Call for Submissions: The Gathering Divergence – Spring 2026

Posted on March 6, 2026 by CPAMO

Topic: The Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival & Conference SPRING 2026 | Now and for the Future: Steps Towards Dismantling Inequities in the Arts

When and Where:
May 2026
Online / In-Person events
Location TBA (Toronto)

The Gathering Divergence Interdisciplinary Festival & Conference is a festival and conference with a specific focus on Indigenous, racialized, deaf, disabled and mad, women and other historically – marginalized arts communities. Held over 2 days, GDMAF/C features performances, literary readings, visual arts exhibition, panels, workshops and creative investigations from diverse practices.

We facilitate

an interactive space where arts organizations artists and attendees share
dedicated to advancing, visual arts and performing arts , while advocating for pluralism in the arts
dialogue on common interests, experienced and strategies towards a better more equitable and inclusive arts sector

We believe
and encourage change can achieved through collective, creative action, and seeks to:

create, support and learn through open-source resources and toolkits
advance strategies to understand how we are influenced by issues of equity and digital technology in and out of
amplify the artistic practices and administration of IBPOC individuals

We aspire? We hope that everyone arrives at a better understanding of the many ways in which we support, create from and within the Arts sector as indigenous / ethno-racially identified artists with a pluralist lens.

APPLY NOW! Deadline: April 3, 2026

What we offer:

An Opportunity to:

Display your art
Showcase your performing / performance arts pieces (NO more than fifteen minutes in length)
Facilitate a workshop / professional development opportunity to arts workers, attendees or artists

Required for consideration:
Explanation of how your proposed work relates to the Conference / Festival through the following:

Broadening capacities for IBPOC Arts makers
Implementing creative processes for the future
Advance Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Learning
Professional Development for IBPOC Artists and Arts Organizations

Successful submissions will:

– AMPLIFY works where contributors / artists or those self identify as IBPOC
– SUPPORT works by Black / IPOC artists and Organizations
– INCLUDE Artist / Organization Website URL, Social Media Info, Biography (150 words)
– SUBMIT Headshot / Company Image / Bio Image 300 dpi
– ADD links to previous work(s) or work proposed.

For Visual Artist

PROVIDE Size, medium, title
INCLUDE installation requirements
UPLOAD 3-5 High Res JPEGS of work complied in a PDF Document
SUBMIT 300 Word Artist Statement
ADD 300 Word Explanation on how your work applies to the CPAMO Call for Submissions

For Performances or Workshops

INCLUDE Set up and installation requirements
SHARE Estimated time for set up and striking
INDICATE Whether assistance is needed or included
ADD 300 Word Explanation on how your work applies to the CPAMO Call for Submissions

Compensation Range varies:

– Dance / Theatre / Music Honorariums between $750 – $2000
(based on the number of artists)
– Literary Readings between $500 – $700
– Workshops $500 (1 hour maximum)
– Visual arts* between $500 – $700 (for week’s showing)
* CARFAC fees according to “Exhibitions in Other Public Places”

Selection Process:
Administered by a Selection Committee: CPAMO Board member(s), Co-Director/Curator of Programming and Engagement, Convenor/Co-Director Curator of Transformational Change, and Pluralism in Organizational Change (CPAMOPOC) participants.

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE: CPAMO operates in a Cloud-based platform. Documents MUST be submitted via (Google Drive, Box, One Drive, Dropbox etc.) and the link should not require permission for the Selection Committee to view.

Please make sure all submitted links are functional and include accessible links to a headshot and your support materials. Personal links from your computer / laptop should not be sent. Please upload all required.

QUESTIONS?

Contact: Kevin A. Ormsby programming [at] cpamo.org

If require accessibility accommodations please email programming [at] cpamo.org

Applicants will be notified by April 17, 2026

Apply Now!

If the button above doesn’t work, please copy and paste this link into your browser’s address bar:
https://forms.gle/noFKa9rws6431qtj8

Request for Proposals: Evaluation of CPAMOPOC V

Posted on December 22, 2025 by CPAMO

Introduction:

In 2016, CPAMO designed and delivered its first Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Pluralism Organizational Change Project (CPAMOPOC). CPAMO has developed and delivered this project to 5 cohorts of diverse arts organizations – arts services, creation-based small, medium and large – involving between 9-16 organizations per cohort.

