RED DRESS PRODUCTIONS (RDP) creates and disseminates interdisciplinary art and performance projects, and works with/in communities on large-scale, community-engaged public artworks.

Founded in 2005 by Artistic Co-Directors Anna Camilleri and Tristan R. Whiston, RDP is particularly interested in the interaction between community narratives and the reclamation of urban public space.

Red Dress Productions supports the development of emerging artists working in collaborative and community engaged practices by making mentorship, learning, and experimentation a central component of its work. As such, youth apprentices are hired for each project where they make essential contributions as part of the artistic leadership team.

PUBLIC ARTWORKS

~ Flux, 2010, The 519 Church Street Community Center, based in the Church/Wellesley neighbourhood, Toronto (27’ long x 5’ wide)
~ Making Art and Community Together, 2009, The Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, based in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood, Toronto (4 panels, each 5' wide x 2.5' high)
~ Scape, 2007, Bleecker Street Co-operative, based in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood, Toronto (17' wide x 5' high)
~ Mosaic: A Community Tribute, 2006, Bleecker Street Co-operative, based in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood, Toronto (12' high x 8' high)

PERFORMANCE WORKS

~ Still Breathing Fire, full production in July 2008, Vancouver’s 10th Annual Pride in Art Festival
~ Never Man’s Land, full production in February 2008, Alchemy Theatre
~ Sounds Siren Red, workshop production in December 2004 (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre), full professional production in January 2006 (Alchemy Theatre), and one-off performances in Victoria, Vancouver, Kingston, Boston and Seattle
~ The Acting Out Against Violence project, a multi phase Ontario-wide public education arts initiative in partnership with the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, and the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres featuring performance, art-making workshops , and discussion forums, 2006
~ Acting Out Against Violence Resource Guide, a 70+-page text available in English, Spanish, and French
~ State of the Queer Nation, staged reading in February 2008 (Buddies in Bad Times Theatre)

Camilleri and Whiston have collaborated on many art projects since 2004, including Central Toronto Youth Services’ Gender Play Theatre Project for 6+ years as Artists in Residence. Working with LGBTTQ youth, the project brought six original theatre productions to fruition in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.

UPCOMING & CURRENT

~ a community-engaged public artwork with the Sherbourne Health Centre, fall 2010
~ Trace, a performance and media installation co-created by Tristan R. Whiston and Moynan King, production in spring 2011

TEAM

Artistic Directors: Anna Camilleri and Tristan R. Whiston
Apprentices: Heidi Cho, Rafaela Dominici Vidinha, Jay Stewart, Daniel Jelani Ellis

SUPPORTERS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Arts Foundation, Toronto Arts Council, Laidlaw Foundation. Sherbourne Health Centre, the 519 Church Street Community Centre, St. Lawrence Community Centre, Central Toronto Youth Services, the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, Bleecker Street Housing Co-operative, OWN Co-operative, the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Pride in Art Festival, Stone Tile International Inc, and Tile City Inc.

CONTACT

Email: reddressproductions@gmail.com
Site: www.reddressproductions.blogspot.com
Vox: 416-629-8795