Hello from River Clyde Arts!
Hello friends! We’re thrilled to share the new logo for River Clyde Arts and launch a rebrand for our organization.
Many of you know us as The River Clyde Pageant - the beloved, community-engaged summer performance that began in 2016. Since 2020, our season has grown to include Sharing the Field, our fall harvest festival, and the River Clyde Solstice Walk in December. With more than just the Pageant on offer, we needed a name to hold this larger scope of activities.
River Clyde Arts honours our origins and connection to the river running through New Glasgow, and our growth into an organization that leads year-round, community-engaged programs that foster connection, creativity, and wonder.
Our new logo, designed by our friends Jordan Beaulieu and Duncan Brooks of One Stone Studio, beautifully captures the spirit of River Clyde Arts. The three flags symbolize the festive, flowing nature of the community’s work, referencing fish tails, waves, and the New Glasgow landscape. The colours are inspired by the original Pageant image painted by Chris Wells in 2016.
We’ve come a long way since we began planning the first Pageant in 2015. The photo of Megan, Emily and Ker on stilts was taken in June 2015, just as we were starting to promote the first Pageant, prior to its launch in 2016. The other photo is from Sharing the Field this past October, featuring the wonderful faces of people who have come to be a core part of our team.
As we head into our tenth year of making outdoor theatre in New Glasgow, we are looking forward to the future, and we are excited to continue to grow alongside our community.
Find us at our new handles on Instagram @riverclydearts, Facebook @riverclydearts and at riverclydearts.com
We’d love to know what you think of the new look!
Hello friends! We’re thrilled to share the new logo for River Clyde Arts and launch a rebrand for our organization.
Many of you know us as The River Clyde Pageant - the beloved, community-engaged summer performance that began in 2016. Since 2020, our season has grown to include Sharing the Field, our fall harvest festival, and the River Clyde Solstice Walk in December. With more than just the Pageant on offer, we needed a name to hold this larger scope of activities.
River Clyde Arts honours our origins and connection to the river running through New Glasgow, and our growth into an organization that leads year-round, community-engaged programs that foster connection, creativity, and wonder.
Our new logo, designed by our friends Jordan Beaulieu and Duncan Brooks of One Stone Studio, beautifully captures the spirit of River Clyde Arts. The three flags symbolize the festive, flowing nature of the community’s work, referencing fish tails, waves, and the New Glasgow landscape. The colours are inspired by the original Pageant image painted by Chris Wells in 2016.
We’ve come a long way since we began planning the first Pageant in 2015. The photo of Megan, Emily and Ker on stilts was taken in June 2015, just as we were starting to promote the first Pageant, prior to its launch in 2016. The other photo is from Sharing the Field this past October, featuring the wonderful faces of people who have come to be a core part of our team.
As we head into our tenth year of making outdoor theatre in New Glasgow, we are looking forward to the future, and we are excited to continue to grow alongside our community.
Find us at our new handles on Instagram @riverclydearts, Facebook @riverclydearts and at riverclydearts.com
We’d love to know what you think of the new look!
We're Hiring for our 2024 Season!
We’re expanding our team!
Are you passionate about the arts, creativity, and community engagement? Do you thrive in collaborative environments where your ideas can make a real impact? River Clyde Arts is seeking dynamic individuals to join our staff and play a vital role in bringing our ambitious outdoor theatre productions and seasonal events to life!
We are accepting applications for two positions: Communications Coordinator and Front of House & Box Office Manager. We are hoping to fill both positions as soon as possible, and will be accepting and reviewing applications on an ongoing basis. Positions will be open until filled - so don’t delay in sending us your application, we want to hear from you!
2024 Job Postings
Front of House & Box Office Manager
LOCATION: New Glasgow and Charlottetown, PE
TERM: 16 week contract, Full Time - starting ASAP in May or June, with possibility to extend
HOURS & PAY: 35 hrs/week, $20-22/hour, commensurate with experience
The Front of House & Box Office Manager works closely and collaboratively with River Clyde Arts’ Artistic Director and Associate Producers to ensure the successful delivery of two key projects in our 2024 Season: The River Clyde Pageant and Sharing the Field, which are presented in New Glasgow, PEI.
The FOH Manager will play a crucial role in creating an exceptional experience for our patrons and volunteers. They will oversee all aspects of front of house operations, ensuring smooth and efficient functioning of our online ticketing system and on-site box office, merchandise and concessions stand, and the overall experience of attendees as they arrive on site. They will be the key liaison for our volunteer coordinator. They will also play an important role in fundraising, donor/sponsor relations, and donor systems management. The FOH Manager is highly organized and self-motivated, with strong communication and leadership skills, and excellent customer service abilities. They should have a passion for engaging with diverse communities, and are able to solve problems quickly and creatively. They must be comfortable working outdoors, in a fast-paced environment, as part of a team. The successful candidate will have considerable autonomy within the role, while receiving mentorship and support from RCA staff.
This position is for candidates based in Prince Edward Island. Employees will have access to a shared office space in Charlottetown, with remote work and hybrid options. On-site work in New Glasgow will be required during our events.
Please note: it is important to us that the right candidate has a warm personality, collaborative spirit and is engaged in the work we do, over possessing all the technical skills, which we can teach. If you are eager to learn and passionate about arts and community, please apply!
Communications Coordinator - this position is now filled!
LOCATION: New Glasgow and Charlottetown, PE
TERM: 8 month contract, Full Time - starting ASAP in May/June, with possibility to extend
HOURS & PAY: 35 hrs/week, $20/hour
River Clyde Arts (RCA) is looking for a Communications Coordinator to join our team for our 2024 season.
The Communications Coordinator will work closely with the Artistic Director and Associate Producers to design and implement a communications strategy for the 2024 season, promoting our productions, workshops, associated events and community partners. We work collaboratively, and are seeking a candidate who is a team player and is passionate about the arts, creativity and community engagement.
This position is for candidates based in Prince Edward Island. Employees will have access to a shared office space in Charlottetown, with remote work and hybrid options. On-site work in New Glasgow will be required during our events.
The River Clyde Pageant welcomes applications from individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, a person of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ or who identify as a member of other underrepresented groups.
