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Carrie Sweeney

La Nouvelle Plume Brings Francophone Voices To The Forefront

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Francophone publisher La Nouvelle Plume has been awarded the Book Publishing Grant (Publisher’s Stream) for their 2023-24 Publication Program.

This grant supported the publication of four books by seven different authors, under the guidance of Managing Editor Jean-Pierre Picard. La Nouvelle Plume is dedicated to stimulating the interest of Francophones and Francophiles of all ages and backgrounds in writing and reading by publishing quality books in French in Saskatchewan. The 2023-2024 program includes the following notable works:

Les quatre saisons de Rousse-Bedaine / The Four Seasons of Rusty-Belly

Author: Danielle S. Marcotte

Illustrator: Francesca Da Sacco

This book offers a poetic journey through the heart of the seasons and introduces readers to the migratory world of birds in the beautiful Boundary Bay Regional Park in British Columbia. Visual Material for this bilingual children’s book was provided by Ducks Unlimited.

La Nation provisoire / The Provisional Nation

Author: Laurier Gareau

This work features key figures of the resistance that shook the Métis world in the Northwest and the relations between Francophones and Anglophones.

Du rêve parisien au froid des Prairies / From Parisian Dreams to the Cold of the Prairies

Author: Pierre Minkala-Ntadi

A man with dreams of Paris ends up on the Canadian Prairies. This novel provides a unique perspective on the adaptation of newcomers to Canadian reality.

À cœur ouvert / With Open Hearts

Authors: Frédérique Roussel, Sharon Pulvermacher, Mychèle Fortin, and Marie Carrière

This collection unites poems, tales, stories, and reveries in a unique universe punctuated by tenderness, heartbreak, allegories, and adventures.

Two of these recently published authors celebrated their book launch last year. Notably, Pierre Minkala-Ntadi became the first author of African origin published by La Nouvelle Plume. The grant facilitated the publication of his book and the hiring of an editor to help improve his manuscript.

La Nouvelle Plume book launch
Pierre Minkala-Ntadi speaks at his book launch alongside Laurier Gareau

Additionally, the grant enabled the publication of Laurier Gareau’s most recent play, La Nation provisoire / The Provisional Nation, and the recruitment of French Métis language specialist Robert A. Papen to review the language used in the book. The book includes a short text by Papen explaining the nature of the French Métis language.

La Nouvelle Plume continues to be a beacon of Francophone literature, enriching the cultural landscape with diverse voices and stories.

Visit their website to learn more about their publications: https://plume.refc.ca/

Follow La Nouvelle Plume on socials:

Facebook

Breaking Boundaries: respectful child Creates Impactful Album Trailer

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Musician respectfulchild received Creative Saskatchewan’s Marketing Grant (Micro Stream) to promote their album 更新 re:new.

Starting music lessons at just four years old, respectfulchild has been playing violin for most of their life. After hundreds of hours of required practice and exams, they managed to maintain a loving relationship with music. The multidisciplinary artist has been making ambient, experimental music with their violin and exploring their creativity since 2015. Creating under the name respectfulchild (a literal translation of the mandarin name given to them by their grandmother)their unconventional use of a classical instrument creates exquisitely unique sounds that captivate and inspire listeners.

respectfulchild performing for their album release show
respectfulchild performing for their album release show

With the support of the Marketing grant, they promoted their most recent album 更新 re:new which came out in November of 2023. The grant allowed respectfulchild to hire a digital promoter, work with a film crew to create a trailer, and create some fun special effects such as a prosthetic belly, CD ultrasound, and a violin puppet named ‘Pluck’. With the album’s theme being connected to gender, the artist designed the video concept as a play on pregnancy announcements and gender reveals. “The trailer has given me and the album lots of visible recognition when I go to play festivals and shows.”

respectfulchild and the crew involved in the making of the album trailer.
respectfulchild and the crew involved in making the album trailer

This concept album draws a parallel between their classical music training and the gender binary. “I was thinking of how the violin is a body and how we’re taught to use that body in a specific way, in the same way we’re taught very specific things about ourselves based on the body we’re born into,” they explained, “I wanted a space to question all these rules we are told, whether it’s about music or about our place in society.” The album travels through a farewell to classical music and their gender, moments of pause, uncertainty, despair, and renewal. “By the end of it, I realize that I don’t have to throw everything away, but that it’s empowering to be able to choose what I want to keep rather than doing things a certain way because we’re told to.”

