Facilitator Application for The Open Workshop for Comics Creators
Canada Comics Open Library
Posted: June 18th, 2021
Closing Date: August 15th, 2021
Workshop Facilitator: Canada Comics Open Library
Timeline: Each selected artist will host 1 event during September, 2021 - December 31st, 2021 inclusive. 8 artist-led events in total (apx. 2 each month).
Location: Online through Canada Comics Open Library’s Zoom
Support: $473
Before submitting an application, please read over the following project requirements to make sure you will be able to commit to the workload, as well as be sure to answer the questions included below. This project is open to those who reside in Ontario, Canada. Interested applicants that require more assistance will also be able to fill out an application form online with a CCOL staff member, please email in advance to set up an appointment so we can be sure an experienced volunteer will be there to assist you. Please email us at info@canadacomicsol.org if you have any further questions.
Project Description
The Canada Comics Open Library invites applications for Facilitators for The Open Workshop! For this project, we will be working with 8-15 Ontario comics creators from a wide range of genres that will facilitate professional development workshops covering a variety of skills and topics for participating comics creators.
At each event (8 altogether), comics creators will speak about their work and facilitate one workshop and Q&A with participants.
Consideration will be given to comics writers/illustrators, pencilers, script writers, letterers, inkers, and editors who have produced meaningful and substantial bodies of work. Creators must have published more than 2 titles, or include samples of soon to be published work. We will also consider webcomics, such as comics serialized on Instagram or another website, as examples of published titles.
We will also acknowledge self-published works, including zines, in our consideration of creators to make space for up-and-coming creators who may be underrepresented in traditional media or lack access to mainstream publication venues.
We want to especially encourage applications from creators of marginalized genders and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) creators.
All applicants must be available to participate in online events through Zoom; potentially, future functions of the project may occur in the Toronto branch location, but this is not mandatory and currently canceled for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19 safety measures.
Project Deliverables
- Facilitating 1 workshop event
- Workshop themes might include: autobiographical comics; rewriting history through comics; untraditional and traditional scripting/lettering/penciling inking techniques; political comics; self-publishing— and much more.
- We suggest facilitators attend some of the other artist-led workshops (if their availability allows), to encourage continued engagement, conversation, and a sense of community.
Participating artists will also gain access to resources at CCOL, including the library collection, which currently includes over 1400 titles, spanning multiple genres and artistic styles, as well as tools (lightboard, pens, pencils, table space). Though our collection is currently non-circulating for the public, Facilitators may check items out from the collection for the duration of the project (maximum 10 items at once). If safe, artists are welcome to use the library!
Important: All workshops will be free to all creators, but creators must register by submitting a separate application to attend workshops. Those who submit an application to facilitate a workshop do not need to submit a separate application for attending workshops. The workshop participant application can be found here.
We aim to keep workshops reserved for 10-15 participants at most. Since these are workshops aimed at professional development for comics creators, we ask that all participants have some experience creating comics, including through self-publishing zines or webcomics. For this reason, we have created two separate online applications, one for workshop facilitators and one for workshop participants. Once a participant’s application to attend workshops is accepted, they are welcome to attend all of the workshops. Facilitators are welcome and encouraged to attend other workshops!
Remuneration
Each facilitator will be paid the following:
- Artist presentation fees per half day, for under 4 hours, include:
- Speaking about their work (15-20 minutes)
- Facilitating workshop for participants
- Participant Q and A throughout
- Preparation work
- 2 workshop facilitators will share each event and deliver separate workshops (60 minutes each, so each event will be 120 minutes in total)
=$473
Remuneration schedule to artists will be as follows:
Full payment on the day of their workshop = $473
To calculate artist remuneration, we consulted the Canadian Artists’ Representation/Le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC) website using the CARFAC/RAAV Minimum Recommended Fee Schedule. Professional Fees were determined by recommended presentation fees per half day, under four hours with significant preparation work.
About the hosts
The Canada Comics Open Library (CCOL) is a registered non-profit organization that aims to be an inclusive, educational, and recreational public space for comics and graphic novels while showcasing the work of Canadian creators and supporting comics communities. We define Canadian creators as those who have lived or worked within the boundary of the land referred to as Canada. This is to acknowledge that not all creators in Canada necessarily identify as being Canadian.
CCOL aims to fill a hole in the current cultural landscape with regards to comics accessibility. We hope to broadly promote the medium and creators through developing meaningful partnerships and a diverse collection. We also work with various Canadian artists and comics-related communities in Canada to promote accessibility to and recognition of the Canadian comics scene. We also want to be a part of increasing representation of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and marginalized comics creators, stories, and art.
The Canada Comics Open Library is located at CSI (The Centre for Social Innovation) Annex at 720 Bathurst Street on the fourth floor. For more information, visit our website Contact page.
Accessibility info
CSI Annex and the comics library are wheelchair accessible. However, fully accessible washrooms are located on the first floor; washrooms on the 4th floor are not wheelchair accessible. Gender-neutral washrooms are located on the 1st and 4th floor.
Live captioning will be available on Zoom.
Application Submission
To submit an application, please provide answers to the questions below and email to info@canadacomicsol.org. Please include in the subject line: “CCOL Facilitator Application”. Or, fill out this Google form.
A CV is not required for this application.
Please feel free to resubmit answers from previous applications to CCOL, but be sure to include any updates!
- Full name for publication and display
- Pronouns
- Please describe the kind of comics that you create (50-300 words)
- Please provide links or access to samples of your work (social media, website, online portfolio, etc.), or reference zines or publications that your work can be found within. Self-published works are welcome.
- If you are selected to host a workshop, please list a preference for the month of your workshop. Please choose at least 3 months in order of preference.
- The following months are available in 2021: September, October, November, December; we may potentially extend the project into January and February, 2022.
- What would your workshop/presentation look like? Please describe in one paragraph or less. Note: this does not need to be concrete and applicants will not be required to carry out exactly what is proposed. (50-300 words)
- This is your chance to add anything else you find relevant in your experience that should be included in the application! (I.e. have you previously hosted workshops, drawing events, meetups, etc? Are you involved in the comics community in Toronto, elsewhere in Canada, or abroad?) (50-300 words)
- Optional: Please indicate if you are a member of one or more of the following priority groups: 2SLGBTQIAP creators, creators of marginalized genders, and BIPOC creators.
- This information is important for helping us understand how effective our outreach is and whether we are able to meet our organizational goals. It is also important for us to know these demographics for when we submit final project reports, and understand areas where we might need to improve. Individual applicants’ personal information will not be publicly shared.
CCOL staff will contact you regarding the status of your application within 60 days of your submission. Selected applicants will need to be available for discussing the details of their workshop as soon as possible. We will keep all applications on file for future project opportunities for one year. We will carefully consider all applications, and will do our best to select fair and diverse representation from those who apply.
Thank you!
Project Administrators: Rotem Anna Diamant and Jordan Reg. Aelick
Selection Committee Members: Folarin Agbaje, Rotem Anna Diamant, Ardo Omer
This project is produced with the support of the Ontario Arts Council.