We thank everyone who applies, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Our 2023 Post-show Surveys are live!
Tell us about your experience!
If you attended this year's Pageant or participated as a volunteer, workshop participant or performer, we want to hear from you! Share your feedback with us so we can continue to improve the Pageant experience for all involved.
Complete the survey before September 5th, and you'll be entered to win a fabulous Pageant Prize Package: 2 tickets to next year’s River Clyde Pageant, a $50 gift certificate to The Mill in New Glasgow, a 2023 Pageant T-shirt, and a Pageant tote!
It should only take you 10 minutes to complete. Your feedback is critical to the planning of future RCP programming.
Our surveys have closed, thank you to everyone who has participated!
We're hiring for summer 2023 and beyond!
We are excited to be expanding our team for summer 2023 and beyond! We are currently hiring for three new positions within the organization. See below for more details.
SEASON PRODUCER - ***POSITION FILLED!***
LOCATION: New Glasgow and Charlottetown, PE
TERM: One Year Contract - Full Time - Start Date: June 9, 2023
HOURS AND FEE: $25 per hour - 32 hours/week
REPORTS TO: Artistic Director
The Season Producer (SP) works closely and collaboratively with the River Clyde Pageant’s Artistic Director, Core Artistic Team, and Associate Producer towards the successful realization of our 2023 season, including our namesake summer Pageant, Sharing the Field, and The River Clyde Solstice Walk. These events, and others, take place in the rural community of New Glasgow, PEI, with ancillary programming happening in other communities across the island.
The SP’s central responsibilities include the production, project management, and administration of our season’s activities and events, including staff and contractor oversight.
The SP is a highly organized, capable producer, with strong communication & leadership skills. The SP loves working with artists and community members of all ages, and are excellent at solving problems quickly and creatively. They are comfortable working outdoors and as part of a team.
June 8, 2023 update: This position is now filled
ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR - ***POSITION FILLED!***
*A shared services position with This Town is Small and Under the Spire Music Festival
LOCATION: New Glasgow, Kensington & Charlottetown, PE - Remote Work Options Available
TERM: One Year Contract - Full Time - Anticipated Start Date: June 9, 2023
HOURS AND FEE: $25/hour - 26 hours/week
REPORTS TO: RCP Artistic Director, ED of This Town is Small, ED of Under the Spire
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and the position will remain open until filled.
The Accessibility Coordinator will work closely with the staff and core teams of River Clyde Pageant, this town is small, and Under the Spire festival to advance accessibility initiatives within each organization’s programming and operations. In contributing to this project, the Accessibility Coordinator will work to promote accessibility within the arts on PEI and realize a shared vision of greater inclusivity in our present work and future aspirations. The Accessibility Coordinator will be offered mentorship from an Accessibility Consultant in an effort to share knowledge and foster connections between disability and arts communities.
The Accessibility Coordinator will oversee the development and implementation of accessibility goals and measures at each organization. The scale and scope of this work will be kept reasonable for the Accessibility Coordinator, who will split their time between the River Clyde Pageant (June-October), this town is small (November-January), and Under the Spire Festival (February-May), with some crossover therein.
June 8, 2023 update: This position is now filled
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
LOCATION: New Glasgow and Charlottetown, PE
TERM: June 26-August 11, 2023 - 7 weeks
HOURS AND FEE: $18/hour - 20hrs/week
REPORTS TO: Artistic Director & Season Producer
Deadline to apply is 11:59pm on Wednesday, May 31.
The Volunteer Coordinator works closely with the River Clyde Pageant’s Artistic Director, Director of Production, and Stage Management Team towards the successful realization of our outdoor summer theatre production in New Glasgow, PEI. The Volunteer Coordinator’s central responsibilities include volunteer recruitment, scheduling, communications, and oversight, as well as the collection of post-Pageant feedback.
June 2023 update: This position is now filled
These positions are for candidates based in Prince Edward Island. Employees will have access to a shared office space in Charlottetown, with remote work and hybrid options. On-site, outdoor work in New Glasgow will sometimes be required during our events. Irregular working hours will also be required, including work on evenings and weekends.
The River Clyde Pageant welcomes applications from individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, a person of colour, 2SLGBTQIA+ or who identify as a member of other underrepresented groups.
We thank everyone who applies, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
A farewell from our dear friend & collaborator Corbin Murdoch
Dear Pageant Community,
On June 1st, a year to the day from when I arrived, I’ll be moving away from PEI to take on a new role as Executive Director of the Dawson City Music Festival. I am excited to be taking on this next challenge, but also very sad to be saying goodbye.
What a year it has been! Immediately upon arrival I was swept up in Pageant production, meeting the hundreds of amazing artists and volunteers that bring New Glasgow to life each summer. I got to work in the Pageant garden right through to harvest, in preparation for Sharing the Field-- an event that would have been derailed by Hurricane Fiona, were it not for the resilience and spirit of this amazing community. I also got to see the darkest night of the year illuminated by hundreds of homemade lanterns during the River Clyde Solstice Walk. A year full of beautiful memories.
All the while, I had the honour of working beside Megan to plan the next chapter of RCP. A couple weeks ago we held a public open house at New Glasgow Lobster Suppers to announce an aspirational goal: the opening of a rural arts hub that will serve as a permanent home for the Pageant. The energy in the room that evening was palpable. It is clear to me that RCP’s future is very bright.
I can’t thank you enough for welcoming me so warmly and introducing me to the beautiful island you call home. Special thanks to RCP’s Board and, of course, to my dear friend and colleague Megan, who first invited me here and who has taught me so much during my stay.
My time here has been a gift and I’ll be forever grateful. Keep in touch!
Corbin
River Clyde Pageant's Open House
The River Clyde Pageant is hosting an Open House on Tuesday, April 25th from 6:30-8:30pm at the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers to gather community input on the planning phase of a major project that would see the organization acquiring a permanent home base in New Glasgow, PEI.
This home base would be the locale for a rural arts hub and community centre in New Glasgow, allowing the organization to deliver year-round programming. The River Clyde Pageant is seeking input from residents of New Glasgow and surrounding communities on the development of these plans.
