Vancouver DESIGN & COMMUNITY Forum
March 2nd, 7-9 PM, The Post @ 750 Hamilton.
This forum will be a discussion among the Vancouver theatre community centred on the issue of the ownership of collaborative work. We are very excited to open this Forum to all members of the theatre community, not just designers, and serve as an opportunity for participants to discuss work created in workshops, communication around remounts/revivals, intellectual property, and other issues within the intersection of collaboration and ownership in the creation of theatre. Anyone involved in Vancouver theatre is warmly invited to attend.
LIVESTREAMING THE MIXED REALITY PERFORMANCE SYMPOSIUM: UBC
Friday, February 21, 2020. UBC Theatre-Film Production Building. 6358 University Boulevard, Room 104
Toasterlab presents the Mixed Reality Performance Symposium at UBC livestreaming on the commons-based peer produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 21 February 2020 from 10 a.m. PST (Vancouver, UTC -8) / 12 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 1 p.m EST (Toronto, UTC -5) to 4 p.m. PST (Vancouver, UTC -8) / 6 p.m. CST (Chicago, UTC -6) / 7 p.m. EST (Toronto, UTC-5).
The Mixed Reality Performance Symposium: UBC is the second of six symposiums hosted by mixed reality producers Toasterlab, and will explore extended and mixed reality performance. Artists and new media creators will share modes of working and recent successes in VR, AR, and immersive theatre. Attendees will gain insight into the production process and hands-on experience with 360VR cameras, VR headsets, geolocation, motion capture and other creation and distribution tools.
Vancouver Design Forum Winter Fete
Monday, December 16th, 7 PM - 10 PM. The Greenhouse, 1885 Venables Street.
Please drop by between 7-10pm, for some cold-weather cheer on December 16th! Everyone who would like to attend is warmly welcome at The Greenhouse for Italian sodas, warm apple cider and tasty snacks. We’re excited to have an opportunity to mingle and celebrate as a community!
BYSTANDER INTERVENTION
WITH GOOD NIGHT OUT VANCOUVER
Monday, December 9th, 7-9pm. The Post at 750 Hamilton. FREE for all designers.
The prevention of harassment in the arts and culture sector has been an emerging topic over the last two years. The Forum and the ADC wish to take a proactive approach to these sensitive issues by hosting a Bystander Intervention Workshop. This will be an opportunity for designers to learn practical tools for addressing harassment issues that we may witness in the workplace. We believe that there are always new tools and tricks to be learned so that we can come together to create safer work environments for our entire community.
Who is putting this training on? We have invited Stacey Forrester from Good Night Out Vancouver to lead this session. Good Night Out is an emerging leader in nightlife safety and skill-building in the area of sexual assault prevention. Their work in this area has lead to partnerships with venues of all sizes, local police, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and many other stakeholders in the entertainment sector. Read more about their recent work in Flare, Vice and on the CBC
Costume Shop Tour - Bard on the Beach
Thursday November 28th, 1:30-2:30. BMO Theatre Centre, 162 W. 1st Avenue.
The Vancouver Design Forum is excited to be able to facilitate a tour of the Wardrobe Department at Bard on the Beach.
This tour of the Bard on the Beach Costume Shop and wardrobe facilities is an opportunity for both technical directors and designers to gain a better understanding of how costume construction facilities operate. Often the creation of costumes is a hidden or under-appreciated process within theatre and design and we hope to be able to increase the overall knowledge and familiarity with costume construction. Through this tour, led by Bard Head of Wardrobe Amy McDougall, we hope to continue the conversations about how costume designers and wardrobe personnel can be better supported within the larger theatre environment.
Identifying and Filling the Gaps in Sound Design
October 24, 6:30-9:30pm. Centre for Digital Media.
This workshop will be an opportunity for artists who work with sound in live performance to come together and engage in conversation about our work. The definition of “Sound Design” in Canada is broad and often fluid, which means that most sound designers possess expertise in certain areas and knowledge gaps in others.
In this workshop we will discuss the expectations that we face in this field and the skills and questions held by folks in the room. Through this investigation, we aim to strengthen our own understanding of our work, and to build a stronger network of knowledge-sharing opportunities throughout our community.
Presented in partnership with the GVPTA, The ADC, and the Centre for Digital Media.
Tax Basics for Freelancers
October 16, 6-8pm. Room 4270, SFU Woodwards.
Join Certified Financial Planner David Sweeney to learn the basics of filing self-employed taxes, registering for a GST number and any other questions you may have about tax prep as a designer or business.
David Sweeney, CFP
Certified Financial Planner
Tenure 29 years
linkedin.com/in/davidsweeneycfp
VANCOUVER DESIGNER’S FORUM
September 2, 2019, 7:30 to 9:30pm - The Post at 750 Hamilton
The theme of our third Vancouver Designer’s Forum was “Scaling Design: What Does Minimum Really Look Like?” Our main conversation focused on the eternal question of scope and scale, and was an opportunity to share and gather input from the community around how to communicate effectively with producers, directors, and other collaborators about the size of our work on a given project.
Continuing the Conversation:
A Designer/Producer Lunchtime Chat
12-1:30pm, June 4, 2019, PL1422 - 1422 William Street
Building upon the Designer/Producers panel at the GVPTA Making a Scene Conference, the Forum/ADC are excited to partner with the theatre companies at Progress Lab to continue the dialogue between designers and producers. Designers representing all five design disciplines will be present to participate in an open and informal discussion about non-fee based strategies that producers and designers can use to improve communication and strengthen working relationships. Producers from all levels and forms of live performance in Vancouver are warmly invited to attend and participate in these discussions.
