Expanding the possibilities
of performance
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August 7-17, 2025
In the middle of a bustling 11-day Festival, how do we take a break?
In direct response to the diverse communities that engage with the Festival, Summer Break is a collection of free workshops and highlighted performances, focused on the theme of rest, situated throughout the Festival, as a moment to slow down, to pause, and to reflect.
Summer Break programming focuses on embodied approaches and community gathering. It is a tender gesture towards the Festival’s artists and audiences, and our way to address personal and collective mental health and physical well-being in our communities.
We invite you to take a break with us.
Scroll down to learn more about the Summer Break events and activities at the 2025 SummerWorks Performance Festival.
Summer Break is presented as part of SummerWorks’ Accessibility and Community Wellness Program, generously funded by Aubrey & Marla Dan Foundation.
The idea for Summer Break was sparked through an initial conversation with Nova Dance, in relation to their Rest & Reflection programming.
Exploring Self-Compassion, Validation, and Mental Wellbeing
Wednesday, August 13 // 1:00 – 3:00 PM*
Theatre Passe Muraille, Backspace, 16 Ryerson Avenue
The AFC and The Artists’ Health Centre
An interactive workshop for artists and performing arts workers.
Designed specifically for artists, creatives, and other workers in the performing arts, this free workshop will explore the power of self-compassion and how it supports mental wellbeing. This engaging session will unpack key themes such as self-kindness, validation, boundaries, and practical coping strategies, highlighting the evolutionary and emotional importance of caring for ourselves. The event will also include an interactive expressive art therapy component, offering a creative and grounding way to connect with the concepts discussed.
*registration required.
MORE INFOLabour in the Arts: Ultimate Zone Out
Monday, August 11th // 2:00 – 6:00 PM
A Space Gallery, 401 Richmond St West, Suite 110
Labour in the Arts
Are you stuck in a cycle of perpetually precarious arts work? What if we asked you to stop for 4 hours? Join us as we push the boundary of what it means to zone out and stop working in this ultimate conference for exhausted arts workers.
Amanda and Emily have a combined zone out experience of over eighty (80) hours and one (1) award for their non-work. We will guide you as you reflect on arts labour instead of working in it.
You can drop-in and drop-out, or experience the full 4 hours. There will be snacks, crafts, and a floor to lie down on.
Since 2020, Labour in the Arts has led a series of exercises that investigates, researches, and interrogates the Canadian arts ecosystem through creative projects and grassroots interruptions, striving to build labour solidarity across the arts and empower individuals to be political and bold.
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