All are welcome to attend this open house: young and old, those who are familiar with RCP and those who are curious to learn more. The New Glasgow Lobster Suppers is located at 604 Route 258. Locally-made pies, tea and coffee will be served.
If you are unable to attend the event on April 25th but want to be involved or have your say in the project development, you can share your feedback here.
To learn more about this initiative, visit our page for River Clyde Arts
We're Hiring - Join Team Pageant!
We’re hiring a communications coordinator for our 2023 River Clyde Pageant season!
Communications Coordinator, The River Clyde Pageant
$20/hour, approx 35 hours/week
8.5 month contract - May 1, 2023 to January 14, 2024
*NOTE* This position is funded by Young Canada Works. Please see candidate eligibility criteria below.
The River Clyde Pageant (RCP) is looking for a Communications Coordinator to join our team for our 2023 season of programming.
The River Clyde Pageant is a non-profit organization that unites local creators, volunteers & professional artists across cultures & creative practices in the making of ambitious, awe-inspiring outdoor theatre and seasonal events. Our central project is our summer production of the same name, created and performed in New Glasgow, PEI since 2016.
Other annual projects include Sharing the Field, a weekend celebration of art, food and community during the fall harvest, and the River Clyde Solstice Walk, an outdoor lantern walk celebrating the winter solstice.
We aim to nourish our community by presenting a season of programming that celebrates local talent & stories, offers opportunities for creative skills development & mentorship, and values artistic risk and long-term engagement.
The Communications Coordinator will work closely with the Artistic Director and Managing Director to design and implement a communications strategy for the 2023 season, promoting our productions, workshops, community garden, and associated events. We work collaboratively, and are seeking a candidate who is a team player and is passionate about the arts, creativity and community engagement.
The successful candidate will have considerable autonomy within the role, while receiving mentorship and support from RCP’s staff. RCP will receive mutual benefit by having a dedicated and consistent presence in the office that will steer our communications strategy from conception to implementation over the course of our entire season.
The River Clyde Pageant is a nationally-recognized leader in community-engaged arts and civic practice. This is a rare opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a respected arts organization, make connections to the arts community across the Atlantic region and beyond, and get applied experience in the administration of a growing non-profit.
Application deadline: Friday, April 14, 2023
Responsibilities include:
Design and lead the implementation of a communications strategy for RCP 2023, covering our summer production, workshops and community activities, and shoulder season events;
Design promotional materials (social media graphics & videos, print advertisements, event programs and signage) for summer, fall and winter programming;
Write and design content for press releases, e-newsletters, blog posts, and social media promoting workshops, events and programming for The River Clyde Pageant;
Collaborate with the Core Team and Managing Director on outreach to community and stakeholder groups to promote summer and fall programming;
Social media management;
Assist with website updating and design;
Assist with on-site documentation and social media promotion of Pageant workshops, events and activities as needed;
Assist with grant writing, final report writing, and formatting and design of company reports and documents.
Skills & Qualifications:
Strong interest in the arts and community engagement
Experience working in communications and marketing positions at similar organizations, or related educational training/diploma
Excellent written and oral communications skills
Creativity and innovation in writing and design work
Experience in social media management
Experience with Canva, Adobe suite or other graphic design software is an asset
Working knowledge of Google Drive (Google Docs, Sheets, Forms)
Self-motivated, organized and able to work independently and as part of a team
Comfort in evolving projects, ability to be flexible and prioritize deadlines
Driver’s License is an asset
Candidate Eligibility:
This position is funded through Young Canada Works. Candidates must meet the following criteria to be eligible for this position.
be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, or have refugee status in Canada;
be legally entitled to work in Canada;
be between 16 and 30 years of age at the start of employment;
be registered in the YCW online candidate inventory;
be willing to commit to the full duration of the work assignment;
not have another full-time job during the YCW work assignment.
be a graduate from college or university;
be unemployed or underemployed; and
not be receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits while employed in a YCW work assignment
To apply, send a cover letter and resume clearly outlining your skills and relevant experience to Artistic Director Megan Stewart at: riverclydepageant@gmail.com , with “Communications Coordinator” in the subject line.
Deadline to apply is Friday, April 14, 11:59pm
This position is for candidates based in Prince Edward Island. Employees will have access to a shared office space in Charlottetown, with remote work and hybrid options. Some on-site work in New Glasgow will be required during our events.
The River Clyde Pageant welcomes applications from individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, a person of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ or who identify as a member of other underrepresented groups.
We thank everyone who applies, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
A slightly revised Sharing the Field, with all the same spirit!
In the wake of Hurricane Fiona, The River Clyde Pageant has revised its plans for the second edition of Sharing the Field, a festival of food, art and community at The Mill in New Glasgow.
The festival is being scaled back to a one-day event on Sunday, October 2, from 2:00-6:00pm. Some aspects have been canceled, but its spirit remains the same: gathering with friends and neighbours to share food, distribute the harvest from the Pageant Community Garden, and enjoy live music and entertainment.
The revised program begins at 2:00pm with a by-donation Farm Stand at the Mill parking lot, live music on the Mill’s verandah, and barbecued food and soup cooked over a fire, available by donation. At 4:00pm, Becca Griffin will present her puppet play for all ages, Catching Fish, followed by Gathering, a short crankie theatre piece by North Barn Theatre’s at 4:35pm. From 4:45 til 5:15, Tanya Davis will share a set of music and poetry. Admission for the entire event is by donation, and all proceeds will be split between The River Clyde Pageant and The North Rustico Food Bank.
Artistic Director Megan Stewart is thrilled that the festival can go ahead, despite the challenges of the past few days. “We have all experienced significant losses from this hurricane, but we have also seen the best side of our communities - people coming together to help each other out, share food & resources, and find moments of joy and light. This spirit is what we want to celebrate on Sunday with Sharing the Field.”
Admission by donation tickets can be reserved on The River Clyde Pageant’s website. Audiences will also be welcomed onsite on the day of the event if advance booking is not accessible to them. For tickets and full schedule, click here.
Sharing the Field is funded by the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, Innovation PEI, and the PEI Climate Challenge Fund.
