How closed doors brought Brampton artists to the world.
Upon its closure in March, The Rose Brampton quickly pivoted to meet the new needs of audiences, students, and parents through free programming with The Rose at Home, presented virtually for the first time. Digital initiatives under The Rose at Home included This is Brampton: Live Online, General Admission, Shake It Up: The Radio Play Series, and Arts for Change workshops.
This Is Brampton: Live Online, a virtual concert series launched in April, transformed The Rose’s This is Brampton performance series, the home of which is Studio II, to weekly concerts on Facebook Live. The series is curated by local arts organizations working with The Rose’s programming team, in genres ranging from hip hop to alt rock. Over the past 6 months, The Rose presented 23 concerts and 42 artists, garnering over 256,000 views from audiences around the world. Artists were fairly compensated and provided full marketing, technical, and programming support.
The Rose also presented General Admission, a special virtual series of 3 concerts with 13 artists, featuring some of the most exciting names in the music industry, with the final concert broadcast live from the venue’s stage. Artists included Canadian hip hop icon Maestro Fresh Wes; progressive rock duo Crown Lands; and pop star Virginia to Vegas.
The Arts Adventure Education Series made an indelible impact on the lives of 1458 participants of all ages, and included 37 workshops and speakers. Shake It Up: Shakespeare Festival, which once invited classrooms to create a 30-min Shakespeare play became the Radio Play Virtual Series, offered for free to anyone who wished to participate.
In response to civic unrest, and calls for action from the local community, Arts for Change workshops were created as a safe place to discuss social impact and the arts. Acclaimed professional artists served as panellists in workshops, encouraging participants to advocate for change through art. Workshops included writing; music and dance; podcasting and film; and theatre and comedy. Panellists featured Ian Keteku, Jael Richardson, Denz McFarlane, Charles Hong, Falen Johnson, NOYZ, Maya Annik Bedward, and more.
The Rose worked with local arts organizations, such as Brampton Music Theatre, and The Hive Performing Arts, to co-present Broadway Masterclasses, Stage Acting Basics, and The Art of Monologues. Featured artists included Broadway stars Alvin Crawford and Syndee Winters; Lumena Daniel; and Katie Travis.
“All of us at The Rose are deeply grateful to the City of Brampton, and to the artists and audiences who continue to make This Is Brampton Live Online such a tremendous success,” says Steven Schipper, Executive Artistic Director. He adds, “Through our efforts online, foremost through TIBLO, we remain steadfast in our mission to support local artists and arts organizations; and provide our audiences with exceptional artistic experiences that add to the well-being of our beloved Brampton.”
www.therosebrampton.ca
