Artistry | Agency | Autonomy
A workshop exploring bodily autonomy and boundary-setting, designed to empower artists and their artmaking.
Developed by Jardena Gertler-Jaffe, Gwenna Fairchild Taylor
Produced by Opera InReach & Our Singing Bodies
Building Professional Boundaries
Building Professional Boundaries
Workshop Goal
Students will explore their body autonomy and artistic agency via engaging in creative decision-making and boundary-setting to imagine a future in the opera world that is more equitable.
Cost: $650.00
Length: 120 minutes
Delivery: Online or In-Person (based on location)
Capacity: 10-40 participants
Ideal Participants: Undergraduates, graduates, or emerging career performing artists.
This workshop was made possible through the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts Digital Now Program.
What is it?
Opera InReach (OIR) has collaborated with Our Singing Bodies (OSB) and Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor to create a workshop for inclusion in professional development or DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) curricula in voice undergraduate and young artist programs beginning in Fall 2023. This workshop has been constructed to be presented in several ways, including digitally, in person, and hybrid offerings.
Students will build skills to support creating healthy professional boundaries. Using their creative skills and imagination, students will leave the workshop with a better understanding of the work we can do together to create a wonderful, healthy, and exciting future in opera. The workshop incorporates digital tools for learning and creative expression, most notably, a purpose-built digital collage creation activity via Google Jamboard and other digital tools to increase accessibility.
Objectives
Participants will step into their power as artists/decision-makers and practice healthy discomfort.
Participants will engage in creative exercises to imagine an equitable future in opera.
Participants will create personal strategies regarding the communication of boundaries.
Participants will explore how their individual actions contribute to the collective good and a healthier sector.
A little background
Like many great ideas, this workshop's origin story started with an inspiring conversation between two passionate individuals. OIR Co-Founder Daevyd Pepper and OSB Creator and Curator Jardena Gertler-Jaffe connected while performing together in an opera workshop in Jardena’s hometown of Saskatoon. After realizing their activisms aligned with creating a more welcoming and resilient industry for opera, they knew they had to create something together. The missing piece to bring their vision to life was the teaching artistry expertise of Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor. After an ambiguous coffee date and a few Zoom meetings, she was on board. With the support of the Opera InReach admin team of Andrew Adridge and Daniela Agostino, we were able to actualize this idea.
This workshop was indeed a labour of love. With over 100 hours of development that included extensive research, writing, meetings, design, and focus groups, Artistry | Agency | Autonomy was born.
Meet the Workshop Facilitators & Writers
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Jardena Gertler-Jaffe (she/her)
Canadian/American soprano Jardena Gertler-Jaffe has been praised for her genuine and intelligent performance, as well as her creativity on and off the stage.
Jardena enjoys contributing to the classical music landscape in a number of ways, through the workshopping and premiering of contemporary music, being a champion for artists’ expressivity and agency, and providing production and curatorial support for new work creation.
Jardena's recent work includes creating the role of Thea in Danika Loren’s Hedda, performing the Canadian premiere of Alex Weiser’s and all the days were purple, making the world premiere of Dan Shore’s Five Songs from Anna Berkowitz. Jardena is also the creator and curator of oursingingbodies.com .
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Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor (she/her)
Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor is a soprano, teaching artist, curriculum consultant, and Our Singing Bodies contributor.
Gwenna believes in the power of the arts as a catalyst for community building and social change and strives to make sure everyone has access to creative experiences, regardless of location or circumstance. Through her work as a teaching artist, she has created and facilitated programming for over 30 unique organizations, community partners, and nonprofits.
Gwenna consults on arts curriculum and facilitates workshops and discussions about opera and civic practice for companies throughout Canada and the United States.
The Powerhouse Producers
Opera InReach is a collective of opera artists, administrators, and advocates that are dedicated to inspiring the next generation to see themselves in opera. Opera InReach develops educational programs that expand the civic impact of opera and that are instilled with values that support equity, inclusivity, diversity, accessibility, reconciliation, and justice.
Our Singing Bodies (OSB) is a platform for singers to explore, discuss, and make art about their bodies in singing. Our Singing Bodies explicitly aims to extend the historical and conventional boundaries of the operatic discipline, contributing to the cry for greater racial, ethnic, and gender inclusivity, accessibility (in many senses of the word), and artistic and professional agency for operatic artists. Our Singing Bodies was created and is curated by soprano Jardena Gertler-Jaffe.
Heartfelt praise from workshop attendees.
Patricia Auchterlonie, participant
“Jardena and Gwenna have created a thoughtful, generous space for young singers to explore their dreams for their futures as artists. This workshop is a crucial invitation to blossoming singers, one that allows them to explore their own agency in a safe space. It is undoubtedly a positive contribution to the future of our field and every young person who participates.”
Let's bring this program to your community!
We envision a future where artists collaborate fearlessly, inspiring each other to reach new heights of artistic excellence. Together, we can create a dynamic and vibrant arts community that will be the driving force behind cultural enrichment and societal change.
We eagerly await the opportunity to collaborate with your community; if you have any questions, contact us for a free consultation by clicking the button below or sending an email to programs@operainreach.com
If you feel ready to bring this program to your group, fill out our booking form (linked below) and a member of Opera InReach will reach out to begin the process.