We're Hiring a Production Assistant
IMAGE ID: The River Clyde Pageant Logo is at the top of the image, which contains a semi-opaque box over a photo of a field. Image text reads: We’re Hiring! Production Assistant, Full-time, Flexible Hours, starts ASAP until August 14, $4500 minus payroll deductions. To apply visit: riverclydepageant.com/news
Production Assistant: ***POSITION FILLED***
POSITION: Production Assistant
LOCATION: New Glasgow and Charlottetown, PEI
TYPE: Full-time/Contract - flexible hours
DURATION: ASAP until Aug 14
RATE: $4500, minus payroll deductions
HOURS: Up to 37.5 hours/week
REPORTS TO: Artistic Director and Managing Producer
The Production Assistant (PA) works closely and collaboratively with the River Clyde Pageant’s Artistic Director, Managing Producer, and Production Team towards the successful realization of our outdoor summer theatre production in New Glasgow, PEI. The PA’s central responsibilities include Volunteer Coordination and oversight of pre- and post-show hospitality, including post-show dinners; and other production-related duties.
Join The Pageant’s Community Garden Club
Calling all green thumbs and aspiring green thumbs.
The Pageant team is hard at work planting and tending to a community garden on the banks of the River Clyde. The harvest will be used in our post-show meals, for our Sharing the Field event in October, and available by-donation at select Pageant events.
You are invited to come help us care for the garden over the summer. We’ll be holding work parties every Saturday from 9am - 12pm.
No experience required. Come meet new friends, contribute to the Pageant, and learn how to tend a market garden.
When: Every Saturday, 9am - 12pm
Where: 2765 New Glasgow Road, New Glasgow, PEI
What to bring: Work clothes and shoes that can get dirty, water and sun protection, work gloves (if you need them)
Join Team Pageant - we're hiring for two positions this summer!
Want to spend your summer working in beautiful New Glasgow, PEI? We’re looking for two people to join us in producing the 2022 River Clyde Pageant! See below for details on the two positions available: Assistant Stage Manager & Accessibility Coordinator, and Production Assistant.
Mentorship and training will be provided as part of both positions. Experience in the arts is an asset but not a requirement.
Assistant Stage Manager & Accessibility Coordinator:
POSITION: Assistant Stage Manager & Accessibility Coordinator
LOCATION: New Glasgow and Charlottetown, PEI
TYPE: Part-time/Contract
DURATION: ASAP until Aug. 14
RATE: $4500, minus payroll deductions
HOURS: Up to 37.5 hours/week
REPORTS TO: Artistic Director and Managing Producer
The Assistant Stage Manager & Accessibility Coordinator (ASMAC) works closely with the River Clyde Pageant’s Head of Production, Artistic Director, and Accessibility Consultant to oversee the implementation and realization of key accessibility improvement initiatives of our outdoor summer theatre production. Contributing to production, communication and artistic vision, the ASMAC will help our production team and community realize a shared vision of greater inclusivity in our present work and future aspirations.
Production Assistant:
POSITION: Production Assistant
LOCATION: New Glasgow and Charlottetown, PEI
TYPE: Part-time/Contract
DURATION: ASAP until Aug 14
RATE: $4500, minus payroll deductions
HOURS: Up to 37.5 hours/week
REPORTS TO: Artistic Director and Managing Producer
The Production Assistant (PA) works closely and collaboratively with the River Clyde Pageant’s Artistic Director, Managing Producer, and Production Team towards the successful realization of our outdoor summer theatre production in New Glasgow, PEI. The PA’s central responsibilities include Volunteer Coordination and oversight of pre- and post-show hospitality, including post-show dinners; and other production-related duties.
We will continue to accept applications until both positions are filled. We will begin reviewing submissions on June 24, 2022.
Coming Ashore: A Workshop for Newcomers to PEI
Have you recently moved to PEI from another country or elsewhere in Canada? Are you looking for a way to meet new people, share stories and explore your creativity? Join The River Clyde Pageant!
Coming Ashore is a free theatre and storytelling workshop for newcomers to learn about The River Clyde Pageant and how to get involved in this summer's production. You'll be introduced to our community arts initiatives, meet new people and explore your creative side. It's open to new immigrants, refugees or anyone who has recently moved to PEI. (ages 16 and up). No previous experience is necessary and we can help with transportation if required.
RESCHEDULED DATE/LOCATION:
When: Sunday, July 3 from 12 - 2pm
Where: The Mill in New Glasgow
This year's Pageant will be presented July 28 - 31 and Aug. 4 - 7.
The Body is the Best - new show this Friday in New Glasgow
A one-night-only, workshop presentation of a new show by playwright, comedian and Pageant workshop instructor Mike Geither.
It may sound weird, but the pandemic arrived at the perfect time for Mike Geither. His sister had just died and he had a lot to process. In fact, his best friend had just died, too. And another friend, and his father, and his nephew. And he was newly divorced. Yup.
The Body is the Best is the darkly comedic result of Mike working through the shit-pile of these recent years. And now he’s convinced that we all come pre-programmed with a kind of wordless knowledge that helps us get through times like these. This is stand-up comedy meeting stand-up tragedy.
When: Friday, June 10 at 8pm
Where: The Loft of The Mill, New Glasgow.
Runtime: 60 minutes.
Cost: Admission by donation at the door.
Accessibility note: This performance is taking place in the Loft of The Mill, which is accessed via a flight of stairs with a handrail. The main entrance is accessed via stairs or a ramp, and bathrooms are on the main floor. If you require assistance accessing this venue, please let us know. We will do our best to assist you.
Introducing the River Clyde Pageant’s Accessibility Action Plan
MAY 19, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW GLASGOW | The River Clyde Pageant, P.E.I.’s community-engaged outdoor theatre production, has just released its first Accessibility Action Plan for 2022 through 2026 to ensure more people can participate in the annual riverside spectacle and the organization’s year-round programming. Starting this summer and continuing through the next four years, new measures will be phased in to reach a wider, more diverse range of collaborators, audience members and volunteers to create spaces and programming that are safer and more inclusive, and to develop structures of accountability within the organization.
Since 2016, the Pageant has prided itself in fostering community connections and bridging cultural and social gaps through participatory arts programming. However, organizers have recognized gaps in the Pageant’s accessibility in recent years, thanks to input from audiences, participants and community stakeholders. With this Accessibility Action Plan, they intend to make significant improvements to the Pageant experience for all involved. In tandem with this plan, the Pageant is hiring its first Accessibility Coordinator, to assist in designing and implementing measures from the plan for this summer’s production.
