Imago projects

Contribute To Imago

Part of Imago's mandate is to support, as an umbrella organization, projects from various disciplines of the arts. You can support Imago and its projects by making a financial contribution online.

To make a gift go to www.canadahelps.org

Click on “I am a donor”, enter “Imago” in the search field and select “Imago 630 Indian Rd.” (not Imago Dei or Imago Theatre) from the list that shows up.  Select either “Donate Now” or “Donate Monthly” and fill in the donation form. You will be asked for your credit card information as well as any specific fund to which it is directed. At the moment only Imago general and Laila Biali’s Radiance Project are available. We hope that many will take advantage of this new way to support Imago. You can also contact Imago at imago@rogers.com for more information on projects and how to contribute offline.

Joycelin Ng - Vancouver Arts Network

The Vancouver Arts Network (V.A.N.) is a community of artists (writers, musicians, actors, dancers and visual artists) and art patrons who are in creative dialogue with spiritual issues in the arts, especially as they relate to postmodern culture. The network is both a Christian ministry to artists and, through artists, to contemporary culture. V.A.N.'s salon style concerts and artist forums are aimed at sparking a new dimension of worship and celebration through new works within the faith community and the public at large. 

Radiance Project

Laila Biali: Jazz pianist, singer, composer. Biali was awarded Best Keyboardist and Composer of the Year at the 2006 National Jazz Awards, at just 25 years of age. Confirmed as one of Canada’s fastest rising stars since she was awarded the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Prize at the National Jazz Awards in 2003. While Biali has been receiving local and national recognition for her musical endeavours, she has been simultaneously making her mark outside the country performing at many prestigious international venues including Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. In June 2003, she was issued a Canada Council grant that brought her to New York City to study with Fred Hersch. Biali’s fleet-fingered, soulful playing and complex yet lyrical writing combined with her youthful exuberance make her one of the most closely followed of the new generation of jazzers on the scene.www.lailabiali.com

Isobelle Gunn

Isobelle Gunn is the London, Ontario based internationally-acclaimed acoustic vocal trio comprised of Leanna Zeyl, Jeremy Zeyl and Lara Schat-Zeyl. The musical collaboration of this sister-brother/husband-wife initiative relies on blended voices and lyrics which evoke comparisons to artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Sarah Harmer, Emmylou Harris and Iron and Wine. Isobelle Gunn began singing together in the spring of 2006 and released their debut, self-titled EP in April 2007, quickly achieving critical acclaim with the song "Emily," which received an Honourable Mention in the ISC International Songwriting Competition (2007), in addition to other awards. In October 2007, a Creation of New Work grant from the Ontario Arts Council was awarded to Jeremy on behalf of Isobelle Gunn to write a 12 song album, which resulted in the July, 2009 release of Isobelle Gunn's much anticipated new album, "Flesh on Steel". The group toured the album in the summer of 2009, a tour which culminated in a showcase at the Canadian Country Music Awards, held in Vancouver, BC.

The Bench Theatre Initiative

The Bench Theatre Initiative Born from over five years of partnership between playwright Shannon Blake and Sanctuary Ministries, The Bench Theatre Initiative seeks to create gracious, hospitable, trust-risking theatre that bridges marginalized people with mainstream theatrical production. Since 2008, Shannon and Sanctuary have produced three full length plays performed by a combination of street-involved and professional actors in an accessible venue. With this history of performance in mind, Shannon is now launching The Bench Theatre Initiative to formalize and expand the working platform. While Sanctuary is not structurally connected to The Bench, both Shannon and Sanctuary plan to continue to work in mutually beneficial partnership, fulfilling one of The Bench's core mandates: intentional community. In 2011, The Bench will present its inaugural performance, Wonderful, a play about the lives of three street-involved women escaping institutional structures in order to deliver a baby on a rooming house rooftop. Wonderful opens April 29th, 2011, and will hallmark the inclusiveness, storytelling and aesthetic excellence that The Bench hopes to become known for.

In photo: David Busuttil and Richard Bechard as Idea and Goner in "Of Boots and Birds" by Shannon Blake, Sanctuary, 2010. Photo by Mari Jorstad.

The Youth Films International

Youth Films Intl. was founded by award winning television Documentary Producer and Writer Frances MacKinnon. Youth Films International gives students an introduction to the real-life documentary experience from concept to filming to editing and finally, screening their completed doc. Through community partnerships, corporate spnsorship, volunteers and committment to vision, Youth Films will be expanding across Canada and Internationally. To donate or request information or request a YFI workshop in your community email info@youthfilmsinternational.com

Heal Thyself

Drama/Dance - Carlynn Reed - Johnathan Neville - Toronto - Ontario When Alzheimer's strikes Jonathon's mom and mysterious pain cripples Carlynn's son. Overwhelmed by tender madness, to our families we propose:"Let's do a project together, where the project is a play, and the play is about us." The result is explosive drama, surprising humour, enthralling music,and ravishing dance. Heal Thyself captures the essence and extremes of caregiving. Organizations are planning to use the show for workshops and conferences. While this play is rooted in family caregiving, professionals and non-caregivers deeply identify with the dynamics of these characters' relationships - both in their personal lives and in their work. 

