Harbour Collective, an innovative and forward-thinking organization, is dedicated to nurturing and promoting artistic talent with a strong focus on community engagement and cultural enrichment. Our mission is to create a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic platform where creativity flourishes and diverse artistic voices are celebrated. Central to our mandate is the commitment to uplift and empower Indigenous and marginalized artists working in visual and moving image. A testament to this commitment is the development of our Indigenous LAB series, a pioneering initiative designed specifically for Indigenous artists. This series offers a unique space for creative exploration, skill development, and cultural expression, fostering an environment where Indigenous artists can connect, collaborate, and thrive. At Harbour Collective, we are not just about creating opportunities; we are about cultivating a community where artists of all backgrounds feel valued, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. Through our continued efforts, we strive to be a beacon of artistic innovation and a catalyst for meaningful cultural dialogue.
Key Participants
Liz Barron One of the original founders of Urban Shaman Gallery, a contemporary Indigenous artist run centre based in Winnipeg, Liz Barron has been working within the arts sector for over 20 years. Her skills in managing large scale projects with various Indigenous cultural practices has developed through two major historic initiatives. Barron was the Director for the Métis 10, a Vancouver Olympic project featuring ten Metis artists and a permanent installation and was the program manager for Close Encounters: The next 500 years, an exhibition featuring more than 30 Indigenous artists from around the world and working with four curators. Barron is a registered member of the Manitoba Métis Federation.
Jason Baerg is a registered member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. He is currently the Assistant Professor in Indigenous Practices in Contemporary Painting and Media Art at OCAD University. Dedicated to community development, he founded and incorporated the Métis Artist Collective and has served as volunteer Chair for such organizations as the Aboriginal Curatorial Collective and the National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition. Creatively, as a visual artist, he pushes new boundaries in digital interventions in drawing, painting and new media installation. Recent international solo exhibitions include the Illuminato Festival in Toronto, Canada, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia and the Digital Dome at the Institute of the American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Sasha Kucas is a first-generation Canadian with Croatian ancestry, a writer, and a lens-based artist. Her work explores identity, memory, and motivation through movement. She received a Theatre degree from the University of Winnipeg, a Post-Baccalaureate in Education from the Vancouver Island University and a Fine Arts degree with distinction from the University of Manitoba. Kucas has lived in nine different countries and has traveled to over 300 cities. She is the Communications Manager for Harbour Collective and is the sole-proprietor of Bird Uncaged Productions.
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