The Accessibility Action Plan specifically aims to serve: individuals with limited mobility, individuals who are blind or partially sighted, individuals who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, individuals who are neurodivergent, individuals with allergies and sensitivities, IBPOC individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, individuals with low incomes, individuals without a car, and newcomers to P.E.I. To aid in this, the Pageant is working closely with April Hubbard, a Halifax-based accessibility consultant, who has advised on the Action Plan and will provide mentorship for a new accessibility consultant.
“The principles of community-building and mutual aid at the core of The River Clyde Pageant reflect the principles of crip arts and disability justice that guide my work,” Hubbard said. “I look forward to continuing our collaboration this summer as I train an underrepresented community member and prepare them to join the small number of accessibility consultants in Atlantic Canada.”
Below are the action points that the Pageant plans to undertake for its 2022 Season, which includes the summer production of The River Clyde Pageant, its fall harvest event, Sharing the Field and the winter River Clyde Solstice Walk:
After 2022, long term action plans include researching and implementing ASL interpretation, increasing inclusion of IBPOC artists and administrators, developing an organizational Circle of Accountability and eventually, establishing a community bicycle share program.
“It is really exciting to share these ambitions with the public,” Pageant co-producer Ian McFarlane said. “Improving accessibility is an ever evolving process. For this reason, we invite anyone who would benefit from these initiatives to share ideas and feedback with us to help create a dynamic model of inclusivity.”
The River Clyde Pageant will release a survey soon inviting community members to share their feedback and ideas for accessibility improvements. The Pageant is also hiring an Accessibility Coordinator for this summer’s eight public performances, which run July 28 to 31 and August 4 to 7. To learn more about these opportunities and about the accessibility research and initiatives that are in motion, visit: riverclydepageant.com/accessibility
For more information, please contact:
Ian McFarlane | Co-producer & Head of Production riverclydeproduction@gmail.com
Pageant Intro Workshops this weekend!
Spring is the time to plant seeds - to nurture new growth and to awaken our minds and bodies to the potential of a new season.
The River Clyde Pageant is hosting its first ever Spring Intensive - a weekend of new connections, ideas and possibilities. We’re inviting our wider community to come and see what it is we do, to learn how to be involved, to meet new people and to discover new experiences in the arts.
From May 6 - 8, our core team and collaborators will be gathering to inspire one another's creative spirits and prepare for this year's riverside spectacle. And, there are some open Pageant Intro Workshops that we’d love to have the public join us for - both of which will be held at the New Glasgow Christian Church in New Glasgow:
Newcomers Intro Session
- Saturday, May 7 @ 1pm - 3pm:
Did you recently move to P.E.I.? Are you looking for a way to meet new people and immerse yourself in an Island summer? This session is for new immigrants and refugees to learn about the Pageant and how they can get involved. (Ages 16 and up)
Youth Intro Session
- Sunday, May 8 @ 1pm - 3pm:
Over the years we've seen a number of young artists grow and thrive by being part of the Pageant, so this session is an open invitation for youth curious to learn about the Pageant experience. This two-hour session will feature games, drama and opportunities to learn about scenography, dance and all the other ways that you can join us this summer. (Ages 8 - 14)
2022 Pageant Dates Announced!
Mark your calendars - The River Clyde Pageant is returning to New Glasgow with EIGHT SHOWS this summer!
Workshops will be announced at the end of April - stay tuned! Tickets for the Pageant go on sale at the beginning of July. We can't wait to see you by the river again!
We're Hiring - Join Team Pageant!
Work with The River Clyde Pageant! We are currently hiring three positions for summer/fall 2022 and beyond.
Managing Producer
$25-27/hour, 20-30 hours/week
6 month position with possibility to extend
Communications Coordinator
$19/hour, approx 20 hours/week
6 month contract running April through September 2022 with possibility to extend
Deadline to Apply: Friday April 1st, 11:59pm
Assistant Stage Manager
Part time contract, June 28 - August 12 2022, $2000 flat fee
Deadline to Apply: Monday April 4th, 11:59pm
Scroll down for details on each position!
About the Organization
The River Clyde Pageant is a non-profit organization that unites local creators, volunteers & professional artists across cultures & creative practices in the making of ambitious, awe-inspiring outdoor theatre and seasonal events. Our central project is our summer production of the same name, created and performed in New Glasgow, PEI since 2016. Other projects include Sharing the Field, a weekend celebration of art, food and community during the fall harvest, and the River Clyde Solstice Walk, an outdoor lantern walk celebrating the winter solstice. We aim to nourish our community by presenting a season of programming that celebrates local talent & stories, offers opportunities for creative skills development & mentorship, and values artistic risk and long-term engagement.
The River Clyde Pageant was founded in 2016. 2022 marks the 6th edition of our summer production, and our 7th year of programming. The organization is led by a board of directors, a core artistic team, and 2-3 staff members. For our summer production, we employ a 25-person creative/production team, and engage approximately 150 performers and volunteers in the making of the show.
Managing Producer
$25-27/hour, depending on experience, 20-30 hours per week.
6-month position running April through September 2022 with possibility to extend.
The River Clyde Pageant is looking for a Managing Producer to join our collaborative team for our 2022 summer and early fall season.
POSITION DETAILS
The Managing Producer works closely with the Artistic Director and Head of Production on project management, administration, fundraising and outreach for The 2022 River Clyde Pageant and the 2022 edition of Sharing the Field. Assisting with the advancement of projects connected to our strategic priorities and accessibility action plan is another aspect of the position. We work collaboratively, and are seeking a candidate who is a team player and is passionate about the arts, creativity and community engagement.
Ideally, candidates would be based in Prince Edward Island, though we will consider applicants based in other Canadian provinces/territories. The employee will have access to a shared office space or can choose to work remotely. Hours are flexible. This is a six-month position, with a possibility to extend the contract through December 2022 and beyond if funding allows. Deadline to apply is Monday, April 4, 11:59pm.
