Megan Folden

Going into 2020, Moniquea Marion was working on an unscripted travel web series called Fuel Up. The six-part series saw her travel Canada’s west coast on a motorcycle alone looking for food, beautiful riding, and adventure.

Then the pandemic happened.

Marion planned to expand Fuel Up into an actual 30 to 60-minute-long travel series, but the pandemic changed everything. Though she had some great producers excited about the project, the pandemic had a major effect on the market. “Travel shows just weren’t happening during, or coming out of the pandemic,” she says.

Undiscouraged by the state of the market, and busy with several other projects, Marion has continued to work on Fuel Up in the background over the past few years. When the chance to work on the project as part of an exciting new program arose, she jumped at the opportunity.

Marion was selected as one of six participants in the Whistler Film Festival 23 Saskatchewan Market Accelerator, a new, unique program funded by Creative Saskatchewan in partnership with the Whistler Film Festival. The program is an intensive multi-phase project development program designed to accelerate the careers of Saskatchewan-based producers while developing original narrative or factual projects, like Fuel Up.

Her experience in Whistler has helped Marion move Fuel Up closer to production. She met a lot of great people during her time in Whistler, including producers from Europe and India there who are very excited about the project. “Taking the show out of the Canadian landscape, where it’s too risky right now, and transitioning it to somewhere like India might make it work,” she says. “I learned how important it is to be flexible on whatever project you’re working on to see if become as successful as possible.”

In addition to Fuel Up, Marion is also working on comedy, drama series, children’s, and a couple of unscripted series. Undoubtedly, her time in Whistler has helped push her and her projects forward. “I’m really grateful for all the opportunities Creative Saskatchewan has made available to me,” she says. “Creative Saskatchewan really is in your corner.”

Josephine Tambwe feza kabibi was a successful recipient of our Showcase or Sell Travel Grant to attend the Art Expo in New York.

What local artist Josephine Tambwe does with copper is nothing short of incredible.

Tambwe started her craft in 1989. After seven years of training, she was told it was time to open her own studio. She has been making magic with copper ever since.

When showing her work in shows and galleries, Tambwe is often asked how she manages to paint such vibrant colours on copper. The thing is, though, copper cannot be painted. Those bright, vibrant colours are not achieved with paint, but by heating the metal.

Copper can turn to gold, bronze, red, or other colours by slowly heating it. The slow-burning process is not for the impatient as it can take days to achieve the desired colour. You don’t colour the copper but rather use the colours that are already in it.

After successfully applying for a Creative Saskatchewan Showcase or Sell Travel Grant, Tambwe travelled to Art Expo New York 24 with many of her works.

The show was amazing. Tambwe was the only artist exhibiting copper pieces and attendees were blown away by her art. This was her first time exhibiting in New York, and the connections she made there have led to further business — Tambwe remains in talks with artists and gallerists from New York, Miami, Barcelona, and Germany.