Workforce Development for Young Creatives

Canada has a burgeoning creative sector; in 2010 it represented three percent of Canada’s GDP and 3.7 percent of the national workforce (Canadian Arts Coalition, 2019). However, young people with creative skills face barriers and are under and unemployed in this sector. Young people have developed skills, talent, and interest in the creative industries through engagement in community-based arts programs and self-directed learning. ArtworksTO will equip youth industry networks, advance skills, provide access to education, and professional work experience opportunities to support access to meaningful employment in creative industries.    

2015-2020

The City of Toronto, in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network, developed and implemented the ArtWorksTO Project between 2015 and 2020 as part the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy in 2014, Action 1D: “The City of Toronto will invest in youth artists and arts groups to develop youth sensitive and appropriate communication materials (posters, videos, songs, stories, etc.) that will promote key city programs that serve youth needs (at all levels of vulnerability) ….” 

2019

External consultants reviewed and made recommendations for formalizing and expanding the ArtWorksTO program. A preliminary finding of the report conveyed that ArtWorksTO provides meaningful work experience for youth, connects clients to a difficult-to-access talent pool, connects youth to services, and gives youth a voice in contributing to or creating City communications materials (e.g. brochures, videos, flyers, etc.).      

2020

Toronto Arts Foundation was awarded $1,035,470 in funding from Future Skills Centre to deliver the ArtWorksTO project over two years in partnership with the City of Toronto, the Remix Project, and the Ontario College of Art and Design University.

The expanded ArtWorksTO model is a workforce development program designed to enhance access to employment and entrepreneurship in the media arts and creative industries for young artists who are Indigenous, Black and People of Colour (IBPOC) and/or 2SLGBTQ+. 

ArtWorksTO offers its participants:

• Alumni Pathways (in development) 
• Employment and wellness support through The City’s Toronto Youth Partnerships and Employment (TYPE) program
• A $4,000 paid contract to complete a media arts project
• Industry advice and connections with media arts professionals, coordinated by The Remix Project
• Certificate in Art and Design Professional Skills from OCAD U School of Continuing Studies (only for Next Stream applicants, see FAQ)
• Additional professional development opportunities

Toronto Arts Foundation is a registered charity that sparks creative connections, spotlights artistic excellence, and supports vibrant cultural growth throughout our diverse city, through private sector investment. To learn more or to make a donation, visit torontoartsfoundation.org.  

TAF/NAN responsible for case management with participants and the overall coordination and administration of the project including contract management, outreach, communications, data collection, report writing and industry engagement. 

Neighbourhood Arts Network is a Toronto-wide network of more than 2,400 members, including artists, arts organizations, cultural workers, and community agencies offering accessible arts programming, awards, and partnership opportunities. TAF/NAN is responsible for the overall coordination and administration of the project including financial management, outreach, participant support, managing internships, communications, data collection, report writing, and industry engagement.

City of Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents, and businesses. For more information visit toronto.ca

City of Toronto supported project management, including: refining priorities, goals and deliverables; facilitation of continuous improvement through monitoring and evaluation; risk mitigation framework implementation, and establishing workplans and milestones and Financial contributions to the program. In-kind contributions, to provide employment-focused support through the Toronto Youth Partnerships & Employment Program (TYPE)

OCAD University is Canada’s oldest and largest university for art and design. Founded in 1876, the university is dedicated to art, design and digital media education, practice and research, and knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines. ocadu.ca

OCAD U offers and delivers customized skills education programming and provides advisory support on the program model and implementation. 

The Remix Project is a multidisciplinary arts training organization, devoted to strengthening the creative community by supporting the next generation of industry leaders. Focused on each student’s personal and professional development, the charity was created to help level the playing field for talented youth who face barriers in pursuing careers in arts & entertainment. For more information, www.theremixproject.com

The Remix Project coordinates industry networking and professional development activities through “master classes” with industry professionals and one-on-one industry advisor, matches of ArtWorksTO participants and Remix alumni.