The River Clyde Pageant welcomes applications from individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, a person of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ or who identify as a member of other underrepresented groups.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Producing
Project management and co-producing The River Clyde Pageant’s main summer production (RCP 2022) and fall harvest festival in collaboration with Core Team and staff, including:
Creating schedules and contracts, designing work-back plans/critical paths, assisting with box office management, volunteer management, and community outreach efforts
Collaborate with the Artistic Director (AD) and Board to develop and implement a strategy for fundraising & sponsorship for 2022 season
Collaborate with the AD, Board and Core Team to develop and implement an evaluation process for 2022 season
Help steward relationships with stakeholders including donors, sponsors, community partners, mentors, mentees and volunteers.
Administration
In collaboration with the AD, prepare and write grant applications, interim and final reports for government & private sector funders
Identify new opportunities for grants and fundraising, with an emphasis on diversifying revenue sources
Maintain systems for tracking and follow up with donors and funders
In collaboration with the AD, manage contractors and staff working in administrative and production roles (communications, box office, volunteers, etc.).
Assist with day-to-day operations of the company; help improve and maintain systems for bookkeeping and filing
Organizational Development & Planning
In collaboration with the AD, Core Team and Board of Directors, co-design and implement projects aligned with RCP’s Strategic Plan and Accessibility Action Plan
Assist with the development and updating of policies and procedures as needed for administrative areas, with the AD and Board of Directors
Participate in monthly meetings with the board of directors as needed, preparing and delivering reports to the board on relevant activities as needed
QUALIFICATIONS
Strong interest in the arts and community engagement
Experience working for a non-profit organization, either within the arts or another sector, in a staff or board capacity
Excellent organizational skills: managing critical paths, creating timelines, maintaining schedules, documenting/archiving materials, proofreading copy with efficiency and attention to detail
Experience managing small teams, and supporting staff and/or volunteers
Strong collaborative spirit and dedication to co-creating a positive work environment for everyone
Experience creating and managing budgets, with an understanding of basic accounting procedures
Success in writing arts grants/funding proposals and familiarity with provincial and national arts funders, private foundations and other funding programs
Strong interpersonal skills. Comfortable working with a variety of people including funding representatives, artists, volunteers, board members, current and potential donors, small business owners and community groups with a commitment to building respectful relationships.
Flexible, creative problem solver who can plan ahead, anticipate potential problems/outcomes, and adapt to changing circumstances with ease
Drivers license is an asset.
Must be comfortable using:
Microsoft Office Suite, Zoom, and Google Products: Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets and Gmail primarily.
HOW TO APPLY:
Send a cover letter and resume clearly outlining your skills and relevant experience to Artistic Director Megan Stewart at: riverclydepageant@gmail.com , with “Communications Coordinator” in the subject line. Any questions about the position may also be sent to the AD at the above address.
Deadline to apply is Monday, April 4, 11:59pm
We thank everyone who applies, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Communications Coordinator
$19/hour, approx 20 hours/week
6 month contract running April through September 2022 with possibility to extend
The River Clyde Pageant is looking for a Communications & Marketing Coordinator to join our team for our 2022 summer and early fall season.
The Communications & Marketing Coordinator will work closely with the Artistic Director, Managing Producer and Head of Production to design and implement a communications strategy for the 2022 Pageant, promoting our summer production, workshops, community garden, and associated events. We work collaboratively, and are seeking a candidate who is a team player and is passionate about the arts, creativity and community engagement.
This position is for candidates based in Prince Edward Island. Employees will have access to a shared office space or can choose to work remotely. Some on-site work in New Glasgow will be required during our events. This is a six-month position, with a possibility to extend the contract.
The River Clyde Pageant welcomes applications from individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, a person of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ or who identify as a member of other underrepresented groups.
Application deadline: Friday, April 1, 11:59pm
Responsibilities include:
Design and lead the implementation of a communications strategy for RCP 2022, covering our summer production, community activities and shoulder season events
Design promotional materials (social media graphics, print advertisements, event programs and signage) for summer and fall programming
Write and design content for press releases, e-newsletters, blog posts, and social media promoting workshops, events and programming for The River Clyde Pageant
Collaborate with the Core Team and Managing Producer on outreach to community and stakeholder groups to promote summer and fall programming
Social media management
Assist with website updating and design
Assist with on-site documentation and social media promotion of Pageant workshops, events and activities as needed
Assist with final report writing, formatting and design
Skills & Qualifications:
Strong interest in the arts and community engagement
Experience working in communications and marketing positions, or in similar arts organizations, or related educational training/diploma
Excellent written and oral communications skills
Creative person with an interest in arts and culture
Experience in social media management
Experience with Canva, Adobe suite or other graphic design software is an asset
Working knowledge of Google Drive (Google Docs, Sheets, Forms)
Self-motivated, organized and able to work independently and as part of a team
Comfort in evolving projects, ability to be flexible and prioritize deadlines
Driver’s License is an asset
To apply, send a cover letter and resume clearly outlining your skills and relevant experience to Artistic Director Megan Stewart at: riverclydepageant@gmail.com , with “Communications Coordinator” in the subject line. Deadline to apply is Friday, April 1, 11:59pm
We thank everyone who applies, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Assistant Stage Manager
Part time contract, June 28 - August 12 2022; $2000 flat fee
The Assistant Stage Manager for the River Clyde Pageant works closely with the Stage Manager and the Artistic Director to oversee production schedules and assist in the delivery and execution of our outdoor summer theatre production and associated programming. They will be supervised by our Co-Producer, Stage Manager and other members of the creative team, as the team works together to present six performances and two public previews of a community-engaged outdoor theatre production. Ideal candidate is highly organized, with strong communication & leadership skills, and is excellent at solving problems quickly and creatively. Must be comfortable working outdoors and as part of a team.
Responsibilities include:
Attending rehearsals & production meetings and assisting with production needs as they arise
Assisting the Stage Manager with scheduling & communications
Assisting with technical demands of the production - tracking & maintaining props & costumes, calling cues, coordinating performers & volunteers, ensuring safety protocol is followed
Collaborating with Pageant creative team during the production week
Assistant stage managing the two previews and six performances of The River Clyde Pageant
Assisting the creative team with striking the show in the week following the show’s close (August 9-12)
Skills Required:
Highly organized and self-motivated
Able to work collaboratively as part of a team
Interest in the arts/theatre
Comfort in a leadership role
Previous experience in theatre or film production is an asset but not a requirement
Strong written and oral communication skills, proficient with email correspondence, google docs and google drive
Candidate must have access to a car or transportation.
