Having looked at the importance of MAKING PROJECTS MEANINGFUL by giving them life outside of the classroom, we now focus on how those projects can be given life in the world. There are three main ways students can take their work beyond the classroom:
- Submitting Written Work
- Self Distribution and Self Publication
- Submitting Media Arts
In this article we will look at three ways students can submit media creations to have an impact on their local media landscape.
Requesting a gallery display something
If you live in an urban area, there are probably a number of small art galleries near you. There are also, no doubt, a large number of tourist attractions that also play host to local art pieces and displays. Your local chamber of commerce or tourist information board might also be willing to display a piece if it has a local connection.
Useful Resources
Artwork Archive – What is the Best Way to Submit My Artwork to a Gallery
https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/ask-a-gallerist-what-is-the-best-way-to-submit-my-artwork-to-a-gallery
The Practical Art World – How to Prepare and What to Send
https://thepracticalartworld.com/2011/04/03/gallery-submissions-how-to-prepare-and-what-to-send/
Both of these articles explain the process of submitting your work to an art gallery. There are a number of steps to take, and hoops to climb through. And, not everyone will be successful. But, the important learning experience is becoming familiar with the process so that students will be able to take those steps again one day, gaining confidence in the application and submission process.
Toronto Library – Art Exhibit
https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/terms-of-use/library-policies/use-of-library-space-for-art-exhibits-policy.jsp
Libraries are your friend, and creating partnerships with them can be a great way to have student work on display. Many local libraries will charge a small fee (though in the case of the Toronto Library, this is often waived for student work) to set up a display. Students can then present their creations to the local community in a way that touches their intended audience.
Assignment Ideas
- Create a map of your local city, town, or neighbourhood. Use symbolic images to create a stylized version of the area showing what locations are important to you.
- Create a painting that recreates a key moment from your unit of study, demonstrating how that moment still resonates today.
- Demonstrate the impact your local history has made in shaping your region as a whole.
Sending work to a local radio or television station
Radio and Television are often seen as the gold standard for reaching an audience. While this is changing in our technology-focused era, with personal streams, YouTube channels, or SoundCloud accounts, there is something familiar about the familiar. Submitting work to radio and television stations is no more difficult than any other form of submission. Students should be encouraged to use this technique to reach their desired audience if they feel it fits their creation.
Each station has their own submission process. Students will need to research how to best reach their desired audience, and then learn the guidelines for proper submission.
Useful Resources
89.5 – CIUT: Song Submission
http://www.ciut.fm/music-submission/
KISS Radio
https://www.kissradio.ca/song-request/
Indie 88
https://indie88.com/submit-your-music/
99.5 JAMZ
http://www.995jamz.com/page.php?page_id=81
CBC Radio
https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-ca/articles/115002741353-How-can-I-submit-my-music-to-a-CBC-program-
The above links all lead directly to Radio Station submission websites. On those pages you will find the proper submission process to give your work the best shot of being played over the airwaves.
Vision TV
http://www.visiontv.ca/about-vision/producer-guidelines/
PBS
http://www.pbs.org/about/producing-pbs/proposal-process/
CBC – Television Show Pitch
https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-ca/articles/217732787-Pitch-an-idea-for-a-new-show
CBC – Independent Producers
https://www.cbc.ca/independentproducers/genres/comedy
These links will help students learn the submission process to local television stations. Looking up information about local cable access, or community television stations will also direct them to some strong sources for video submission.
Assignment Ideas
- Write a spoken word piece that depicts your feelings about a current political event.
- Develop an original radio drama that acts as a spiritual successor to a classroom text.
- Develop a how-to video that educates children by simplifying complex scientific knowledge. Consider using puppets or songs to help increase engagement.
Submission to a well-known festival
Local festivals and fairs can be a great start for any budding creator. There are a wide variety of festivals ranging from beginner, to amateur, to professional. Students can become familiar with the process of submitting their work to a level of their choosing. While some festivals are far more exclusive than others, students should not be discouraged from aiming as high as they choose.
Useful Resources
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
https://torontooutdoor.art/application-guidelines
It might also be valuable to submit work to an art fair. Many local communities host their own, and each have their own submission process. Searching for your closest art fair, and becoming familiar with that process could point students in the right direction to have their work seen by the public.
Without a Box – Film Festivals
https://www.withoutabox.com/browse#predefinedListType=JUST_ANNOUNCED&sort=DEADLINE&page=1
Browse and submit your work to a variety of international film festivals. Ensure that you fully read and understand the submission process.
Film Freeway
https://filmfreeway.com/pages/how-it-works
This site is a way to have your work seen and considered by a number of film festivals. Students will need to read the submission process, and become familiar with the steps involved for getting the most out of this site.
Hot Docs
https://www.hotdocs.ca/i/submit-a-film
Submission information for the Hot Docs film festival.
NoFilmSchool.com – 6 Do’s and Don’ts for Submitting to Film Festivals
https://nofilmschool.com/2016/03/5-easy-rules-submitting-film-festival-programmers-themselves
Students can familiarize themselves with some hard learned tips from those who have submitted their work in the past.
Assignment Ideas
- Explore how local businesses, streets, or public services have created a strong sense of community which creates a strong impact on people’s lives.
- Produce a documentary that highlights an action that must be taken to ensure a strong relationship between youth and the aging population.
- Create a work of art that shows the importance of nature and urban landscapes entwining with one another.
- Write a musical about the value of mathematics.
What’s Next
In the next section you will explore the Creation and Publication Project, which gives students the freedom to explore a variety of issues that exist in their community. They will also open themselves up to strong constructive feedback, while learning to understand the importance of testing and revising.
First Steps
Type of Publication Projects
- The Poetry Publication Project
- The Gender Publication Project
- The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Publication Project
Creation and Publication Project
- Making Projects Meaningful
- Placing Work into the World [Written Work]
- Placing Work into the World [Self-Distribution]
- Placing Work into the World [Media Arts]
- The Creation and Publication Assignment
- Connecting the Global Competencies
- Creator Spotlights
What Binder Education 