Diaspora Dialogues Presents the 2024 Canadian-Irish Artists Symposium

February 29, 2024

A Canadian-Irish Showcase of Art and Ideas

Fáilte, Bienvenue, Boozhoo, Welcome.

St Patrick’s Day, the celebration of Irish culture, is synonymous around the world with parades, parties and a whole lot of green. Canada, like many countries, has a sizeable Irish diaspora, with twelve percent of us claiming Irish heritage.

This St Paddy’s Day week, Diaspora Dialogues explores what it means to be Canadian, and to be Irish, through the ideas, words and performances of writers and artists from both countries.

As always with Diaspora Dialogues, this showcase takes a whole of society approach, featuring contemporary artists across art forms, languages, cultural backgrounds, genders and ages.

You’re very welcome to join us for public talks, a performance evening, an immersive sound installation, writing workshops and more, in-person at the Heliconian Hall in Toronto, with digital writing masterclasses as well. It promises to be both thought-provoking and fun.

All events FREE with registration. ASL available for the public talks.

Presented in partnership with Poetry Ireland.

Event Schedule:

Wednesday March 13

12PM | Masterclass: Finding Your Voice with Francine Cunningham (VIRTUAL)

This masterclass will help participants clarify the place within which they are writing from. We will define what their personal goals are for their writing and how to access that truthful place for their voice to live. Participants will be expected to take part in some writing activities and hopefully feel comfortable sharing throughout the process. This is an interactive workshop that will provide sparks for creation and impart knowledge on different ways of approaching your own life story.

Thursday March 14

12PM | Masterclass: Poetry Writing with Maria McManus (VIRTUAL)

Join poet Maria McManus for an immersive poetry writing masterclass, where words transcend boundaries and emotions flow freely. Delve into the art of crafting evocative verses, as Maria shares her insights on imagery, rhythm, and the power of storytelling through poetry. Whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith or just beginning your poetic journey, this class promises to ignite your creativity and elevate your expression to new heights.

Friday March 15

2PM | Mentoring Workshop: Storytelling with Oein DeBhairduin and SJ Okemow (IN PERSON: HELICONIAN HALL)

Join us for an immersive workshop on storytelling tailored for emerging writers! Uncover the secrets to crafting compelling narratives that captivate readers from start to finish. Through expert guidance, you’ll learn how to develop authentic characters, build engaging plots, and master the art of storytelling to bring your creative visions to life on the page.

3:30PM | Mentoring Workshop: Story Fundamentals with Darach Mac Con Iomair (IN PERSON: HELICONIAN HALL)

Join us for a dynamic workshop designed to empower emerging writers with essential storytelling fundamentals. Participants will delve into the art of crafting compelling narratives, mastering plot development, character building, and the nuances of effective storytelling techniques. This workshop offers invaluable insights to help you unlock your creative potential and captivate your audience with unforgettable stories.

4:30PM | Mentoring Workshop: Writing Methodology with Darach Mac Con Iomaire (IN PERSON: HELICONIAN HALL)

“Writing Methodology” is a dynamic workshop designed for emerging writers seeking to refine their craft. Through interactive exercises and guided discussions, participants will explore various methodologies to develop their unique writing process. From outlining and drafting to revising and polishing, this workshop provides practical strategies to help writers navigate their creative journey with confidence and clarity.

5:30PM | Mother Tongues: An immersive sound installation (IN PERSON: HELICONIAN HALL)

Sound has the power to speak to our soul at a visceral level, deeper and older than language itself. Join us in an auditory feast for the senses in an installation by sound designer John Gzowski, featuring original work in Irish and French produced by Stiúideo Cuan (Galway) and Quotidian Word on the Street (Belfast), as well as theatre artists Merlin Simard (Toronto) and Edwige Jean-Pierre (Ottawa), and singer and actor Jodi Contin (Wasauksing First Nation).

The sound installation will housed at Heliconian Hall, and freely available for listening on Friday, March 15, 2024 (5:30pm-9:30pm) and Saturday, March 16, 2024 (10am-6pm).

7:30PM | Salon Rue Hazelton: An Evening of Poetry and Performance (IN PERSON: HELICONIAN HALL)

Please join us for a lively Friday night cabaret of readings and performance by Irish and Canadian poets, writers, storytellers and musicians, including poets Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi and Catherine Graham, storyteller Oien DeBhairduin, and harpist Sharlene Wallace.

As well as a fascinating tour of the literary and songwriting history of Toronto with novelist and poet Anne Michaels with singer-songwriter David Sereda and guitarist David Gray.

Saturday March 16

10:30AM | Narratives Across Time: The Power of Oral Storytelling (IN PERSON: HELICONIAN HALL + DIGITAL LIVESTREAM)
In cultures that evolved with oral records versus written, storytelling evolved as a vital conduit for preserving and sharing knowledge across generations. Join us as we explore how oral traditions in different cultures shape identity and community, transmitting invaluable wisdom through the ages.

Panelist: Oien DeBhairduin and Anthony Audain

Moderated by: Janet Smyth

What is the power of presenting work in its original language of creation?What possibilities exist for the connection between artist and audience, that needs only be grounded in artistic dialogue, not necessarily shared language? And for performance, do subtitles detract from the integrity of the work, or open up new audience?

Panelists: Darach Mac Con Iomaire, Maria McManus, Merlin Simard and S.J. Okemow

Moderated by: Alison Vicrobeck

How do artists/writers interpret and document experiences of displacement, migration, and discrimination in their art, contributing to the shaping of a collective narrative? What role can collaboration – across cultures, ages, languages, art forms – play in creating a contemporary practice and sparking the imagination of artist and audience?

Panelists: Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi and Nedra Rodrigo

Moderated by: Aparita Bhandari

What is the dynamic interplay between efforts to preserve cultural heritage and identity, with the reality that societies and people evolve every day? Can the frame of cultural preservation act as a catalyst for artists to imagine brand-new narratives for themselves and for the wider society, informed by history but not bound by it?

Panelists: Edward Lee and Chiamaka Enyi-Amadi

Moderated by: Deborah Dundas

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