Next Stream:

Alicia Reid is an award winning Jamaican-Canadian photographer and aspiring filmmaker based in Toronto. Her work is inspired by the Caribbean and Toronto culture as she loves sharing moments that highlight People of Colour. She’s been doing photography for 5 years and has captured local events and international artists including Burna Boy, Jorja Smith, Wizkid, and Ari Lennox. Alicia started to pursue the visual arts with the purpose of highlighting Toronto, the people, its culture, and environment. Alicia wants to make sure that there is a positive outlook being shown about the city, especially towards people in marginalized communities. 

Ananna Rafa was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and is an artist, designer and arts facilitator working in Toronto, Canada. Her work oscillates between places, memories, and identity. 

Angel de Leon is a Filipino-born and raised graphic designer and illustrator based in Toronto. She currently works as a production manager and graphic designer for Print 3 and is pursuing a career as a freelance tattoo artist. Throughout her younger years, Angel experimented with various mediums including sculpting, textile and print, and ceramics as a form of self-expression, allowing her to have a broad creative background. With her creative skills, Angle aims to tell the stories and experiences of young immigrants such as herself, and share the process of readapting to a new country, culture, and family. Currently, she is on a path of self-rediscovery and reintegration into her culture. Through her art, Angel is determined to be successful.

Anna Lin is based in Toronto and is a designer with print and digital experience. She  has a Bachelor of Design (2019) and is a Provisional RGD. Her goal is to create a positive and inclusive community through design. Currently, Anna works as a digital designer for an award-winning magazine and enjoys exploring different creative mediums through illustration and lettering. In her spare time, you can find her testing out a new recipe or catching Pokémon. Visit her website at linanna.com.

Atalia Charles is a Toronto-based photographer and creative collaborator with a Photography degree from Humber College. From taking portraits of friends, objects, and food, to becoming a professional photographer, her years of experience and passion for art have blossomed into a successful career. Atalia’s work can be seen on the websites of major restaurants and food delivery services including Just Eat and Skip The Dishes. Additionally, she has worked with the City of Toronto and the 360 Collective to capture the beauty of Toronto’s architecture. As a multi-faceted photographer, Atalia is also experienced in corporate events, family sessions, fashion, weddings, and small business branding. Learn more about Atalia’s work by visiting her website and instagram.

Carlos Noblot is a Venezuelan writer, filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. He has written, directed and produced a diverse range of work that goes from narrative short films to experimental art pieces. He believes in always being intellectually curious,and is currently taking his storytelling skills in new directions with several projects in editing, content creation and marketing, a podcast and an increasing interest in mentoring other creatives. Carlos is also developing his first feature film. As he continues to write scripts, he is working on creating Greenhorse, a production company focused on bold and diverse storytelling. 

Constanza Farias is a Latinx visual artist and illustrator based in Toronto, Ontario. Through her creative practice, she explores what it means to experience life on the periphery, activism, and healing at the individual and community levels. She is inspired to create work that allows for the physical expression of complex realities,and the most nuanced human experiences and social issues. She is fueled by creativity in all its forms and communities collaborating together. In her creative direction and illustrations, Constanza incorporates bold surreal concepts, story-telling, and traditional and digital mixed media collage techniques. In the past year, her work has been seen in various exhibits, including Being Scene, Gallery 1265 SELF, and published in Our Crip Notes. Her co-curation of Not (Just) Disabled Bodies: Past(s) and Present(s) drew national attention and sparked a conversation about art and advocacy, disability justice, and intersectionality. Visit their website at revivalstudioart.wixsite.com/constanza.

Danica “Dizzy” Ricamara is a two time award winning director, actress and community strategist. She is a graduate of the MTP POV Program (2018), coming out with her first award winning documentary “Worst Student Ever” which since has been featured in TDSB schools, film festivals as well as public press with CP24 Breakfast Television. Since then, she has rooted her creative work to amplify missing voices, through her own creative agency “Friends from the Endz” which creates opportunities for BIPOC content creators to work together. Through this experience she has shifted her work to facilitating interactive spaces/workshops (through POV, The Community Healing Project, NIA Centre, Reel Film Festival) when she mentored and developed emerging content creators to navigate their lived experiences as a way to inspire their craft.

