Creative Collective for Change is next phase of Resist Violence
Pat Romano (Faculty, Humanities) and Kim Simard (Faculty, Cinema | Communications) are beginning to implement the next phase of their project, which has been shared with administrators and educators across Canada and with faculty and professionals at Dawson鈥檚 Ped Days.
The Creative Collective for Change is the name of a two-year project that has secured an Entente Canada-Qu茅bec grant. This fall, Pat and Kim are forming an advisory committee to work together in the development and launching of the new para-academic initiative. It will provide students and faculty with an inclusive space to engage on pressing social problems. The unique project blends art, pedagogy and activism, Kim said.
Interdisciplinary, multilayered and timely
鈥淲e aim to bring together a group of students, teachers, administrators,聽鈥媋ctivists,聽artists聽and curators聽鈥媡o work towards developing opportunities for addressing complex social issues in a creative, constructive and critical way,鈥� Kim said. 鈥淥ur project is interdisciplinary, inspired by artistic forms of activism and the theory and practice of nonviolence.鈥�
Pat and Kim are working to engage various bodies of the College and the broader Montreal community to develop common pedagogical projects. 鈥淭hese could take the form of workshops, pop-up exhibits, conference appearances, performances and gallery exhibits.聽鈥婼ome of our聽integrative projects may work as a class exercise or assignment,聽while others as co-curricular activities,鈥� Kim explained.
Creativity as means to break through
鈥淎ll efforts share a common goal of affecting cultural change that resists intersections of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, ecocide, and systems of colonial violence. Our collective works mainly within the Resist Violence pedagogical framework, which聽uses creativity聽鈥媋s a means to break through denial and confront complicity. It works to develop critical ways of understanding the complex realities of violence and oppression in our world, while collectively trying聽鈥媡o聽change it using lessons from nonviolent movements.鈥�
The first CCC collective effort is taking place on Thursday, Sept. 30. It is a collaboration between Resist Violence and Cinema | Communications to be expanded upon throughout the coming years:
Everyone can get involved
If you are interested in getting involved, you can join the Creative Collective for Change by attending a meeting or working on a project. Teachers, employees and students are all welcome. A brainstorming session will take place after mid-terms.
To learn more, propose a project or share ideas, contact:
笔补迟听搁辞尘补苍辞: promano@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
Kim Simard: ksimard@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