The River Clyde Pageant welcomes applications from individuals who identify as Indigenous, Black, a person of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ or who identify as a member of other underrepresented groups.
Important dates:
Production Meetings:
Tuesdays from 5-6:30pm from June 28-July 19, and 5-6:30 Monday July 25
Production Week Rehearsals & Show Dates
July 23rd, 12pm - 6pm
July 24th, 5pm - 8pm
July 26th, 6pm - 9pm
July 27th, 6pm - 9pm
July 28th, 5:30-9pm - Dress Rehearsal
July 29th, 5:30-9:00 - Preview
Performances: July 30-31 & August 4-7, 5:30-9:00pm
To apply, email your resume and cover letter with the job title in the subject line to Artistic Director Megan Stewart at riverclydepageant@gmail.com. Deadline to apply is Monday, April 4th, 2022 at 11:59pm.
We thank everyone who applies, but only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Take our survey for a chance to win!
[IMAGE ID: An off-white background with brown text that reads 'Take our Survey and you could win a River Clyde Pageant Prize Pack." Within an oblong shape on the right, there is a photo of a costumed stilt performer who carries a flag with a golden sunset in the background.]
The River Clyde Pageant is doing its first survey of audience, performers and volunteers - and we want to hear from YOU!
If you’ve ever attended, participated or volunteered in a River Clyde Pageant performance, or one of our events through the year (Sharing the Field, the River Clyde Solstice Walk, etc.) we’d love to hear your thoughts on the experience. The feedback you provide will help us shape the coming years of Pageant programming and improve the Pageant experience for all involved.
Survey respondents will be entered in a draw for a River Clyde Pageant Prize Package, which includes: a $100 gift certificate for The Mill in New Glasgow, a 2021 Pageant t-shirt, and four tickets to this summer’s production of The River Clyde Pageant!
Participants & volunteers - please answer the survey linked below:
Your personal information will not be shared, and collected responses will be made anonymous.
The Pageant team are deeply appreciative of the support we receive from our community - audiences, volunteers, performers, creative team, neighbours and donors alike. Thank you for being part of this community, and for helping to shape the future of The River Clyde Pageant with your input!
Art for Social Change Now - A National Online Gathering
We are happy to announce that The River Clyde Pageant is Prince Edward Island’s regional hub for the new, national Art for Social Change Network (ASCN), hosted by the International Centre of Art for Social Change. With hubs across Canada, ASCN is designed to connect and support hundreds of organizations and independent artists working in art for social change (ASC) and community-engaged arts (CEA).
ASCN has organized an online gathering , Art for Social Change NOW (ASC NOW), taking place Jan 25-27th.
Right now, in every corner of Canada, community-engaged artists and organizations are nurturing new forms of collaborative creation, dialogue, partnerships, and action for positive change. ASC NOW will explore important questions: Who is doing the work? What are the current struggles and innovative solutions? How can we and how do we address issues of equity and justice? How are we rising to the critical challenges happening in the community-engaged arts landscape today? Come celebrate the power of transformative change through the processes of participatory artmaking!
Register and learn more here: https://art-for-social-change-now.eventbrite.ca
Climate Sense: Holiday Gift Guide
This is the seventh installment in a series of blog posts by ClimateSense Intern Alexis Bulman, who is sharing monthly insights into her research, creative process and artistic explorations as she works with us to develop community-engaged artworks and programming around climate change adaptation.
This month's post takes the form of a holiday gift guide- it’s a convenient structure to share 8 resources that have been influencing my artistic Climate Sense research. Before diving into my reading recommendations, I feel the need to highlight the link between global capitalism and the global Climate Crisis, and how the lavish holiday gift-giving season does not help matters. Household waste can increase by more than 25% over the holidays. The majority of nearly half-a-million tonnes of holiday waste that goes to Canadian landfills each year is made up of discarded gift-wrapping, plastic, foil wrapping paper, ribbons, gift bows and toy packaging. (Resource: Recycling Council of BC).
For the last couple of Christmases, I’ve attempted to create less waste by wrapping gifts in brown craft paper and recyclable twine, I’ve given gifts in the form of baked treats, gifts that can be shared for continuous enjoyment (like books) and gifts that have permanence (like art), or I don’t buy gifts at all — instead I’ll plan activities. My four nieces are growing rapidly and their interests change just as quickly, so instead of buying toys and clothing they’ll outgrow, I’ve taken them indoor rock climbing, or planned circus themed baby-sitting days. You can also decide to give donations or volunteer at a local organization. If you must shop avoid Amazon and spend your dollars locally.
The holiday season is also a time of year when we have time off from work to sit around in flannel pajamas and read a book. So without further ado, here are 8 books that prove that reading and learning about the Climate crisis can be leisurely. (Some of these books are light and fun, some will make you cry, some are conceptual and each of them will at least make you reconsider your use of gift bows and scotch tape).
1: Zines by Kristian Brevik
A green grid background with 15 colorful zines evenly spaced in three rows of five
I met Kristian Brevik while both of us were collaborating with the River Clyde Pageant last summer. Brevik’s zines combine his love of art and science, and shares some of the ideas he finds most profound about how we relate to other species. The zines draw from ecofeminism, Indigenous STS, decolonization, anthropology, SF, and more. The zines are small, quick to read, and they share the work of humans whose work is influential to Brevik as he explores kinship and how to live in relationship with the broad community of life and land. So far my personal favorite has been Art for Fish. You can purchase all 15 zines on Etsy for $55.99 or you can support his Patreon with a friend's address, so they can receive the gift of monthly zines in their mailbox!