Denae Ennis is a Toronto-based video content creator with a a BA in Communications, Culture, and Information Technology from University of Toronto. Denae sees video as a medium to effectively promote brands and businesses and has worked for brands including Nike, Google, and Flow 93.5. Denae currently aims to pair her videography and creative direction skills to create content which visually represents and promotes People of Colour. 

Eileen Xue (she/her) is a multimedia creator from Toronto who enjoys using emerging technologies to blend the digital with the physical world to create innovative experiences. She has been exploring how technology can be used to generate and create art while adding another dimension to existing art forms. Eileen is an avid lifelong learner who completed her Master of Digital Media degree (2020). As a result of COVID-19, she pivoted her research project to show how restaurants could utilize web-based augmented reality and 3D food to add visual interactions to digital menus. Eileen’s work is inspired by Toronto’s food trends and multiculturalism, where she hopes to create more interactive experiences to engage with local communities and beyond. Check out her website at eileenxue.com and Instagram @TheLearnaholic.

Gloria Elogo AKA Glo Romy is an artist and designer, currently based in Toronto. Curiosity, style, and a handful of nomadic experiences have brought collaborations with Champion, Urban Outfitters, and Tarana Burke, as well as recognition from FADER, Shifter Mag, and CTV amongst others. Accolades also include award-winning work; Applied Arts in 2019 for “SHOEBAE” (Editorial), as well as by Adobe for “Naptural” (UI & UX). Ultimately, Glo’s work is grounded in community, connectivity, and a love for Hip Hop, fashion, and culture. 

Harmeet Rehal (they/them) is a disabled and mad Sikh- Punjabi settler, multidisciplinary artist and student based in Tkaronto. Outside of art, Harmeet is also a community arts facilitator and does informal and formal peer support in the city. Throughout all of their roles Harmeet is deeply invested in centring, creating and imagining radical accessibility. 

Jasmine Swimmer is a social media and content strategist who has worked with brands including Universal Studios, Shea Moisture, Philips Avent. She has also worked with non-profits including United Nations Youth Delegation and Canadian Roots Exchange. Now a new mom and Entrepreneur, Jasmine dedicates her time to unveiling the hidden world behind going viral, the art of storytelling as it applies to building your brand, getting funding, and pitching yourself. She currently sits on two advisory councils where she contributes to decision-making for large grants for art, music, film and youth-led collective initiatives. Jasmine also runs workshops as a member of Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) where she educates young women on financial literacy and how to build a business from home.

Jessica Campbell is a self-taught freelance designer who has been a multidisciplinary artist since she was old enough to pick up a Crayola Glitter Crayon. Working in illustration, graphic design and traditional art, expressive color and exploration is always present in her work. The process of learning, creating, and sharing art is her biggest passion. Jessica is currently growing her career as a professional artist and hopes to inspire others to follow their creativity. Check out her Instagram at @campjesss and website campjessdesigns.com.

Juan Sebastian Laverde (He/Him) believes art is a vehicle to change society. He is a Film Producer and arts administrator whose work showcases initiatives done in the cultural sector and the creative industries.  JuanSe works in creating digital content for not-for-profit organizations, helping them grow and pursue their goals to give back to their communities. A newcomer to Canada and a proud Latino looking to make a difference, he is focused on storytelling to promote change, whether through his own projects or on commission. JuanSe focuses on highlighting with images, sounds and scripts the efforts done by people to make the world a better place.

Leo Dean (he/him) is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist with a background in painting, digital illustration and community-based public art.  Born in Scarborough, Leo is descended from a family of immigrants with roots stemming from Portugal and the West Indies. His artistic journey began at the age of two when Leo was given a crayon by his grandmother and began to draw vague yet purposeful shapes. Since then, he has worked as a youth artist for Mural Routes, VIBE Arts, and most recently as a muralist for The Canadian National Exhibition. His work delves into narratives that bring queerness to the spotlight while questioning societal norms through exploring gender and racialization. As a firm believer in transformative justice, Leo uses art as a form of harm reduction while envisioning a prosperous future for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.

