How Do You Afford To Be An Artist? Panel hosted by Shane Pennells

“How Do You Afford To Be An Artist?” a panel discussion hosted by Shane Pennells.

November 21 | 7:00PM-9:00PM

Only about 30% of an artist's time is spent creatively, the other 70% is making that 30% possible. How the hell do you do it? Hustling, survival, and the OTHER part of a life in the arts.

Featuring an artist panel from various stages and disciplines: Donna Michelle St. Bernard, Carly Billings, Nathan Fleet, and Emma Whale.

Have questions? Opinions? Join us and join the discussion about “making it” as an artist.

This event is FREE. Please register to attend.

ABOUT WORKWEEKEND:

Welcome to Industry’s WorkWeekend, three days of workshops and events for Hamilton artists and the public. Whether you're just starting out, or want to dig deeper, WorkWeekend has something for you!

Classes are either FREE or ask a $20 entry fee per workshop. If this presents any barriers, please get in touch with Maddie at bWFkZGllIHwgaW5kdXN0cnlwcmVzZW50cyAhIGNvbQ== so we can ensure your participation. We encourage PWYC donations from those who can, and can take debit or credit on the day.

All WorkWeekend workshop spaces live in accordance with Industry Safer Spaces policy, available on our website. Everyone is welcome, safe, and respected.

Free snacks and coffee are provided.

Industry's WorkWeekend is made possible with the support of the Ontario Arts Council and the Hamilton City Enrichment Fund.

ABOUT SHANE PENNELLS

Shane Pennells is a filmmaker and writer and has worked with at-risk and marginalized populations for more than 20 years, using the arts to bring attention to their voices and stories. He has done extensive work in media advisory and media theory education, for which he has received both provincial and federal commendations. He recently helped create and run “Piindigen”, a first of its kind Indigenous mentorship program at Theatre Aquarius, having previous created “Reel Streetz”, a much-lauded film and arts education initiative with a number of Hamilton youth-focused social service agencies. He has written extensively on a number of social and current events for various outlets, and was awarded “Best Freelance or Guest Writer” by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association in 2023 for writing on Indigenous issues. He is a board member of Theatre Aquarius and Shalem Mental Health, being the first Indigenous board member for each of those organizations, and was the previous Board Chair of Arts for All, the arts education branch of the Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts.

ABOUT THE PANEL

Donna Michelle St. Bernard

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Carly Anna Billings (she/her) is an Italian and Ojibwe theatre-maker, risk-taker and candlestick maker. Ok that last one’s not that true, she’s only made candles in her mom’s basement once… but she IS an actor, comedian, playwright and storyteller. She is always grateful to play and live on the traditional lands of her people the Mississaugas of the Credit. Her performing career has brought her to live audiences from Prince Edward Island to the Okanagan Valley to New York City and back again. Carly is a co-founder of the bi-city theatre company Afterlife Theatre with roots in Hamilton and Toronto and is a core member of the team at Light Echo Theatre who brought Fertility (Theatre Aquarius Studio/Factory Theatre) to life this spring. An improviser and comedian, she performs the second Saturday of every month at The Staircase Bright Room with FARTS Comedy and last holiday season was seen as an understudy on The Second City Mainstage in Toronto.

Nathan Fleet is a writer, director, composer, and lifelong Hamiltonian committed to cultivating the city’s creative culture. Leading Blue Pick Media, he produces original film and music projects, including Air Knob, Songs From the Hammer, Wild Child, East End, and the new micro-musical series Phone. As Executive Director of the Hamilton Film Festival and the Hamilton School of Media Arts, he oversees year-round education programs—from youth camps to industry development. A graduate of the Mohawk College music program and a musician since the late 1980s, Fleet continues to write, perform, and compose.

Emma Whale is a million things at once. Captivating audiences with her songwriting, Emma has been involved with music for as long as she can remember. She creates music that is somehow simultaneously fresh and timeless by exploring myriad different genres.In her varying roles - producer, artist, songwriter, engineer - Emma knows how to make a song stand out. In addition to writing and producing her own music, she has worked with indie rock bands, pop artists, country musicians, DJs, and everything in between. Artists Emma has worked with include Whitehorse, Leith Ross, AHI, Jesse Adams, Low Life Lolas, Ariana Fig, FAYTH, and many more. Emma earned both her Bachelor of Musical Arts degree from Western University, and her Music Industry Arts diploma from Fanshawe College, in 2021 and has been working as an engineer and producer at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, ON ever since.

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