2. Mourning Nature: Hope at the Heart of Ecological Loss & Grief, Edited by Ashlee Cunsolo & Karen Landman
A book cover deicting a cloudy sky, a horizon of distant mountains and a foreground of an errie gray body of water with drift wood. overtop font reads “Mourning Nature Hope at the Heart of ecological Loss & Grief, edited by Ashlee Cunsolo & karen Landman”
Mourning Nature is a collection of short essays, each one a recognition and expression of grief related to environmental degradation. As a disability-identified artist, I often advocate for art to be shared in inclusive ways, such as art that employs multiple senses (touch, smell, sound, sight, taste..) with the belief that art experienced through multiple senses might evoke a stronger connection with it’s viewers, and be more interpretable by viewers with a wide spectrum of disabilities. So naturally, I was excited to read two essays in this book which explores the loss of wild landscapes through described soundscapes. Essayists Helen Whale and Fraklin Ginn wrote about the absence of sparrows in London, UK, and an essay by Bernie Krause tells an astounding story about an audio recording of a beaver whose habitat was destroyed. Until reading this book, I always thought about the climate crisis through sight and feel (melting glaciers and trying to stay cool during heat waves for example), it never occurred to me that a changing climate also equaled a changing soundscape.
3. The Optimistic Environmentalist by David R. Boyd
A blue book cover with a large whale and a scubba diver. Overtop light blue font reads “ The Optimistic Environmentalist progressing Towards a Greener Future David R. Boyd”
After reading Mourning Nature, The Optimistic Environmentalist just happened to be the next book I picked up, and I strongly recommend reading them in this order! Mourning Nature will open your eyes and fill them with tears, but The Optimistic Environmentalist will give you hope. The book lays out multiple examples of remarkable achievements and success stories, demonstrating what we are capable of when we act together in the face of environmental despair. I didn’t know a book about the climate crisis could be uplifting, but here it is!
4. Secret Life by Theo Ellsworth, an adaptation of a story by Jeff VanderMeer
A heavily illustrated book cover depicts a figure with green bumpy skin holding a piece of yellow fruit and wearing a blue coat. Around the figure in the background is a repeating drawings of faces. Over top front reads “ Secret Life Theo Ellsworth an adaptation of a story by Jeff VanderMeer”
Indulge yourself in this eerie graphic novel by Theo Ellsworth, published by Drawn and Quarterly. I lived in Montreal for a few years and during that time I got really into graphic novels, partly because the Drawn and Quarterly bookstore was located between my Mile End art studio and my apartment in Park Extension so I frequently stopped in. When I saw this new book release I picked up a copy- I’m so happy I did because the black inky drawings of this fiction explores the collision of the natural world and the human-made world, themes which I'd been tackling in my own sketchbook throughout Climate Sense.
5. The Mushroom at the End of the World, On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing
A grey book cover with an illustration of a large mushroom on the left. Overtop black and green font reads “Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing the Mushroom at the End of the World on the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins”
The best way to summarize this book is to pull a quote from the back cover, “ Matsutake is the most valuable mushroom in the world—and a weed that grows in human-disturbed forests across the Northern Hemisphere- The Mushroom at the End of the World explores the unexpected corners of matsutake commerce, where we encounter Japanese gourmets, capitalist traders, Hmong jungle fighters, and more.” This book delves into the relationship between capitalist destruction and collaborative survival and it took me on a true adventure at the same time.
6. Shorelines, Climate Concern & Creativity
A photograph of a book atop a rocky surface. The book cover is blue and tan and painterly. Over top black and blue font reads “Shorelines Climate Concern & Creativity”
This might be my favorite book of the bunch!
Shorelines is a compilation of educational and emotional responses to climate concerns of local artists and writers, and it was made in partnership by the Environmental not-for-profit ACAP Saint John and artist-run centre Third Space gallery. The front cover starts this book off on the right foot, with a lushishly painted scene of a shoreline littered with plastic bottles painted by (one of my favorite Canadian painters) Jack Bishop. Open the book and more beautiful examples of empathy and awareness of the climate vulnerabilities facing Saint Johns continue. A short comic strip titled Flood Preparation by Patrick Allaby illustrates his experience with buying his first home in Sackville on an artist's income, in a city that’s in immediate danger of flooding. He opts for a house that’s too small, too expensive, too far from downtown but has the highest elevation.
7. All We Can Save, truth, courage, and solutions for the Climate Crisis, Edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katherine K. Wilson
A book cover with a soft yellow background and warmer yellow sun-like illustration. Over top dark blue font reads “All We Can Save Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katherine K. Wilkinson”
This book of essays, art and poems spans 375 pages, each one packed with insights and expertise from dozens of women scientists, journalists, farmers, lawyers, teachers, activists, innovators, designers and more- each working across generations, geographies and races to radically reshape society. I’ve dog-eared and jotted down more notes from this book than any other! A comical and disheartening poem by Ailish Hopper points to the fact that humans have done so much to avoid taking ownership for the Climate Crisis problem. A few lines from her poem:
We buried the problem.
We planted a tree over the problem.
We declined to comment on the problem.
We wrote a law for the problem, but it died in committee.
We marched, leafleted, sang hymns, linked arms with the problem.
We elected an official who Finally Gets the problem.
We mutually empowered the problem.
8. Climate Diary, published by the University of Prince Edward Island
Three open books, one green, one blue and one orange are piled upon one another against a white background. To the right in a black frame is a photo of a black book with the title “Climate Diary”.
Climate Diary is like a scavenger hunt activity book for adults, centered around Phenology: the study of recurring seasonal events in plants and animals and the timing of these events in relation to weather and climate. Published by the University of Prince Edward Island, this book is laid out in such a way that it helps you, the observer, identify and record observations of naturally-occurring plant and animal life cycle events over time in PEI. For example, if you’ve spotted black berries you can turn to page 124 to learn about the common blackberry and record when it flowered, and when the berry ripened. Recording this information on an annual basis will show how climate impacts blackberry seasons over time. There is room in the book to record sightings until 2039, at which point the Climate Diary can be mailed back to UPEI so that data can be collected and compiled from all across the island. This book has made me pay closer attention to the world in my backyard.
The next books on my reading list are: The Legacy, An Elders Vision for our Sustainable Future by David Suzuki, Pollution is Colonialism by Max Liboiron and The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems by Fritjof Capra. In a future post I’ll share my thoughts on these books.
Happy holidays and happy learning!