This project, consistent with CPAMO’s values, promotes a transformation in arts practices, and demonstrates the importance of inclusive arts practices in a rapidly shifting arts eco-system.

While the core structure and delivery model of CPAMOPOC has remained consistent, each cohort has benefited from improvements informed by external evaluations conducted at the end of the project cycle.

Built on the premise of a ripple effect, the overall goal of the program is to make change with participants, their organizations and the arts/culture sector as a whole. This recognizes that wide-scale change is needed to shift attitudes and behaviours which takes time for participants to both unlearn what are considered standard Eurocentric approaches to arts and culture and to learn new models based on methodologies that are decolonial, anti-racist, anti-oppressive and pluralist.

About CPAMOPOC Cohort V

Cohort V, launched in winter 2023, includes nine participating organizations. These organizations have not only undertaken internal transformation but have also built the capacity to deliver anti-racism, equity, pluralism, and organizational change sessions to their member organizations.

Several organizations in this cohort also participated in previous cohorts. During this iteration, participants further developed and delivered training—sometimes in collaboration with one another—enhancing shared learning and sector impact.

CPAMO is now seeking an external evaluator to assess CPAMOPOC V and gather insights to inform future program development.

Past evaluations have focused on:

Identifying program strengths, challenges, and recommendations for future cohorts
Assessing participant experiences and the relevance of program content

Scope of Review:

The evaluator will be responsible for a comprehensive assessment of CPAMOPOC V, including:

Understand CPAMOPOC’s Goals, Objectives, Methodologies, resources provided and staffing;
Assess the Attendance, Structure And Scheduling of the various sessions, including materials provided by project participants, and CPAMO;
Assess Session Design, Tools And Content;
Assess Program Impact on participants’ knowledge, commitment and change work supported by CPAMOPOC, including implementation and planning for sustainability.

Timeframes:

The evaluation is expected to take place between February and May 2026.

Applicants should submit a proposal that outlines how they would carry out this evaluation, with particular attention to time required for each section of the review.

CPAMO is based in Toronto, Ontario; however, the evaluation can be conducted remotely from anywhere in Canada.

The total budget for this project is $12,000 (exclusive of HST).

Proposal Deadline: January 31, 2026
Start Date: Mid to late February 2026

Please submit your proposal to education@cpamo.org with the subject line: “CPAMOPOC V Evaluation”

About CPAMO

Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) is a movement of Indigenous and racialized artists engaged in empowering the arts communities of Ontario. CPAMO seeks to open opportunities for Indigenous and racialized professionals and organizations to build capacity through access and working relationships with cultural institutions across Ontario that will result in constructive relationships with Indigenous and racialized professionals and organizations. https://cpamo.org

The Gathering Divergence A Journal Centering IBPOC Perspectives in Canadian Arts Practices Vol. 1 publication is available for purchase!

Posted on December 8, 2025 by CPAMO

As Canada’s arts sector continues to evolve, Gathering Divergence A Journal Centering IBPOC Perspectives in Canadian Arts Practices stands as a bold affirmation of Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour (IBPOC) creativity, leadership, and influence. This newly launched journal highlights the methodologies, lived experiences, and artistic practices that are reshaping the arts landscape across the country.

The first issue, Shifting Perspectives and Evolving Ways of Working in the Arts, explores how IBPOC artists engage with questions of cultural relevance, social impact, and creative innovation. Contributors to the journal include artists, scholars, and changemakers—many of whom have presented or performed at The Gathering: Divergence Multi-Arts Festival and Conference.

This publication is available for purchase as a PDF ($35) or in print (book $35 + $8 shipping). View Table of Contents and Introduction here.

PDF Publication $35

Publication in print ($30 + $8 shipping)

Please note:

The PDF version is available for immediate download after purchase. Please make sure to download the PDF right away.
The print version is mailed as an oversized letter (no tracking). Orders placed before December 14 will be mailed before the holidays, afterwards orders will be mailed in January 2026.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us info@cpamo.org

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.