Martine Project

Martine Wizman - Montreal - Quebec This CD project will comprise original compositions and some interpreted pieces which reflect the gamut of life's expeiences The flavor is decidedly folk with hints of blues and animated vocal harmonies. The contents reflect real living and are comporsed songs about the journey--songs about love, mystery, faith, some children's songs and yes, even a song about internet dating ! My Jewish background lends a semetic flavor to some songs with minor melodies. My vision in this project is to scrape away at the often charicaturized veneer of real Christian living that the media and even the church can present. I sing songs written in the warp and woof of real life presenting its rough and often textured fabric.

Green Ink

Dennis Hassell - Writer - Toronto - Ontario Ink is what every writer must have to write. Green is the colour of money. The Green Ink project is about affording writer Dennis Hassell significant time to write the faith-based scripts which he has come to specialize in: THE GLORY PLACE, FIREWALKING, A DIVINE COMEDY, SHELL GAME, THE BIG PICTURE, SACRED DIARY OF ADRIAN PLASS etc, . The founding artistic director of Brookstone Theatre is now a freelance artist, and Green Ink allows individuals and foundations an avenue to commission new work. Green Ink is also a circle of support, people who both support the artist and keep him accountable. Find out about Hassell's current projects, at www.DennisHassell.com. or email greenink@DennisHassell.com

Small Gate

"Identity,innovation,truth pioneer, spiritual, justice, community, intentional, creative, family, committed. Smallgate artists are visual, musical, theatrical, entrepreneurial people determined to affect change and are consistently carving out possibility where there does not seem to be any."- Gary Adolphe. Smallgate includes the work of general market folk duo Jacob and Lily, consisting of Karla Adolphe and Caleb Friesen. Jacob and Lily have enjoyed playing among the Canadian folk community and folk festivals as well as receiving a Canadian Folk Music Nomination Best New/Emerging Artist for their debut album The Cathedral.

Pilgrim A Musical

Suzanne Rutherford - Muskoka,Ontario. This project wishes to develop a workshop edition of a musical which it is hope will get the attention of mainstream producers. It has already received considerable interest from many professionals who could help to bring it to major theatres.

GEMS

Celebration of Dance - Belma Vardy – Dancer - Burlington Already having produced a number of videos related to dance and worship, Belma is currently working on a project directed for children. It is designed to instill in children an appreciation of dance as an important means of personal expression including faith and worship.

Tricord Film Development Fund

Karen Pascal - Markham,Ontario. This project is designed to assist in the development of films that engage and express values consistent with the Judeo- Christian tradition. Currently underway is a film to be titled Amazing Grace based on the life of John Newton. It will be a period piece which will look at the slave trade and the Christian influence that help eradicate slavery in Britain. (Based on a book by Canadian author Grace Irwin)

Corps Bara Dance Theatre

Karen Sudds - Calgary Alberta Corps Bara Dance began as the performance company of Crossings Dance Ministries, Canada's premier "liturgical" dance school. In 2001 Corps Bara Dance Guild, a registered non-profit society, was formed to sponsor and nurture artistic endeavor rooted in a spiritual foundation. At that time, the amateur-based company was taken under the wing of the guild where it has since grown into a thriving professional youth company. Unique in Canada, Corps Bara provides the opportunity for young dancers to explore their Chritian spirituality through the art form of dance. www.corpsbara.com

Blue Like Jazz//Live

Jason Hildebrand - Toronto , Ontario Blue Like Jazz // Live is a solo theatrical multimedia performance based on acclaimed post-modern author, Donald Miller's book. It is a personal, raw and humorous reflection on spirituality, God, and community. It is an honest and unexpected journey - a scrapbook of one man's life.The performance incorporates the use of video and motion graphics projected onto a 12'x7' video screen backdrop. It also features an original jazz music soundscape. The purpose of Blue Like Jazz // Live, besides being an amazing theatrical experience, is to be a catalyst for drawing people into a deeper exploration of the soul and to foster community. www.bluelikejazzlive.com www.jasonhildebrand.com

Oratorio Terezin

Ruth Fazal - Toronto Composed by Ruth Fazal, this full length work is scored for orchestra, children’s choir, adult choir, and three vocal soloists. Set in the context of the Holocaust, using children’s poetry which miraculously survived from the ghetto of Terezin, woven together with passages from the Hebrew scriptures, this piece explores the question so many ask in the face of human suffering: “Can God be found in my place of pain?” Over 15,000 children passed through Terezin, of whom only one hundred survived. The world premiere of Oratorio Terezin will take place on November 1st and November 2nd 2003, at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts. A European tour is planned for March 2004 visiting Prague, Terezin, Vienna and Bratislava. A CD of the live performance will be released as well as a video/DVD of the performances in Toronto and Europe with additional footage of children’s artwork from Terezin, and archival film from this period in history.