Greetings, friends! I hope this message finds you all well! And while I know what follows comes very last minute and at the start of holidays for most of you, it’s something which I think demands some quick consideration…
This evening I met with James Patterson who, as you know, works with CCPA-MB as an event organizer, fundraiser and speakers’ booker. (James and I, for years, have worked together to bring into Winnipeg (and Canada) the likes of Angela Davis, Dr. Cornel West, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, Amy Goodman, Winona LaDuke, Chris Hedges, etc.)
*James informed me that CCPA-MB have secured BOOTS RILEY to appear in Winnipeg on Saturday, May 11, 2019 for a talk at Knox United Church, which coincides with the end of our conference activities.* (The booking of said comes fully by coincidence in respect of our own event happenings that week/weekend; Boots’ availability is for that Saturday only, which presents a fortuitous opportunity for us.)
As you know, Boots Riley is a prominent black American rapper, producer, screenwriter, labour activist and director whose feature film debut, “Sorry to Bother you” (2018), has received international acclaim, appears first on numerous critics’ Top Ten lists and is the subject of a great deal of Oscar buzz. Aside from his artistry via music, film and writing, Boots has been an active member of the International Committee Against Racism and the Progressive Labor Party (PLP), whose mandates and activities mirror well our conference’s three major themes/roundtables. A modest backgrounder on Boots, FYI, can be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_Riley
In any case, Riley’s booking comes at a cost of $17K (US) alongside a $1.5K travel dollar buyout. CCPA-MB is open to partnering on this and will be approaching organizations for financial support/”shared risk,” as it were. James, via the CCPA, has come to us first in the spirit of earlier discussions and open communication channels we earlier enjoyed re: Bragg and with the hope of revisiting talks of a shared arrangement between our conference’s aims and the CCPA’s annual fundraising efforts re: Boots. Indeed, should we collaborate, this event will be widely and equally advertised as a “CCPA-WGSCC Committee” joint venture.
Ideally, CCPA-MB would like to see a split of costs, which would amount to $9K (US) on our part, but they are also open to negotiating fees.
They would like to launch notice of this publicly by late January, which means that we’d need to arrive at a decision as a committee in early January.
I should say, too, that agreeing to co-present Boots Riley does not in any way impact on the success of a Friday, May 10 Billy Bragg event at the WECC. If anything, a conference showing of Jane McAlevey, Billy Bragg and Boots Riley satisfies so much in terms of our agenda, diversity of voice and presentation and widening our appeal to a varied audience. What’s more, if Bragg should not work out, we’ve got a big name in Boots to attach to our centenary offerings.
Funnily, David Camfield and I talked about the idea of Boots Riley as a potential “get” for the conference months ago, and now this opportunity has arrived, which I fully endorse and hope you do, too.
I know it’s an extra cost, but I don’t think this will break the bank. Again, CCPA-MB is open to negotiating money matters.
Okay. That’s it for now. I hope you’ll think on it and that we might have a productive conversation over email – or even a meeting in early January.
All my best!
Krishna 204.899.8687
P.S. I know, I know: I am meeting with the web designer on boxing day and will have the new bits ready for you to approve before New Year’s Eve. I’m off work from the 24th till the 26th, but please reach out over the next few days as you like. J