 

The album launch was a success, selling round the world, with airplay as far as Stuttgart, Germany. The artist has plans to make more videos with Pluck, the violin puppet, and will be making an appearance at Winterruption in Saskatoon later this month. Visit their website to stay up to date: www.respectfulchild.com

View the album trailer here:

A special shoutout from respectfulchild to those involved in the making of the video:  

  • Directed by Gavin Baird 
  • Starring Aldeneil Española as the Doctor 
  • Set dressing by Levi Mierau, Heather Adrian, and Myriad Entertainment  
  • Violin puppet by Levi Mierau and Laura Crossman 
  • Ultrasound VFX by Kyler Wilton 
  • Cinematography and colour grading by RAKK Productions 
  • Rip/ac by Jacob Farrell 

 Listen to the album here: respectfulchild.bandcamp.com

Follow respectfulchild on socials:    

Instagram

 

Canada’s Queen of Afro Beats Gains Global Acclaim

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Zochi was a successful recipient of Creative Saskatchewan’s Marketing Grant (Micro Stream) for the promotion of her debut EP and music video.

Dubbed “Canada’s Queen of Afro Beats,” Zochi has made a name for herself. From performing at the Grand River Black Music Festival to opening for Hip-Hop Legend Solitair and Canada’s Queen of RNB Jully Black. She was nominated for Contemporary Artist of the Year at the SaskMusic Awards, and her hit single Alone (Whole Again) has gained international acclaim.

Ready to launch her EP, Afrikaanman Fairytale (AFT), and promote it, Zochi applied for Creative Saskatchewan’s funding to help meet her goals.

Zochi's AFT Album
‎Afrikaanman Fairytale (AFT)Album Cover

Through accessing the marketing grant Zochi was able to work with a publicist for the first time in her career. This connection expanded her reach to radio stations and DJ pools across Canada and internationally. Whole Again received significant airplay, including features on Marvin’s Room CBC Nationwide and iHeart Radio—an American radio streaming platform. The song became a regular part of Orbit Radio’s programming in Toronto, Canada. Additionally, interviews across both national and international platforms have been instrumental in enhancing her brand, amplifying her artistic exposure, and boosting her commercial presence.

The use of the grant facilitated the production of her first official music video, featuring a song that means a lot to Zochi, “Alone (Whole Again) is my first Afrobeats composition and is a song I used to truly bring to light my identity with Same Sex Love, and Religion.” She was moved to see how her story resonated with people worldwide. She adds, “I am truly thankful to Creative Saskatchewan for their support, this opportunity was a dream come true that helped inspire more dreams and overcome many fears I had. It feels like laying the foundation and now I am building on it. Thank you guys!”

With her followers steadily climbing, Zochi is amping up to create a short film to continue promoting her new EP. The artist continues to captivate audiences with each new release, showing no signs of slowing down. Follow her journey and stay updated through her website or the social media links below.

Follow Zochi on socials:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

NEW – Annotation Mode in GMS

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Streamline Your Grant Process with Annotation Mode

In early January 2025, Creative Saskatchewan will be adding Annotation Mode to our Grant Management System (GMS). This collaborative tool allows users to add notes and responses directly to specific fields within a grant record, significantly enhancing the review and feedback process. We are currently piloting this feature for Final Reporting in GMS and it will be configured for applications sometime in the new year.

What is Annotation Mode?

Annotation Mode enables users to make comments or suggestions on individual fields without altering the rest of the report. This is particularly useful for providing feedback or requesting clarifications during the reporting process. Our Program Advisors can annotate fields that need changes or additional information, and grant recipients can respond directly to these annotations. Integrated into the workflow, annotations ensure a structured review process where feedback is documented and addressed systematically.

How Does It Improve the Current Process?

Current Process:

  • Final report is submitted.
  • Program Advisor reviews and notes changes in a text box.
  • Applicant manually locates each item needing updates.
  • Process repeats until all items are addressed.

