The Canadian Latinx Theatre Artist Coalition (CALTAC) and SFU Woodward's Cultural Programs will present the second Coyuntura, on Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16, 2023. A gathering of Latinx multidisciplinary theatre artists, the weekend forum will generate dialogue and discussion on self-identification and what it means in terms of nationality, ethnicity, and cultural competency. Coyuntura will be held at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 West Hastings Street), with a two-day program of assemblies and workshops, a pitch session and screening, dance breaks and chisme.
“Our coalition is thrilled to build on the success of our first Coyuntura in 2020, to bring the community and allies together again, sharing conversations and activities that lift our experience as Latinx artists working and living in Canada,” says CALTAC co-founder and board member Alexandra Lainfiesta. “This year's presentation will deepen the understanding of our positioning within the web of powers. How can we keep cultivating our ability to self-identify in a way in which we can recognize the ways, directly and indirectly, in which we impact and benefit within the systems in place? We live in a complex social world and it is fundamental we come together as artists to reflect, record, reveal and help make sense of our lived experiences.”
Both mornings, attendees will first gather for Café y Chisme, with a welcome on Saturday led by Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter, theatre artists and activists, the daughters of the late Officer of the Order of Canada Lee Maracle and great-granddaughters of Chief Dan George. Victoria-based multi-disciplinary artist and Puente Theatre's Artistic Director Mercedes Bátiz-Benét will give the keynote address. Two morning breakout workshops will be presented by Vancouver classical and contemporary dancer Marco Esccer and Victoria director Lina de Guevara. All participants will gather in a circle facilitated by Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter for the afternoon’s General Assembly with dance breaks by DJ Don Pedro, CALTAC board president Pedro Chamale.
On Sunday morning, attendees can participate in five-minute pitch sessions and watch a screening of Trayectos videos. This will be followed by breakout workshops presented by St. John’s, Newfoundland actor, producer, and playwright Santiago Guzmán and Vancouver video designer Candelario Andrade. A second General Assembly in the afternoon will close the weekend of events, facilitated by Columpa Bobb and Tania Carter, with Ontario actor, playwright, director, and producer Mariló Núñez providing a provocation.
“Our two afternoon assemblies will offer circles for our comunidad and our allies to dig into discourse that tackles the topic of self-identification,” says CALTAC co-founder and board member Carmen Aguirre. “After years of struggle, space and resources are becoming more available to equity-denied communities. How do we discern who claims to be one of us for extractive purposes and who is a wayward child looking for a way home? And when someone is the latter, what is the process of rematriation? We believe our comunidad has the resilience to lead this conversation, and we look forward to doing so with love, respect, and care.”
CALTAC board member Carmen Alatorre adds, “As resources and platforms slowly become available for more equity-seeking theatre artists in Canada, this is a crucial moment to generate a deeper understanding about the ways in which we self-identify. I am very excited to exchange experiences and ideas with our community and hopefully set a precedent of awareness in our industry.”
Coyuntura is designed to discuss Latinx voices and experiences; participation from non-Latinx artists, in Canada and internationally, engaged in similar discussions is both welcome and encouraged.
PROGRAM
Saturday, April 15
9:30 a.m. Café y Chisme, World Art Centre
10 a.m. Welcome, World Art Centre
10:15 a.m. Keynote Address, World Art Centre
11:15 a.m. Workshops: Dance and Movement || Víctor Jara Presentation
2 p.m. General Assembly, World Art Centre
Sunday, April 16
9:30 a.m. Café y Chisme, World Art Centre
10 a.m. Transcontinental Pitch Session and Trayectos Screening, World Art
Centre
11:15 a.m. Breakout Workshops: Producing & Solo Show Creation || Video
Projection Design
2 p.m. General Assembly, World Art Centre
Full schedule: caltac.ca
PASS INFORMATION
Weekend Pass: $50 plus taxes and service charge
Includes access to all events in the World Art Centre and the choice of
workshops each morning
Passes are available to purchase in advance online only: eventbrite.ca/e/coyuntura-2023
All ticket sales will be donated to Watari Counselling and Support Services. Since 1986, the Vancouver organization has worked in the downtown Eastside and surrounding communities, providing a bridge to healthier possibilities through innovative, community-driven and supportive programming.
CO-PRESENTER
SFU Woodward's Cultural Programs
SUPPORTED BY
British Columbia Arts Council | City of Vancouver | Vancouver Foundation
SPONSORS
Arts Club Theatre Company | Bard on the Beach | Boca del Lupo | The Elbow Theatre Society | Electric Company Theatre | GVPTA | Playwrights Theatre Centre | Urban Ink | Theatre Alberta | Theatre Replacement | Touchstone Theatre | Vancouver Asian Canadian
Theatre Studio space provided by SFU School for Contemporary Arts (SCA)
ABOUT CALTAC
The Canadian Latinx Theatre Artist Coalition (CALTAC) is a volunteer-run Vancouver-based service organization dedicated to furthering the Canadian Latinx theatre movement and unifying Latinx-identified theatre artists. The organization’s mission is to engage in advocacy, create networks, and celebrate the community. Founded in 2016, CALTAC produced its inaugural Coyuntura in February 2020 during the world premiere of Carmen Aguirre’s Anywhere but Here (Electric Company Theatre). CALTAC is building a national Latinx theatre artist database and launched a video series, Trayectos, in 2022.
Coyuntura will take place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Selílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) nations. CALTAC stands in solidarity with the resistance, resilience, and resurgence of Indigenous peoples on this land, and with their continued stewardship of this place of gathering.
Website: caltac.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/LatinxTheatreCanada
Instagram: instagram.com/latinxtheatrecanada
Twitter: twitter.com/latinxtheatreca
YouTube: youtube.com/@canadianlatinxtheatreartis1294