DOXA Film Festival Raises Curtain On Work Experience

^[1]It’s lights, camera, action for the DOXA Documentary Film Festival ^[1], thanks to nearly $31,000 in provincial Job Creation Partnership ^[2] funding, which is helping four people get behind-the-scenes work experience at the festival office. Last year, the Documentary Media Society non-profit, which runs the DOXA festival, received more than $25,000 in Job Creation Partnership funding to train four other workers, for a two-year total of $56,000.

This year’s funding will help the Documentary Media Society provide the trainees with up to 36 weeks of work experience in marketing, social media, event planning and web design. The project workers are helping organize and run the 2015 DOXA film festival, which takes place from April 30 to May 10.

“Arts and culture is such an important part of B.C.’s economy,” said Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation ^[3]. “This Job Creation Partnership is steering people in the right direction by giving them relevant, in-the-field work experience in the cultural sector.”

One participant is also doing marketing and outreach at The Post at 750, where the DOXA offices are located in downtown Vancouver. The Post at 750 provides affordable rental space for rehearsals, meetings and private gatherings, along with short- and long-term rental space for independent artists. The Job Creation Partnership project wraps up in November.

“The DOXA Documentary Film Festival is a real jewel in the crown of Vancouver’s arts and culture scene,” addedSam Sullivan, MLA for Vancouver-False Creek. “This government partnership with the film festival has a positive impact on the arts community and its supporters.”

Job Creation Partnerships are part of the Employment Program of BC’s Community and Employer Partnerships, which fund projects that increase employability and share labour market information. The Employment Program of BC is celebrating its third anniversary, having launched in April 2012. To date, nearly 560 job seekers have benefited from work experience and nearly 140 projects have been funded throughout the province.

“The Job Creation Partnership program has not only increased DOXA’s capacity to bring engaging documentaries to Greater Vancouver audiences, but also the opportunity to provide valuable skills and experiences to the next generation of arts administrators and programmers,” said Kenji Maeda, executive director, Documentary Film Society of Vancouver (DOXA).

Quick Facts:

• In 2015-16, the ministry has committed to investing $331 million in employment and labour market programs under the Employment Program of BC.
• The Employment Program of BC is funded by the Province of British Columbia as well as the Government of Canada through the Labour Market Development Agreement.
• The Community and Employer Partnerships program is featured in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint that helps align training and education with in-demand jobs and provides more support to people who are struggling to gain a foothold in the job market or who face unique challenges.
• Funding supports 84 WorkBC Employment Services Centres ^[4] throughout the province and the four components of the Community and Employer Partnerships fund:
  • Job Creation Partnerships
  • Labour Market Partnerships
  • Project-Based Labour Market Training
  • Research and Innovation

Who is eligible?

• Businesses
• Non-Profit Organizations
• Crown corporations
• Municipalities, Agencies or Territorial Governments
• Bands/tribal councils
• Public Health and Educational Institutions