New Process with Annotation Mode:

  • Final report is submitted.
  • Program Advisor reviews and annotates specific fields needing changes.
  • Applicant sees a list of annotated fields and can directly address each one.
  • Process repeats until all annotations are resolved.

Benefits of Annotation Mode

  1. Efficiency: By allowing Program Advisors to annotate specific fields, the need for applicants to manually search for items needing updates is eliminated. This saves time and reduces the potential for errors.
  2. Clarity: Each annotation provides clear, field-specific feedback, making it easier for applicants to understand and address the required changes.
  3. Streamlined Communication: Annotations are integrated into the workflow, ensuring that all feedback is documented and systematically addressed. This improves communication between Program Advisors and applicants.
  4. Structured Review Process: Reviewers can mark annotations as resolved once the necessary changes are made, ensuring a thorough and organized review process.

With Annotation Mode, we aim to make the grant review process more efficient, transparent, and user-friendly. We believe this new feature will greatly enhance your experience with final reporting, making it easier to manage and respond to feedback.

We hope you find this new feature as exciting and useful as we do!

Follow this step-by-step guide on how to use Annotation mode in GMS.

Log in to our Grant Management System (GMS) to get started today.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Program Team.

Off Guard Triumphs: Theatre as a Catalyst for Social Justice

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Ibukun Fasunhan’s play Off Guard made its world debut this year with the help of Creative Saskatchewan’s Live Performing Arts Production grant.

Fasunhan has an extensive history with theatre, beginning with his role as stage manager while attending the University of Lagos in Nigeria. After contributing to several productions under different roles, he now focuses on playwriting and directing to advocate for social justice. His first play in Regina, Rites of Passage, premiered last year and delves into the trauma that he and others have faced during the immigration process.
Ibukun Fasunhan, writer and director of "Off Guard"
Ready to continue his work, he sought out Creative Saskatchewan’s funding opportunities to support his next project, “The grant has been invaluable in honing my skills in writing and directing. On a personal level, it has allowed me to contribute to my community and social justice in my own way, while professionally, it has enabled me to continue pursuing my art.”

The playwright’s newest production, Off Guard, follows four Black students from diverse backgrounds as they defy the odds stacked against them in Canadian universities and find themselves confronting the harsh and unrelenting realities of racism. Their stories were formed from the harrowing lived experiences of 31 Black students across Canada. Off Guard was selected as part of the plays to be featured for the On Cue Performance Hub’s Season of Plays in 2024 at the Shubox Theatre in University of Regina."Off Guard" poster

Ibukun curated audience participation into his production to foster important dialogues. The audience was split into two groups, supporting and opposing sides, which switched roles as the discussion progressed and solutions for each character were explored. “Dismantling racism is a responsibility that everyone must actively engage in,” Fasunhan explained, “The audience discussion after the second act was incredibly productive, and it was fascinating to hear how the audience came up with various solutions to the issues presented on stage.” The play sheds light on the critical need for stronger anti-racism policies in universities, and he is proud to inform audiences about the societal issues affecting marginalized communities, “My goal was always to leave the audience with something to reflect on, something that would challenge their perspectives and inspire them to take action in their own lives. To know that the play achieved that—encouraging people to think critically about the world around them—gives me a deep sense of fulfillment and purpose.”

Following the successful reception of his play, Ibukun plans to take the play to festivals across Canada, including the cities where the stories originated. Using his artform as a powerful tool for social change—the writer continues providing visibility to Black voices within educational institutions and theatre spaces across Canada.

Follow Ibukun on socials:

Facebook

Instagram

Kathleen O’Grady Takes Holiday Markets By Storm

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Kathleen O’Grady successfully applied for our Showcase or Sell Travel grant, which provides support to individuals and businesses to attend markets, industry showcases and pitch events. The funding from this grant allowed her to attend four holiday markets in 2024.

Here’s what she had to say:

 

“This grant allowed me to grow my business for the four shows that I did with the the grant and I was able to have new people sign up, new customers added to my e-mail list and I was able to grow my revenues, which was fantastic. The support is wonderful.”

We’re thrilled that you had a successful market season, Kathleen! You can check out Kathleen’s beautiful hand-painted and naturally-dyed apparel here.

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