Paolo Manalo is a multidisciplinary creative who started off as a hip-hop street dancer with an appreciation for Media Arts. A graduate of the 2019 POV Media Training Program cohort, Paolo has won a team commercial challenge for Ozery Bakery which resulted in a Production Asisstant internship at Revolver Films (2020). Paola has learned media foundation basics, and has since worked on several film sets. Working in dance, acting, hosting shows, and content creation, Paolo is constantly honing his craft. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Paolo has been studying graphic design and hopes to learn and apply motion graphic/animation in future works. Inspired by YouTube vlogs, talent/game shows, and comedy/action movies, Paolo aspires to create his own show and production company and strives to learn new things to improve his skills as a creative entrepreneur. 

PRAJJ is a Toronto based Director and Writer. His debut short film “Bollysingh” played at several film festivals and was an official selection of TIFF Next Wave (2019). He is the recent winner of Regent Parks Director Spotlight Pitch Competition and is currently working on developing a sketch comedy show for CBC Gem. 

Roda Medhat is a Kurdish-Canadian multidisciplinary artist living in Toronto, Canada. Roda is currently working as a freelance photographer and full time content creator within the food industry. Roda has shown his work in galleries across Ontario and twice internationally. He has studied at OCAD U (Toronto) and FAMU (Prague). While Roda’s main practice is in photography and videography, he also has a passion for sculpture and installation. Follow his Instagram @reallyroda.

Rui X is a versatile multidisciplinary artist who is fascinated with the juxtaposition of unorthodox visual elements. A lifelong creator, she is experienced in a variety of artistic media and works in both traditional and digital forms. Her style is fluid and eternally evolving with each piece. Rui’s work focuses on the interactions between human and environment, and attempts to capture her profound love of nature. As a first-generation Chinese immigrant, Rui primarily operates from a bi-cultural viewpoint imbued with both Asian and Western influences, and strives to incorporate her complex identity in all her works.  

Sahar Askary Hemmat is a Toronto-based multimedia artist. Born and raised in Iran, she did her bachelor’s in Photography at Tehran University of Art and has recently completed her MFA in Documentary Media at Ryerson University. She has been part of several group exhibitions. Her latest exhibition ‘Gav Khouni’, a multimedia installation looking at the intersection of landscape and identity, was recently held at Prefix Gallery. Her artwork includes a wide range of artistic mediums including photo, video, textile and installation. The subjects of her works are driven by her lived experience and reflect on the ideas of “memory” and “place”. 

Serene Chan is a Chinese-Canadian creative and an expert daydreamer who utilizes her passion for storytelling to produce digital and traditional imagery that provokes child-like wonder and captures nostalgia. Her work draws on her interest in mental health, East Asian history and mythology, and all things fantasy. Serene has worked as a freelance traditional painter and digital illustrator supporting other independent musicians, writers, and artists. She strives to create awareness in the beauty of Asian cultures and otherwise marginalized communities. When she isn’t painting, you can find Serene working with her hands: sewing, making resin crafts, and thrift flipping.

Theia Ramsammy AKA CyberLimbix is a multidisciplinary visualizer and story-teller. Their work holds space for narratives of queerness, vulnerability, intimacy, trauma, holistic healing, transformative justice and re-examining popular dogmas. They utilize various illustration, painting, photography, sculpture and animation techniques to create absorbing collections of images for communities or individuals who may find elements of themselves inside the artwork.

Foundations Stream:

Becky Wu is a Chinese-Canadian artist based in Toronto, Ontario. She has lived in both British Columbia and Ontario growing up, moving between different cities. These experiences along with her own cultural background have greatly influenced her personal identity, which she continually tries to express through her work. Becky is passionate about exploring the intersection between art and interactive media, in combination with visual storytelling. She works professionally as an Illustrator and 2D Designer for clients like Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and the Hand Eye Society. Additionally, she enjoys creating personal artworks and games to share online. Visit her website at beckywu.ca and follow their Instagram @bekiwoo.

Chantaya Veira is an experienced Social Media Manager who began working as a freelancer in 2020 after earning a certificate in Hootsuite Social Media Management Training. Driven by the desire to support business owners’ mission to create a visually appealing and effective online presence, she takes pride in providing the best Social Media Management possible. As a Social Media Manager, her goals include creating a small agency and making a name for her team in the digital marketing world. 

