The video recordings from The Gathering Fall 2020: Exploring Anti-Black Racism in the Arts and Thinking Digitally: Integrative Strategies for IBPOC Arts Practices are now available:
Day 1: Dec. 9, 2020
The Gathering Fall 2020: Keynote by Diane Roberts
Addressing Harassment, Discrimination and Erasure of Black Arts Presence
Exploring Documenting and Mapping Black Arts Practices / Spaces and Places
Day 2: Dec. 10, 2020
Keynote and performance: Dancing the Afrofuture with Thomas DeFrantz
Building Cultural Spaces Reflective of the African / Caribbean Canadian Diaspora
Day 3: Dec. 11, 2020
Building A Community Of Practice Through Organizing Sectoral Change
Grow with Digital with Kevin Howell
Empowering the Voice of Youth in Creative Strategy Thinking
Sean Lee is an artist and curator exploring the notion of disability art and accessibility as the last avant-garde. His methodology reframes embodied difference as a means to resist traditional aesthetic idealities. Orienting towards a “crip horizon”, Sean gestures towards the transformative possibilities of a world that desires the way disability can disrupt.
Amy Mushinski joined the Canadian Opera Company as Public Affairs Manager in August 2005, and in 2017 assumed her current role of Associate Director, Public Affairs. She was previously with the Dominion Institute (Historica Canada), a small not-for-profit organization based in Toronto, dedicated to creating active and informed citizens through greater knowledge and appreciation of the Canadian story. Her responsibilities with the COC include advocacy, grant writing, community and sector relations, and liaising with the three levels of government supporting the company. Miss Mushinski is an active board member of Opera.ca and the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts. She serves as Chair of TAPA’s advocacy committee, leading municipal advocacy efforts for the arts and culture sector in Toronto. After graduating from York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Miss Mushinski worked for the Government of Ontario.
Christopher Sonnemann is the Director of Technology for The National Ballet of Canada. An experienced IT Professional with 17 years’ experience in Technology.
Kelly Lynne Ashton has over twenty-five years of experience on the business side of Canadian film, television and digital media. She has worked as an entertainment lawyer both in-house in several of Canada’s top television production companies and with her own practice representing producers, talent and broadcasters, produced children’s digital media, and worked in policy and government relations in film, television and digital media. She now assists cultural industry clients with research projects, policy and strategy development, government relations, government and government agency submissions, conference programming, project evaluations and consulting on diversity and inclusion initiatives. She also sits on the Program Advisory Committee for Centennial College’s Interactive Digital Media post-graduate program, writes a blog where she de-mystify Canadian media policy and regularly writes “The Wonk Report” for TV-eh.com.
Perry Voulgaris has 30 years experience in arts, media, entertainment and digital leading organizations in the creation and delivery of compelling and innovative projects. 20 years Board experience with nonprofits, committees, collectives, movements and community organizations.
Timaj Garad is the Outreach and Access Program Manager at Toronto Arts Council (TAC). She is leading the development of TAC’s new Black arts funding program, in addition to supporting outreach activities and improving accessibility across the organization. For the past 15 years, Timaj has been performing, facilitating workshops, and creating events as a spoken word artist and singer-songwriter, alongside her community work supporting Black artists, newcomers, youth, and persons with disabilities. Timaj is deeply passionate about creating greater access to the arts and amplifying artists in Toronto’s underserved communities.
Sedina Fiati is a Toronto based performer, producer, director, creator and activist for stage and screen. Proudly Black and queer, Sedina is deeply invested in artistic work that explores the intersection between art and activism, either in form or structure or ideally both.
Marguerite Pigott is Film Commissioner and Director of Entertainment Industries for the City of Toronto, responsible for the growth and support of the screen content production, music, interactive digital media and tourism industries in the City of Toronto. Previously, Marguerite was Vice President of Outreach and Strategic Initiatives for the Canadian Media Producers Association, where she led the CMPA’s efforts to future-proof Canadian independent production companies, and for whom she also produced the highly respected media conference Prime Time. Concurrently, she served as Vice Chair of Ontario Creates. Prior to the CMPA, Marguerite was Head of Creative Development for the national, pay television broadcaster Super Channel, where she oversaw the pre-licencing of series and features, and led the team that invested Super Channel’s development fund. Previously, Marguerite served as Vice President of Development and Production for Odeon Films, An Alliance Atlantis Company, where she Executive Produced many feature films, including Fubar, Saint Ralph, and waydowntown. For the Toronto International Film Festival, Marguerite programmed the Canadian selection for the 2006 and 2007 festivals.
