Help CEAPAC get off the ground

Inception:

CEAPAC is a space formed by disenfranchised aerial community members who were unhappy with the current options for continuing their practice in Edmonton. Due to issues of systemic racism, colourism, and queerphobia members felt that traditional for profit spaces within Edmonton did not have the safety and best interest of Black, Indigenous, and other aerialists of Colour or queer folk in mind. Therefore, it was necessary to create an alternative space, one that is run by individuals that have experienced harm within this industry, with activism and involvement at its core.      

Purpose:

CEAPAC Strives to be a safe space predicated on conflict resolution, trauma informed care, and social activism. Our goal is to provide educational opportunities to members to ensure this. We acknowledge that aerials are bound in their origins of sex work and BIPOC cultural practices (ex. Mallakhamba, Chinese pole) and will work within the community to ensure space is made available for those whose practices have been appropriated and commodified. It is our goal to provide a welcoming learning and practice space for those that need it most, currently that is Sex-workers, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, and queer folk.

Our revenue generating activities will predominately be centered around providing club members with a practice space to explore pole, aerial movement, and dance. Additionally we will be renting studio space to experienced and appropriately qualified freelance dance instructors, pole instructors, sex-workers, and other aerial instructors to establish their own practice free from the rigid constraints of studio branding, curriculums, and harmful studio cultures. We aim to provide a space for these groups to curate their own classes, student base and fee structure to regain lost autonomy.

Values:

Community

We stand to create not just a practice and performance space but a space for gatherings, conversation and continual learning. CEAPAC aims to use its resources to bolster and support the aerial arts community within which we will center marginalized voices.  

Activism/Social Justice

Marginalized folk are integral to CEAPAC’s creation and foundation. CEAPAC was created to fill a void left by the moral and ethical failings of other local aerial organizations. As an organization built by and for marginalized folks CEAPAC will use its resources to bring fourth meaningful change to the aerial arts space. The changes that need to be made are to be determined by those who are marginalized and evaluated by those same groups.

Teamwork

As a non-profit, teamwork has been the driving force behind the inception, creation and implementation of CEAPAC and is critical for our operations. CEAPAC values the assets, skills, life experience and ideas that each member brings to our ever growing team. CEAPAC is governed by an elected board of directors that pledges to represent the best interest of its members.

Wellness

CEAPAC understand that physical wellness is only a part of holistic wellbeing. Outlets for physical wellness are often socially constructed in ways that cause harm to our mental and spiritual wellbeing. It is our goal to offer as space that does not undermine any aspect of what our members require to feel well. Our organization supports harm reduction, and is anti-diet/anti-weightloss as we recognize that weight is not an indicator of physical health.

 

How You Can Help:

It was critical to establish a space free from a profit motive to ensure that CEAPAC would strive to adhere to its core values over customer revenue. With the help of its founding members, and some generous donations from community we have been able to secure a location and purchase some equipment to kickstart operations. Unfortunately we began operations at the onset of a new set of lockdown orders. This shut down any fundraising efforts through subleasing our beautiful space for practice or classes. While this may be a momentary set back we are committed to using this time to set up our space and get it ready for use as restrictions begin to ease in the future. Being a non-profit any and all funds raised will be used directly for the development of the studio space.

 
Use of Funds

Purchasing additional poleaway systems to ensure our studio remains multi use.

Purchasing portable aerial rigs such as an A-frame, hoop, and fly pole.

Equipping our space with mirrors.

Other startup costs such as high risk liability insurance, license fees, and permits.

Misc equipment such as crash mats, yoga mats, resistance bands etc.