Design Panel at the GVPTA’s Making a Scene Conference
May 28, 2019, 1:30 to 2:45, SFU Woodwards
The Forum will be hosting a panel called: Working with Designers - Strengthening the Relationship Between Designers and Producers
This is an opportunity for producers and other theatre artists to hear from a panel of designers about the unique challenges facing each design discipline. Through a panel discussion, 5 designers will outline non-fee based strategies that producers and designers can use to improve communication and strengthen working relationships. The goal of this panel discussion will be to foster healthy artistic practices that support both the work and the artists.
If cost is prohibitive, email executivedirector@gvpta.ca to inquire about subsidy options.
Beginner’s Qlab Workshop
at the Making a Scene Conference
10:00am–12:00pm, Wednesday, May 29, 2019. The Post at 750, East Studio
This interactive session will introduce participants to the fundamentals of QLab software to run sound and video in theatre. Facilitators will cover all the basic functions of the software, then create a showfile from scratch as they illustrate some of what is possible with this powerful tool. Ample time will be allotted for questions and discussion throughout the workshop.
This beginner's workshop is ideal for anyone who is curious about the QLab software but hasn’t yet had the opportunity to try it or spend much time learning it.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own Apple Macbook with QLab 4 software installed (available for free download at figure53.com/qlab) and build the showfile along with facilitators, however computers are not required to participate in the workshop.
All theatre artists, including designers, directors, performers, stage managers and technical directors are welcome.
WORKSHOP FEE & REGISTRATION:
This workshop is limited to 20 participants and separate registration is required. Register early!
Conference Delegate Rate: FREE (separate Eventbrite registration required)
Find the QLab promo code in your conference registration confirmation email. Contact us with questions.
Standalone Workshop Rate: $20
Not attending the conference? Limited space is available for non-conference delegates.
ADC / PGC / Equity / PACT / GVPTA Member Standalone Workshop Rate: $15
Please provide your applicable membership number or member name in the QLab registration
If cost is prohibitive, email executivedirector@gvpta.ca to inquire about subsidy options.
(Note: fees subject to GST)
Vectorworks: Beyond 2D
A demonstration of 3D scenic drafting techniques.
April 20, 2019, 11am. SFU Woodwards: Room 2340.
Participation fee: $10 for ADC members, $15 for non-ADC members.
This workshop is geared towards set designers - and anyone else with a basic or intermediate knowledge of the software - who are interested in learning new ways of using it. It will be the first in hopefully a series of Vectorworks workshops.
To secure a spot in the workshop, please send your participation fee to vandesignforum@gmail.com through PayPal or E-Transfer.
If the fee presents a barrier to your participation, please let us know and we will chat about a concession - accessibility is extremely important to us.
Vancouver Design Forum
April 15, 2019, 7:30 to 9:30pm - The Post at 750 Hamilton
At our second Vancouver Designer’s Forum we discussed our upcoming Producer/Designer meeting at the GVPTA’s Making a Scene conference in late spring, 2019. This forum was be an opportunity for participants to discuss how to shape the event and to give input on what’s most important for us to communicate to producers.
The evening consisted mainly of input and dialogue around Making A Scene, as well as short updates from committees that were formed based on the feedback from our last forum. As always, we closed with some general discussion about further future initiatives the community would like to see from the Forum.
A Symposium with Bruce Ramus
March 15, 2019, 10am-12pm - Museum of Vancouver, 1100 Chestnut Street
Please Join us for a design industry discussion with Bruce Ramus. A collaborative symposium by The Museum of Vancouver, Vancouver Design Forum, and AMIYA Events
Bruce Ramus is a lighting artist based in Australia, hailing from Squamish. He has designed lighting for international music tours as well as for high profile live broadcast events. In recent years, Bruce has turned his attention to public works and installations in communal spaces designed to reflect our environment, encourage social engagement and articulate our visual civic voice. He and his studio present a new art form, offering an integrated canvas that both reflects the environment and encourages public engagement. https://www.ramus.com.au/artist/
Bruce will be sharing his experiences and challenges on the road to becoming the accomplished designer he is today. We will be discussing contemporary questions surrounding scaling up the theatre design process into larger events and environmental situations.
https://www.ramus.com.au/process
Space is limited:
Please RSVP to amiyaevents@gmail.com
VANCOUVER WOMEN’S MARCH
January 19, 2019, 10am to 12pm. Vancouver Art Gallery
The Vancouver Design Forum fully endorses and stands with March on Canada and the Vancouver Women’s March. The issues we face as designers are deeply connected to everything this movement stands for and we look forward to seeing lots of folks from the design community there.
VANCOUVER DESIGNER’S FORUM
Monday Nov 26th from 7:30-9:30 PM at The Post at 750 Hamilton Street.
Our first Vancouver Designer’s Forum was a fantastic opportunity to gather and listen to what our community wants. We learned a lot at this event and will be using the information we gathered to move forward and shape what the Forum does next.
We believe strongly in the strength and vibrancy of our design community, and it was wonderful to see so many of you there. Click here for the meeting minutes.
Stage Managers & Designers Meet-Up
Monday, September 17, 7-10pm, CRAFT Beer Market Vancouver
The 2nd SM/Designer Meet-Up was a great success! The event was very well attended and elicited a lot of interesting feedback.
Designers and stage managers share a lot of common experience and challenges. When we know each other, we support each other. When we support each other, we improve the working conditions for all of us. We are the best resource that we have.
Hosted by Lois Dawson & Conor Moore.
Photo credits: Las Cruces by Vincent Delaney, Produced at Premiere Stages / 2016. Scenic design: Patrick Rizzotti, Lighting Design: Brant Murray, Costume design: Karen Hart, Sound design: Janie Bullard. Actors in photo: Brian Sutherland and Diomargy Nuñez. Photo by Patrick Rizzotti.