Illuminating works

Now in its third year, Illuminating works is an industryfocused program that showcases Canadian artists in an international context. The aim is to foster relationships between local artists, festival artists, presenters and producers from across Canada and abroad by hosting talks, panel discussions, studio tours, rehearsal visits, pitch sessions and social mixers.

COVID19 deterred both international and local travel so programmer Denise Bolduc reimagined the event as a virtual Call & Response. Five international presenters were asked the question: “It’s 2025. When you think about festival life in 2019, can you reflect on what you miss, and what you are deeply relieved has changed” and a group of Toronto artists were invited to respond. Hosted on Zoom, over 150 audience members joined from around the globe to partake in the two-day conversation. The essays written for this occasion were published online as part of the program and are available here.

Illuminating works is supported by an anonymous donor,

the and

“I was very inspired by the deep and important conversations we engaged in, and the importance of the discussions that we all shared.”

— Laurence Lemieux Directrice Artistique, Citadel + Compagnie

(left) Illuminating works 2020 Call & Response Zoom conference. (still), Courtesy Luminato Festival Toronto.