The Gathering Divergence Winter 2026

Posted on February 7, 2026 by CPAMO

A Multi-Arts Day Focusing on Black Arts in the Creative Sector

February 24, 2026 via Zoom

The Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival and Conference is a dynamic and supportive convening of arts practitioners, dedicated to sharing strategies that advance the work of Indigenous, racialized, Deaf, disabled, mad, women, and other historically marginalized artists and communities.

For its February 2026 edition — WINTER 2026 | Black Arts in a Time Like Now — the festival centers the current realities of Black arts in the creative sector. This one-day mini-festival will both examine the landscape facing Black artists and arts organizations today and actively support those developing or envisioning projects seeking future funding. The winter session is designed to foster sustainable systems that strengthen and support thriving Black-led artistic practices and organizations.

Festival Highlights

1) PANEL DISCUSSION – The State of Black Arts in Canada | 1pm – 2:15pm

How are Black artists and organizations coping, operating, and progressing in 2026? This timely conversation responds to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, extended through 2034, and its call to action around recognition, justice, and development. Panelists will explore the impacts of marginalization and underfunding, while also highlighting success stories and resilient practices within Black art-making communities in Ontario and across Canada. The discussion will foreground Black culture and cultural practices as essential sites of artistic and social value.

2) WORKSHOP – Visioning Workshop for Black Creatives | 2:30pm – 4pm

This interactive workshop supports Black artists and organizations in developing and envisioning projects for future funding. Participants will work with experienced arts consultants in breakout sessions focused on strategy-building, funding pathways, sustainability, and fundraising. The workshop balances big-picture visioning with practical tools participants can immediately apply to their work.

Tickets: $10 each panel/workshop or $20 for the full day.

Please note: If ticket prices are a barrier to attending, please let us know and we will provide a complimentary ticket.

About the Festival

Now in its 8th year, the Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival and Conference is a space to gather, diverge, and intersect across disciplines, practices, and perspectives within the performing arts and the broader arts sector. We are invested in the intersections of thought, conversation, and performance.

Our February mini-festival specifically amplifies and supports the advancement of Black artists and Black-led organizations.

Our Funders & Supporters:

Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) is supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Sun Life, Azrieli Foundation, Metcalf Foundation, City of Toronto, and Barrett and Welsh.

Save the date: The Gathering Divergence Winter 2026

Posted on February 2, 2026 by CPAMO

A Multi-Arts Day Focusing on Black Arts in the Creative Sector

(TORONTO, ON – February 2, 2026) The Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival and Conference is a dynamic and supportive convening of arts practitioners, dedicated to sharing strategies that advance the work of Indigenous, racialized, Deaf, disabled, mad, women, and other historically marginalized artists and communities.

📅 Save the date! February 24, 2026 via Zoom

Festival Highlights

1) PANEL DISCUSSION – The State of Black Arts in Canada | How are Black artists and organizations coping, operating, and progressing in 2026? This timely conversation responds to the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, extended through 2034, and its call to action around recognition, justice, and development. Panelists will explore the impacts of marginalization and underfunding, while also highlighting success stories and resilient practices within Black art-making communities in Ontario and across Canada. The discussion will foreground Black culture and cultural practices as essential sites of artistic and social value.

2) WORKSHOP – Visioning Workshop for Black Creatives | This interactive workshop supports Black artists and organizations in developing and envisioning projects for future funding. Participants will work with experienced arts consultants in breakout sessions focused on strategy-building, funding pathways, sustainability, and fundraising. The workshop balances big-picture visioning with practical tools participants can immediately apply to their work.

About the Festival

Our February mini-festival specifically amplifies and supports the advancement of Black artists and Black-led organizations.

Stay tuned for more details and registration information!

Media Contact:
Kevin A. Ormsby
Co-Director / Curator of Programming and Engagement
programming@cpamo.org

2025 Publication Launch and Holiday Party

Posted on November 9, 2025 by CPAMO

Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) Announces the Launch of Gathering Divergence – A Journal Centering IBPOC Perspectives in Canadian Arts Practices

Toronto, ON — [November 9th, 2025] —The arts sector in Canada is undergoing profound transformation—especially among Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour (IBPOC) creatives. To mark this moment, Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) proudly launches Gathering Divergence – A Journal Centering IBPOC Perspectives in Canadian Arts Practices.

This publication is a vital response to the historical and ongoing erasure of IBPOC contributions to Canadian arts. Featuring essays, reflections, and creative works from artists, scholars, and cultural leaders, Gathering Divergence documents the lived experiences and practices reshaping the nation’s artistic landscape.

“This journal amplifies the creative intelligence and leadership of IBPOC artists who have long shaped the Canadian arts sector,” says Kevin A. Ormsby, Co-Director/Curator of Programming and Engagement at CPAMO. “It honours their legacies while inviting new perspectives that advance equity, inclusion, and innovation.”

Many contributors are also participants in The Gathering: Divergence Multi-Arts Festival and Conference, which complements the journal. Their work reflects the subtitle, “Shifting Perspectives and Evolving Ways of Working in the Arts,” emphasizing how artists engage with social impact, cultural relevance, and innovation.

Through an intergenerational lens, the journal unites IBPOC practitioners whose work challenges assumptions, celebrates legacy, and envisions transformative futures for the arts in Canada. By centering Indigeneity and creativity on Indigenous lands, Gathering Divergence highlights the deep links between history, place, and artistic expression.

“Our goal is to keep cultivating the arts sector—creating space, opportunity, and understanding for generations to come” adds Erin Jones, Convenor/Co-Director Curator of Transformational Change.

The first issue offers a critical and creative resource for artists, educators, policymakers, and arts organizations seeking deeper engagement with IBPOC perspectives in Canadian arts.

About the Journal

This publication reflects CPAMO’s ongoing efforts to highlight and celebrate the methodologies, insights, and lived experiences of IBPOC creatives. It seeks to interrogate the cultural significance and social currency of IBPOC artists while amplifying their narratives and reaffirming their sustained contributions to the Canadian arts sector.

“This journal amplifies the creative intelligence and leadership of IBPOC artists who have long shaped the Canadian arts sector,” says Kevin A. Ormsby | Co-Director / Curator of Programming and Engagement. “It honours their legacies while inviting new and evolving perspectives that move the sector toward equity, inclusion, and innovation. Our goal is to continue —cultivating space, opportunity, and understanding for generations to come.”

Invitation

You are invited to celebrate the launch of our new publication: Gathering Divergence – A Journal Centering IBPOC Perspectives in Canadian Arts Practices and our Holiday Party — an evening of reflection, creativity, and community connection.

Date: Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 | 4:30pm-6:30pm

Location: Rooftop Meeting Space
30 Merchants’ Wharf, Toronto, ON M5A 0L2

Accessibility: The venue is accessible by wheelchair. We aim to have a Fragrance-Free Event.

The event is free but RSVP is required!
Light refreshments will be available!

Register online on Eventbrite.

About CPAMO

Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) works to advance pluralism, equity, and inclusive practices within the arts. Through research, programming, and partnerships, CPAMO supports IBPOC artists and arts organizations in creating meaningful systemic change across Canada’s cultural landscape.

For media inquiries, interviews, or access to the journal, please contact:

Victoria Glizer
Curator of Communications
Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO)
info@cpamo.org | www.cpamo.org