Charissa Olano is a multidisciplinary visual artist who creates dreamy and surreal artwork using both traditional and digital mediums. Through her work, her goal is to share a vision, a story, and transform spaces that evoke feelings for the viewer. She is proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and uses it to create digital paintings, illustrations, graphic designs, page layouts, animations, and videos. She has also produced large-scale artworks for hotels in North America, and aims to experience all aspects of the creative process as an artist, director, or curator. When she’s not drawing in her sketchbook, you can find her cruising on her skateboard or relaxing with her pet hedgehog. View more of her work on Instagram @charissa.o or on her website charissaolano.ca.

Ellen Yuna Ahn is a Korean- Canadian Filmmaker based in Toronto and holds a BA in Directing from Drama Centre London/Central Saint Martins (2018). In addition to her BA, Ellen also has a diploma in Performance Art and Design from Central Saint Martins, School of Art and Design. Since then, she has worked both in London, UK and Toronto in production, editing and directing. She is now based in Toronto and works extensively in narrative, corporate and charity filmmaking. For more information and her showreel, visit ahnyuna.com.

Miranda Kinkead is a self-taught, interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada. Her practice primarily focuses on painting and mixed media via the methodologies of sense-making and storytelling. She explores themes of portraiture and identity through an observation of the interconnectedness of places, people, and objects. Furthermore, her fascination of psychology, otherworldliness, time, and reality tie into her body of work. Miranda is a graduate of Ryerson University’s innovative Creative Industry program where she specialized in storytelling in media, fashion and minored in business and communications. She has several years of entrepreneurial experience within the creative industries involved with; art production, digital marketing management, graphic design for TSO and OFSAA, event production in association with DesignTO Festival 2020 and arts facilitation for kids at Toronto’s Action Potential Lab. With a diverse creative background, her cross disciplinary approach equips her with a broad focus that supports innovation within communications, media, and arts.

Samay Arcentales Cajas is a Toronto-based Kichwa artist and filmmaker exploring human-land relations, the new media dimensions of Indigenous cosmology, and immersive art as a site of liberation. Her works have been shown at imagineNATIVE, Xpace Cultural Centre, Mayworks Festival of Working People, and Maysumak Quichwa Film Showcase, among others. Samay has also facilitated film programs at SKETCH Working Arts and Charles Street Video, where she currently works as Program Coordinator. She held her first solo show “Will You Listen?: Latinx Voices in Tkaronto”, a projection based media installation at Whippersnapper Gallery. Samay works as video designer, and editor for artists and filmmakers across the country. Visit their website at samaycajas.com and follow their Instagram @samay.c.

Selina McCallum is a hardworking and ambitious social media manager, filmmaker, photographer and videographer who is passionate about digital storytelling. She was born in Toronto and raised by her Tanzanian mother and Jamaican father in the Flemingdon Park community. She graduated from the University of Windsor in Spring 2019 with a double major in Digital Journalism and Communications Media and Film. In 2018, Selina won a national award for her videography work in her short documentary Marley’s Journey, which was also featured in Windsor Shorts 2019 on CBC GEM. Selina now works at Hungry Eyes Media as their Digital Media Coordinator and at Street Voices as their Editor, while she also juggles other creative jobs as they come. In her free time, she loves to watch movies and be with friends and family. Check our her Instagram accounts @selcallum and @shotbyselina.

Srutika Sabu is an illustrator, storyteller and scholar. As a generation 1.5 Malayali diaspora kid, she was born in India but grew up in North America. Her creative practice is the fruits of an interdisciplinary academic background in medicine and transnational feminism. Srutika is motivated by the profound belief that storytelling can serve as valuable tools of knowledge production: stories can tell us fundamental and empathetic truths about the world. Her creative projects aim to educate, navigate nuances and decolonize how we create, analyze and organize knowledge.  Aesthetically, her work draws from her South Indian roots and her love for femme-centric shoujo manga imagery. Conceptually, her work explores epistemological hegemonies, development, casteism, globalization and post-colonialism.  Although relatively new to a creative career, especially after studying medicine, Srutika has produced work for organizations like Equality Labs, ASAAP and Desi Rainbow Parents and Allies. Check out their Instagram @chandrakari.

