Collingwood, ON [ 04 November 2025] – Join us on Thursday, November 13 for the 2025 Creative Collingwood Symposium: Nurturing Supportive Arts Ecosystem, an in-person event that brings together the vibrant, talented and diverse arts community in our region and beyond.
In collaboration with the South Georgian Bay Small Business Enterprise Centre and the Collingwood BIA, the Town of Collingwood will host guest speakers Andrea Battersby and Geoff Doner, creators of Toronto collective Bureau of Power and Light who will walk us through the importance of building meaningful connections among artists and creatives by exploring the transformative power of community, collaboration, and cross-sectoral support.
This year’s symposium will:
- Highlight the role of community and peer support in sustaining artistic practice
- Showcase models of collaborative creation that strengthens the interconnection between art and community
- Explore platforms and initiatives that empower artists through shared resources, mentorship, and visibility
- Encourage open dialogue on building inclusive, resilient networks that celebrate diversity
Through interactive discussion and shared experiences, participants will leave with actionable strategies to cultivate a thriving, supportive arts ecosystem in their own communities.
Event Details:
- Thursday, November 13, 2025, 5:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
- Men with Knives, Larder – 10 Ronell Crescent, Collingwood, ON
- Tickets: $20, available at: https://ticketscene.ca/events/57120/
A tasty light boxed meal and non-alcoholic beverage are included with your ticket purchase.
Speaker Bios
Andrea Battersby is a multidisciplinary artist Andrea Battersby whose work examines displacement and the role of privilege in fostering equity and empathy. Her immersive installations span theatrical vignettes, mobiles, large-scale drawings, sculptural paper forms, and soundscapes. Her visual designs—album covers and music videos—blend vintage/futuristic aesthetics using modest materials to evoke layered emotional narratives.
Geoff Donner is a classically trained musician, performer, producer, graphic designer, and dedicated community builder. With over two decades of experience behind the scenes, he has served as an art director, crew lead, and set construction supervisor across television, theatre, corporate events, large-scale live productions, and live-to-air broadcasts.
The event location is wheelchair accessible with accessible washroom.
