An Ancient Art for Mind and Body: with Members of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of Toronto
Saturday October 27 – 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Columbus Center
Whether you are simply curious, already committed or have been looking for a way to increase strength, flexibility, balance and circulation, while returning to a more relaxed state, this workshop is for you.

Members of the Taoist Tai Chi Society will demonstrate the slow, graceful movements that form the Gentle Art of Taoist Tai Chi and which have been used to bring people of all strengths and abilities along a path of health and tranquility. There will be an opportunity for all to participate and experience first hand why Taoist Tai Chi has been referred to as a "Meditation in Motion".

A Zany "Zein" Workshop: with Fran Odette + Loree Erickson
Saturday October 27 – 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Columbus Center
Zines are a creative, affordable and easy way to share your thoughts, favorite facts, art, talents, fears, hopes, pride, dazzling doodles, poems, funny stories, etc. Zines are also a great way to build community, educate, disrupt, make friends, and share a perspective that is missing in the mainstream magazines.

Make it up on the spot or bring along a selection of your very own works and learn the basic skills involved in putting together a collective Zine. You will be provided with lots of guidance, art supplies (old magazines for collages, markers, paper, etc) and i nspiration (other awesome zines).

At the conclusion of the workshop, everything will be collected, edited, and published in:
Abilities Arts Festival 2007 Zein, First Edition
All participants will receive a copy

The Zein Workshop will be limited to 20 people.

To ensure your space, please click HERE to Register in advance.

Comedy 101: An Improv Workshop with The Impatient Theatre Company
Saturday October 27 – 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Columbus Center
Whether you're the life of the party, an unrepentant "ham" or just a former class-clown, experimenting with fun techniques and exercises hand-picked from the world of IMPROV, will provide much hilarious fun in this interactive, not-to-be missed, comedy workshop.

No experience necessary, all we need is you! All you need is a sense of fun!

"Disability Arts in the Public Eye"
Saturday October 27 – 3:00am to 4:30pm at the Columbus Center

Moderator:
Leesa Levinson

Much has been said about the external barriers that prevent artists with disabilities from reaching mainstream stages and exhibition halls. Breaking from the norm, seasoned artists will focus their attention on disability arts festivals, as well as upon the early days of their own careers, in an effort to come up with ideas that could result in the increased representation of artists with disabilities in mainstream art and culture.

Some of the questions to be addressed are: What factors were most helpful in kick- starting your career? Is "visibility" an answer to increasing the overall representation of artists with disabilities in mainstream venues? If so, what obligations, if any, should disability festivals assume with regard to placing artists in the public eye? How best can they engage the broader artistic community and the general public? Do disability arts festivals have a role in promoting artists once they are well known? Will there be a place at the Disability Arts and Cultural table for artists with disabilities whose work does not reflect the experience of disability?

ASL AND REALTIME CAPTIONING WILL BE PROVIDED

Towards a Broader Market - A Photographers’ Seminar
Friday, October 26, 2007 – 9:00am to 11:00am at the Columbus Centre

Whether photography is your life's work or simply a love in your life, you won't want to miss this interactive seminar. Listen in as a gallery owner/collector discusses what he looks for when selecting work. Hear about the latest trends and get answers to such basic questions as: Is having "a good eye" enough, Does the subject matter have to change in order for one's work to evolve? Discuss strategies for broadening exposure and learn more about the type of opportunities that exist for those who wish to make photography their career.

As an added bonus, Monianne and Flavio Belli will be on hand following the seminar, for registered participants interested in a review or critique of their portfolio or individual works.

Space is limited so Registration to the Portfolio Review is a must!
Click HERE to REGISTER NOW for the Portfolio Review

Meet the Commissioning Editors – A Filmmakers’ Seminar
Friday, November 2, 2007 – 1:30pm to 3:30pm at the Innis Town Hall

Moderator:
Don Peuramaki

Presenters:
Paul Nadler (filmmaker), Andrew Johnson (CBC, Newsworld), Joan Jenkinson (Vision TV),
Paritosh Mehta (OMNI), Jane Jankovic, (TVO), Ewan Marshall (BBC),
Tracy Freisen (NFB), Sara Jane Flynne (Global TV)

In a small group setting, filmmakers, at all stages in their careers, will have a unique and empowering opportunity to meet with commissioning editors, producers, filmmakers, and others directly involved in the major Canadian and overseas networks.

This must-attend session is for anyone wanting to learn more about the latest industry initiatives, the type of projects that networks look to fund, how best to approach the decision makers, and the role that they can play in advancing one's media project.

Ample time will be provided for an interactive exchange of ideas that will further the integration, understanding, and promotion of filmmakers with disabilities.

Click here to REGISTER NOW for the Filmmakers Seminar and ensure your spot!