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.  

Geared towards meaningful conversations, professional development, sharing strategies, it encourages divergence across arts practices and collaboration. This year’s theme for Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival & Conference SPRING 2025 | Now and for the Future: Steps Towards Dismantling Inequities in the Arts 

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
Systemic change is more effectively 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: March 31, 2025 at 11:59 EST

When is the festival and conference?
May 19 – 23, 2025
Location: Online / In-Person events 
Theatre Passe Muraille,  16 Ryerson Ave, Toronto, ON M5T 2P3 

What we offer:

• Opportunity to display / showcase / facilitate a workshop or performance
• *Performances should be NO more than fifteen minutes in length

Required for consideration:
– Explanation of how your proposed work relates to the Conference’s Themes:  
     a) Broadening capacities for IBPOC Arts makers
     b) Implementing creative process for the future
     c) Advancing Equity, Diversity and Inclusive Learning
     d) Wellness for IBPOC Artists and Arts Organizations 
– Works where contributors / artists or those self identify as IBPOC
– Works created by Black / IPOC artists and Organizations
– Artist / Organization Website URL, Social Media Info, Biography (150 words)
– Headshot / Company Image / Bio Image 300 dpi
– Links to previous work(s) or work proposed.

For Visual Artists 

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

For Performances or Workshop 

• Set up and installation requirements 
• Estimated time for set up and striking 
• Whether assistance is needed or included
• 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) members.

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. 
Submission Link: https://forms.gle/PAA3vFpGRdKGWguMA
Please remove 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@cpamo.org
Applicants will be notified by April 19, 2025