Workshops & Artist-Led Activities
empowering people to engage meaningfully with the arts and each other
workshops in art galleries, museums, communities & schools
This intercultural workshop brings together people of all ages, cultures and walks of life, to explore and discuss the meanings of the lyrics of each others’ culturally significant songs, and then sing them in each others’ languages.
Conducted with Bengali, Chinese, Tamil, West Indian, Ethiopian and Spanish Participants, this workshop was hosted by Harmony Hall Centre for Seniors in Toronto, resulted in a three-year program and culminated in several successful public performances. Read more
This workshop brings together people of various cultures to discuss the similarities, differences and varying interpretations of symbols occurring in weaving patterns
Participants discover hidden gems and delicious treats in previously unexplored neighbourhood restaurants. Here, Participants may also tour the kitchen, meet the chef, discuss the making and presentation of the food, and experience the art and music of the culture as they dine.
The Chef speaks with Participants at Hirut Restaurant on the Danforth in Toronto.
Designed for arts schools, this workshop introduces young participants to the basics of syncretic art, integrating visual art, music, theatre and dance.
pictured here: workshop participants performing at TASIS school in Dorado, Puerto Rico
a performance workshop designed to honour and illuminate aspects of the refugee experience, commissioned by UNHCR
Rooted in stories of our lives, this workshop enables participants to develop powerful choreography, music and performances.
pictured here: Shellshock performance presented at Music Gallery, Toronto, and developed in collaboration with University Settlement House Choir
A 6 month Syncretic Art project commissioned by HRDC - Human Resources Development Canada - for 16 youth deemed to be "at risk" in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Through daily workshops in a wide range of artistic disciplines the youth developed a series of performances — integrating sound, voice, movement and sculpture —which toured to over 25 seniors' homes, festivals, fairs and art galleries across Central Ontario.
for Museums & Art Galleries
click on images for details
. . . interacting with & Animating collections
. . . Finding Meaning in Art
. . . intercultural engagement
Participants discover hidden gems and delicious treats in previously unexplored neighbourhood restaurants. Here, Participants may also tour the kitchen, meet the chef, discuss the making and presentation of the food, and experience the art and music of the culture as they dine.
The Chef speaks with Participants at Hirut Restaurant on the Danforth in Toronto.
This workshop brings together people of all ages and cultures to share stories and explore common phrases and expressions.
Cultivating unity in diversity this workshop was first conducted with Ethiopian, Burmese, Spanish and First Nations people in Toronto.
Participants of all cultures welcome the opportunity to share their stories of their journeys from their homelands to settling in Canada.
This workshop can be conducted indoors or outdoors as required. Pictured here is an event created for World Refugee Day hosted by United Nations Refugee Agency: UNHCR.
Participants discuss issues of importance in conversation with the Artist, documented on video
. . . Hands-on workshops
. . . full scale projects — 3 weeks to 6 months
This intercultural workshop brings together people of all ages, cultures and walks of life, to explore and discuss the meanings of the lyrics of each others’ culturally significant songs, and then sing them in each others’ languages.
Conducted with Bengali, Chinese, Tamil, West Indian, Ethiopian and Spanish Participants, this workshop was hosted by Harmony Hall Centre for Seniors in Toronto, resulted in a three-year program and culminated in several successful public performances. Read more
Designed for arts schools, this workshop introduces young participants to the basics of syncretic art, integrating visual art, music, theatre and dance.
pictured here: workshop participants performing at TASIS school in Dorado, Puerto Rico
Rooted in stories of our lives, this workshop enables participants to develop powerful choreography, music and performances.
pictured here: Shellshock performance presented at Music Gallery, Toronto, and developed in collaboration with University Settlement House Choir
A 6 month Syncretic Art project commissioned by HRDC - Human Resources Development Canada - for 16 youth deemed to be "at risk" in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Through daily workshops in a wide range of artistic disciplines the youth developed a series of performances — integrating sound, voice, movement and sculpture —which toured to over 25 seniors' homes, festivals, fairs and art galleries across Central Ontario.
Designed for university level participants in arts colleges, this workshop explores multiple interpretations of liminal space, interpreting the symbol of the doorway through the creation of found object sound sculptures with sound, movement and performance.
pictured here: participants consider their installation addressing the takeover of Hong Kong by China and the potential situations that might result, at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Designed for arts schools, this workshop empowers Participants to express powerful emotions through sound and movement.
pictured here: student performance at Claude Watson School for the Arts
. . . Interactive Installations created with visitor collaboration
Everyone has lost a glove. Somehow we find it difficult to part with the other one. We keep thinking somehow it will return. We have the same unrealistic ideas about the environment. Unless we do something drastic our environment will be lost forever.
This installation is created with spare gloves from Visitors. Each glove included a pledge to protect the environment.
Workshops explored environmental and social issues.
. . . installations & exhibitions
Dragon Tango features two dragon sound sculptures created entirely out of found objects.
In conjunction with exhibitions of these works, Syncretic Art workshops were offered twice daily over a six-week period for school groups and the general public following exhibitions of Dragon Tango at the Edmonton Art Gallery and Royal Ontario Museum.