Cheryl Blackman is the Acting General Manager, Economic Development and Culture with the City of Toronto. She is responsible for leading Toronto’s efforts to create arts and culture plans, roadmaps for cultural vitality, strengthening arts spending and for launching a new era of collaboration among arts and culture groups across the City. She is also playing a key role in efforts to attract international film and television productions and studio investments to Toronto. Prior to her role as Acting General Manager at the City she was Director of Museums and Heritage Services where she was responsible for the ten city-owned and operated historical museums, the City collection of historical objects, archaeological specimens, moveable fine art and an extensive portfolio of heritage buildings. Cheryl also served as the Assistant Vice-President of Audience Development at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW), and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and is a Fellow of Inclusion and Philanthropy from the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). She is the Chair of the Board at the Robert McLaughlin Gallery.
Ian Andre Espinet is a Toronto born, serial entrepreneur, creative and lifelong community advocate.A business professional with over 2 1/2 decades of combined expertise in various areas of business, he is a proficient marketer, graphic designer & creative director, social media specialist, entertainment impresario, public speaker, moderator and community servant. He is a trusted and respected member of the Canadian music & entertainment sectors.
Khalidah Bello, BA, MSc (Global Health), Founder & CEO
Caribbean Canadian Artistic Stars Inc. (CCAS Inc.) a Non-profit Organization located in Toronto was formed 10 years ago with a mixture of Canadian diversity and afro Caribbean culture composed with Art, dance, recreation. Our goal is “Dance to Inspire” and we aim to do that one performance at a time. CCAS has performed for Afrofest,SisterFest, RastaFest, TeenFest, YorkU, City Hall, TDSB, St. Lucia Toronto Association, Jamaican Canadian Association, Caribana, Hamilton Buskerfest, Jamaica Day, Napanee Festival of Light, Freedom Friday’s and many others including hosting Governor General St. Lucia platforms. We have shared our passion for the Art at our local Seniors home, schools, community, expressing our ability to interact with diverse populations. We offer free programming and services through mentorship, dance and recreation, wellness, conflict resolution, newcomer integration, families support, back to school packs, christmas parties/giftings, workshops (masquerade/mask/costume making), Caribana etc. CCAS Inc, Won the 2015 Stomp Competition Champion ” Beginners Level”, CCAS is the official ambassador for the St. Lucia cultural Masquerade in Canada.
Neetika is a GTA-based dance artist who started performing at the age of ten. Born in Libya to Indian parents, today she actively works as a Kathak performer, creator, choreographer, arts manager, and culture & diversity advocate. In 2019, with the support of ArtReach Toronto she launched a youth empowering choreography facilitation program Katha-Ras Dance Lab for underrepresented women dancers of color in Toronto. The 2020 digital edition of Katha-Ras Dance Lab was supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. Her community focussed work has also been supported by the Laidlaw Foundation in the past. Neetika has received professional training in Indian classical dance form Kathak from Toronto based Gurus Hemant & Vaishali Panwar. Creatively, Neetika has keen interest in exploring various layers of the traditional Kathak repertoire and presenting them with new and relevant interpretations through research, creation and performance. She has worked with/for eminent organizations like Fall for Dance North, Moonhorse Dance Theatre, Muse Arts, Theatre Oculus, North York Arts, Akumal Arts Festival, the Tortuga Escondida Residency Centre, and Nia Centre for the Arts. With a passion for arts, she hopes to bring positive social change & promote inclusivity in the dance industry through her creative voice and arts management
Here & Now Kensington Market is a transmedia storytelling project. This project is hosted on a choose your own adventure website created by Marie Sotto and Cathleen Calica of 187 Augusta Community Space in Kensington Market.
Marie Sotto is a Filipinx futurist, art witch, illustrator and storyteller.
Leslie Roach is a poet and lawyer. Her first book, Finish this Sentence, was recently published by Mawenzi House. She was born & raised in Montreal.
Roger Sinha is the artistic director and choreographer for Sinha Danse, which he founded in 1991. Winner of the 2018 Charles-Biddle Award, and the 2016 Cultural Diversity Prize in Dance (Prix de la danse de Montréal), his work is unquestionably distinctive and recognized worldwide. His large repertory includes over 50 creations, touring Canada wide and overseas.
