Magicana


Magicana is a Canadian federally incorporated not-for-profit arts organization dedicated to the study, exploration and advancement of magic as a performing art. Magicana is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Julie Eng serves as Magicana's Executive Director and David Ben as its Artistic Director.

History

Magicana was founded in May 2000 by magician David Ben, Canadian broadcasting icon Patrick Watson, and documentary filmmaker Daniel Zuckerbrot. Magicana is funded by donations from private foundations and individuals; and from the sales of tickets and publications on a cost recovery basis.
Magicana received official status as a registered charitable organization in 2006.

Objectives

The purpose of Magicana as stated in its Articles of Incorporation is:

Board of directors

Chairman Emeritus: Patrick Watson
Chairman: Tim Jackson
Board of Directors:
Magicana has produced a number of theatrical public performances on magic including:
Online exhibitions on magic and great magicians of yesteryear, developed, hosted and maintained by Magicana include:
Magicana facilitated the acquisition of one of the top five Golden Age magic poster collections in the world and one of the most important Houdiniana collections for the McCord Museum in February 2015. The $3 million collection contains 600 vintage posters and hundreds of Houdini-related books, posters, unique collectibles and ephemera making it the largest magic collection in Canada, and is housed in Montreal.

Conferences, seminars and workshops

Magicana has hosted a number of artist workshops and seminars by several top-rated magicians and speakers across Canada including:

31 Faces North

From 2003 to 2010 Magicana hosted 31 Faces North, a four-day think-tank of thirty-one of the world's foremost magicians. The invitational conference was designed to bring sleight-of-hand experts, magic historians, and magic experts together to network, share, discuss and witness magic performances by masters of the art.
While the conference recognized giants of the magic community, it was also designed to offer promising young magicians a chance to meet and learn from magic legends. The attendees represented a who's who of magic including Guests of Honour:
Since 2010, Magicana has been responsible for the programming, administration and execution of the Magic Collectors Weekend - an international conference on magic history for 200 participants held in Chicago. The MCW has been staged annually since 1969. As of 2012, the MCW is staged on a biennial schedule.

Publications

Magicana's publications include:
Magicana also publishes Magicol, a quarterly journal on magic history and collectibles which has been in publication since 1950. Magicana began publication stewardship of Magicol in 2010 starting with issue No. 174.

Scholarships and grants

Magicana provides grants and bursaries related to the study of magic.
Magicana developed and runs two, community outreach programs: My Magic Hands and Senior Sorcery.

My Magic Hands

My Magic Hands, originally launched in 2005, uses the art of magic as a teaching vehicle to reach children in disadvantaged communities in order to build self-confidence and essential life skills such as communication, critical thinking and problem solving. Using the theatrical process involved in staging a magic trick, the program provides a cost-efficient and systematic way for children to learn about the arts in communities that do not normally have access to quality arts-related programming. Magicana received seed funding in 2005 followed by a multi-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for the program and continues to currently operate through funding from private foundations and donors.
In addition to outreach programming, My Magic Hands is also a longstanding program staple at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, specifically in occupational and speech therapy programs. The program is recognized and acknowledged by occupational therapists, staff and parents of clients as a unique, successful and motivating tool assisting clients to reach their therapeutic goals.
The program is administrated by Magicana and is a core activity of the organization.

Senior Sorcery

Senior Sorcery, launched in 2006, is designed to bring live theatre in the form of magic shows to the senior citizen community, particularly to isolated seniors in remote residences and/or community centres. The program engages seniors by breaking the "fourth wall" of theatre and involving their participation in the magic. The program also empowers by giving seniors the ability to invite their family and friends to a special event. The program also aims to bridge or connect generations by offering a group activity that all can participate in, enjoy together and to discuss afterwards.
The program is administrated by Magicana and is a core activity of the organization.