Students also participated in the initial stages of Glove Forest, donating single gloves accompanied by messages of hope and pledges to protect the environment.
Arising Phoenix features a sound sculpture of a magical phoenix created in performance.
pictured here: installation at National Gallery of Canada
workshops introduce participants to found object sculptures and performance
Syncretic Art workshops were offered following performances of Arising Phoenix and Dragon Tango in theatres — including Yilan Cultural Centre Theatre, Taiwan; Academy Theatre, Lindsay; and Market Hall, Peterborough.
To the delight of the audience and performers alike, the performance of Arising Phoenix at the Yilan Cultural Centre Theatre culminated in an impromptu jam-session with members of the Taiwanese National Orchestra.
. . . Performance Happenings • spontaneous collaborations
Spontaneous collaborations result in exciting performances.
pictured here: Amanta Scott, piano, Peter Mika, dance for the Escuela de Misterios conference at World Trade Centre, Barcelona, Spain
for Corporations & Non-profit organizations:
. . . cultivating awareness & understanding
Participants of all cultures welcome the opportunity to share their stories of their journeys from their homelands to settling in Canada.
This workshop can be conducted indoors or outdoors as required. Pictured here is an event created for World Refugee Day hosted by United Nations Refugee Agency: UNHCR.
For Arts Schools, Colleges, Universities, Elementary & Secondary Schools
Participants discover hidden gems and delicious treats in previously unexplored neighbourhood restaurants. Here, Participants may also tour the kitchen, meet the chef, discuss the making and presentation of the food, and experience the art and music of the culture as they dine.
The Chef speaks with Participants at Hirut Restaurant on the Danforth in Toronto.
Designed for arts schools, this workshop introduces young participants to the basics of syncretic art, integrating visual art, music, theatre and dance.
pictured here: workshop participants performing at TASIS school in Dorado, Puerto Rico
This workshop empowers participants to find their own interpretations of artworks; create personal responses to artworks through sound and movement; and use an art exhibition as a catalyst for presentations integrating voice, percussion, sound, movement and visual arts.
First offered during the exhibition of Lockdown and 15 Minutes of Fame at Art Gallery of Algoma this workshop was conducted with the public twice daily throughout a 3-week period.
A 6 month Syncretic Art project commissioned by HRDC - Human Resources Development Canada - for 16 youth deemed to be "at risk" in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Through daily workshops in a wide range of artistic disciplines the youth developed a series of performances — integrating sound, voice, movement and sculpture —which toured to over 25 seniors' homes, festivals, fairs and art galleries across Central Ontario.
Designed for university level participants in arts colleges, this workshop explores multiple interpretations of liminal space, interpreting the symbol of the doorway through the creation of found object sound sculptures with sound, movement and performance.
pictured here: participants consider their installation addressing the takeover of Hong Kong by China and the potential situations that might result, at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
Designed for arts schools, this workshop empowers Participants to express powerful emotions through sound and movement.
pictured here: student performance at Claude Watson School for the Arts
Spontaneous collaborations result in exciting performances.
pictured here: Amanta Scott, piano, Peter Mika, dance for the Escuela de Misterios conference at World Trade Centre, Barcelona, Spain
Workshops integrate visual art, music, theatre, mask, dance and storytelling,
Pictured here: Participants in our DoorWays Workshop, sponsored by Human Resources Development Canada for the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Workshops & Artist-led Activities are designed to:
cultivate compassion, learning and understanding through feeling and knowing
open doors to empathy and compassion through storytelling and sharing
bridge cultural, linguistic and generational gaps
enable people to see aspects themselves through others’ stories and creations
further intercultural awareness and understanding through listening, feeling and doing
provide a safe environment where people may express themselves and be heard
motivate personal expression through the arts
combat loneliness, isolation and alienation
connect people through play, storytelling, song, movement, painting, performance, and laughter
empower and enable us to appreciate new values, priorities and perspectives
develop awareness of subconscious bias through collaborative activities
demonstrate the power of the arts to communicate and explore relevant personal issues
present multiple options, avenues and vehicles for communicating through the arts
explore tools for coping with depression and present alternatives to substance abuse, self-harm and suicide
deepen personal connections with the arts
demonstrate why the arts matter
deepen public engagement with art
bring together people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and abilities, including: seniors, adults, youth, children, Indigenous people, newcomers, disenfranchised individuals and people with special needs
include people speaking in up to eight languages. Translators are welcomed
(Amanta speaks English and Spanish, with basic French and Japanese)
Given the power of the arts to trigger strong emotions and poignant memories, Workshops and Artist-led activities are also conducted in association with mental health, spiritual and/or career counsellors, as required.
This workshop empowers participants to find their own interpretations of artworks; create personal responses to artworks through sound and movement; and use an art exhibition as a catalyst for presentations integrating voice, percussion, sound, movement and visual arts.
First offered during the exhibition of Lockdown and 15 Minutes of Fame at Art Gallery of Algoma this workshop was conducted with the public twice daily throughout a 3-week period.
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