T.J. Banate AKA The Noise Witch is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Tkaronto, Canada. They draw inspiration from Filipino culture, precolonial history, spirituality, sexuality, and their experiences as a racialized gender-fluid and intersex person to create immersive and surreal works of art. Their mediums range from the seen (art direction, collaging, illustration, and videography) to the unseen (music, audio production, coding). “I believe that as an artist, my role is to listen to what the art needs. It’s not for me to control or dictate, but for me to hold, nurture, and help bring to life.” They have been showcased in the Music Gallery’s “Emergents IV” (2021), a virtual reality exhibit, and is the recipient of the Drag Academy’s 2021 Art Award. You can find their work online and in community as a creator, educator, holistic healer, and performer. Check out their Instagram @thenoisewitch.

Zephyr McKenna is a Two Spirit multidisciplinary artist living in Tkaronto. Through mediums like illustration, animation, and 3D modelling, Zephyr explores themes of cultural revitalization, Indigenous language reclamation, and Two Spirit identity. Zephyr is currently enrolled in the Game Art program at George Brown College, and hopes to use the knowledge gained there to create interactive media that sparks conversation and collaboration between indigiqueers and indiginerds across Turtle Island and beyond. 

Next Stream:

Aprille “The Creadive” (pronounced cre·a·tive) Deus is a filipino creative and LGBTQ+ community member. An expert at dreaming big, Aprille is a visionary who combines her passion, discipline, and meticulous work-ethic to produce creative work that provokes emotions and captures nostalgia. She has captured the likes of Barack Obama, Sashagai Ruddock, Desiire, Ari Lennox, Demaine Tyrone, and has shot for Jordan Brand, Manifesto Toronto, R.I.S.E. Edutainment, and many more. Currently Aprille works independently through her brand and creative business.

Carmina Miana is a Toronto-based artist interested in storytelling and image-making through the synthesis of digital and analog mediums. She values material meaning and strives to bridge the gaps between art, design, and craft. Carmina’s work draws on her interest in ecology, female labour, and her identity as a Scarborough-raised Filipino. Carmina has worked as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator on poster campaigns, packaging design, and zines. She has contributed to site-specific and community-based sculpture/installations, and has recently been developing her skills in photography, weaving, and ceramics.  She graduated from OCAD University’s Illustration program in 2017. When she isn’t making art, you can find Carmina birding in Toronto’s parks or baking gluten-free snacks.

Chawntay Barrett is a visual artist whose work explores Black identities, specifically that of Black women existing in the modern world. She works primarily as a painter across several mediums including oil, acrylic, and digital. Coming from both a Jamaican and Grenadian background, Caribbean culture is a vital underlying theme in her artwork.

Ezra Li (Citizen Li, he/him) is an interdisciplinary video artist. As a genderqueer Chinese artist and Canadian immigrant, his work surrounds themes of identity politics, value dynamics, digital chauvinism, and globalization. He is heavily interdisciplinary; having studied (remove in) filmmaking, he works in both digital and traditional animation, live action video, as well as in analogue paper traditions, zine, collage, and writing. Currently he is experimenting within 360° videojournalism, and the effects of pastiche to critique capitalism. He strives to create growth opportunity for queer, Asian, and otherwise marginalized communities.

Janie Hao is a Chinese-Canadian illustrator based in the Toronto Area. Janie’s dedication to visual communication stems from her journey growing up as a new immigrant to Canada. As a child, she sought methods of expression past speech due to language barriers. Eventually, she leaned heavily into art as a method of communication and connection to the people around her. Inspired by her diverse work history in science, education, and volunteering, Janie loves working with topics regarding social, education, and environmental issues. When she is not drawing, Janie is devising stories and puns to amuse (and/or dismay) her loved ones.