Multi-Award-Winning chart-topping Canadian Indigenous Duo Twin Flames are a husband-wife duo made up of Jaaji, (Inuk and Mohawk) from Nunavik and Chelsey June, métis (Algonquin Cree). Building bridges across cultures, continents, and styles, Twin Flames, brings together a richness of personal history and musical experience. Their songs tell stories of courage and survival written in English, Inuttitut, and French. Honouring their ancestor’s history and representing their Indigenous backgrounds.
Ravyn Wngz “The Black Widow of Burlesque ” is a Tanzanian, Bermudian, Mohawk, 2Spirit, empowerment movement storyteller of Trans experience. An abolitionist, and Black Renaissance Artivist. Her work is rooted in Black liberation and Indigenous Resurgence. She has a vision to create work/art/conversations that open minds, expand truths and deepen intellectual commitments into lived practices. Her commitment is to elevate our collective global humanity. Ravyn is a co-founder of ILL NANA/DiverseCity Dance Company. A Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter Canada, A steering committee member of Black Lives Matter Toronto, A Canadian Best Selling Author and Co-Curator of The Wildseed Black Arts Fellowhip.
Krystal Kavita Jagoo graduated from York University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Windsor. Jagoo has taught “Justice and the Poor: Issues of Race, Class, and Gender” at Nipissing University, continues to facilitate Sustainable Resistance for BIPOC Folx workshops and will teach the Writing for Social Change course at the Loft Literary Center. Her articles have been featured in Huffington Post, Healthline, and Canadaland. Her essay, “Inclusive Reproductive Justice,” was published in Volume 2 of the Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change. Her visual art, “University Ableism Bingo” was featured in Pandemic: A Feminist Response, and the zine, CRIP COLLAB. Her work was selected for Scarborough Arts’ 35th Annual Juried Exhibition: Beloved Community and her essay was published in Radical: An Unapologetic Anthology by Women & Gender Nonconforming Storytellers of Color.
Winnie Ho is a dance performance artist who was born in Hong Kong, immigrated to Canada at the age of eight and currently living in Montreal. Winnie’s on-going interests/research include working with her Asian diaspora/queer identities, exploring notions of pleasure/play and subverting the performative gaze. She was the recipient of the 2017 Danceweb Scholarship Program at Impulstanz Festival in Vienna and has performed for Shake It Collaborations in Sweden, Chih-Chien Wang at Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin and Clary Furey in Cosmic Love in Montreal. Her installations and performances have been presented at Ponderosa Festival in Stolzenhagan, Germany, SpringBoard Summer Series in Calgary, MIX Festival in New York City, Out There Festival in Portugal, Articule Gallery and La Centrale Galerie Powerhouse in Montreal. Furthermore, Winnie recently collaborated with Angie Cheng and Chi Long in Seeds cast afar from our roots, an installation-performance and research in Asian diaspora, which premiered at the MAI (Montréal, arts interculturels) in May, 2019. Her latest solo work aWokening was commissioned by the CanAsian Dance Festival and Festival Accés Asie and presented by Tangente Danse in January, 2021.
Karimah Zakia Issa is an emerging director and passionate storyteller based in Toronto, ON. She claims she could direct paint drying and it would have a queer, black woman hue to it. Her most recent project, LANES ‘20 (for the City of Toronto) is an educational, narrative dance piece that explores responsibility and participation in present day social justice movements. In development is ACE, a narrated short film based on three short stories written by Ace Clamber about intimate day-to-day moments that make up his life as a trans-man. During lockdown she has also directed, shot and edited a visual album for STORRY, that is being released in stages.
Oluseye is a Nigerian-Canadian artist. His work explores the magnitude and polyvocality of Blackness and the ways in which it moves across space, place, and time, shaping and shifting the world. Centering Yoruba cultural references in an homage to his heritage, he bends the ancestral with the contemporary and rejects the binary distinction between the traditional and the modern; the physical and the spiritual; the past and the future; what is new and what is old. Imbuing the everyday with the mythic, his work reinforces African rituals and philosophies as living, complex, and valid traditions of Black consciousness.
Nicky Lawrence is a moody, tender, tour de force of a performer and vocal artist. Moved to sing by the black women who sang before her and who continue to sing within her, Lawrence’s voice will grab you by the throat with the force of its pain, beauty, rage and ultimately—love.
Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) 
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