginal Relations Office and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.