Lianne Rañopa is a Queer Filipino working in Graphic Design. She received her BFA in 2016 from The University of Santo Tomas in Manila, and she recently attended a Business Administration and Marketing program at George Brown College in Toronto from 2019-2020. Using her background in fine arts and business, Lianne’s focus is supporting and creating Queer community through graphic design and marketing. She is currently concentrating on projects that support independent start-up businesses.

Mike Regis is a filmmaker based in Toronto. With a focus on Black experiences,  community, family, and collaboration, Mike aims to portray cultural and societal nuances authentically. Mike’s visual style centres portraying authenticity through visual techniques, such as production design, lighting, and camera to further provide realism to his characters and story. Mike is a recent Business Management graduate from Ryerson University and POV 3rd Street Alumni.

Moe Pramanick is a South Asian illustrator based in Toronto, Ontario. Through her creative practice, she explores how to be in relationship with herself, the land and the loved ones she calls her community. She is inspired by the roles of imagination, dreaming and community healing in the building of a new world. By day, Moe also works as a Graphic Design Coordinator at FoodShare, designing digital and print material to support the organization’s mission to advocate for food justice in Toronto. Some of Moe’s favourite things are children’s books, bright colours and trying new things.

Muna (Warda) Youssouf is a writer and visual artist based in  Toronto. Born in Djibouti and raised in the UK, Muna is a self-taught artist. Muna was the recipient of the David Maltby Award in 2019 for her exhibition Roots, and also received the Toronto Arts Council’s Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship grant, to help develop her first feature film, People from Nowhere (2019). Her practice engages themes of home, change and displacement. She has exhibited at Gallery 44 (2019), Hashtag Gallery (2018-2020), Ryerson Image Center (2019) and Day’s and Atkinson’s Almhouse Photography Competition (2013), where she placed third for her depiction of the ever-changing housing hardships in London, UK. In under 2 years in the film industry, she has produced 3 shorts Confessions (2020), Emancipation of Egbert (2019), Menagerie (2019) and with over 10 credits in commercial productions as a PA, AD and within art departments. Nowadays, you can find her working on her short ‘Tahira’, as well as her documentary ‘The Power of Names’.

Nathalia Allen is a visual storyteller and Creative Director based  in Toronto, Canada. She is best recognized for her work with high-profile retail brands. Nathalia became an Ambassador for Nike Training Club (NTC) in Toronto in 2015 and has been a leading photographer for Nike Canada’s campaigns. In 2017, she was the only Canadian selected for VSCO Connect, where she went on to creatively direct campaigns for brands including Oakley and PowerBar. Nathalia’s work can be seen and experienced from brands including Seventeen Magazine, Make-up Forever, Adidas, KITH, Lululemon, Chevrolet, and North Face.

Niya Abdullahi is a Tech-Enthusiast and Multi-disciplinary Media Artist. She is the founder of @Habasooda, a platform dedicated to sharing the richness of the Muslim experience through a variety of storytelling avenues including short films and data-based graphics. She uses her art as a vessel to promote social change! Her first short film ‘By the Train’ premiered at the Regent Park Film Festival in November 2020.

Pree aka Sticky Mangos (they/them) is an artist educator currently based in Tkaronto, originally from Tiohtià:ke. They’re a child of immigrant settlers from Punjab who has an interdisciplinary arts practice under the name ‘Sticky Mangos’, with visual arts pieces inspired by nature, selfhood and community care. Pree also facilitates arts-based workshops, makes short films, performs drag (as ‘Gayram Masala’) and engages in community organizing. They cofounded the Non-Binary Colour Collective, and currently organize with WAYF (Where Are You From collective).

Sariena Luy is a multidisciplinary artistic activist specializing in film, photography, event curation and communications design. The Jane-Finch native is the founder of the youth-led organization called “The Flaunt It Movement,” which fosters self-love and highly-esteemed representation for womxn through creative, community projects. Sariena uses the arts to create social change and represent the complexity of transnational and intersectional identities. Alongside her art, Sariena’s versatile background includes her highly-proficient academic education and years of entrepreneurial experience to strengthen how she can serve her community. She is currently completing her honours studies as an Adobe Creativity Scholar and was recently recognized as the 2020 recipient of the Alterna Prize for Women Social Change Leaders award.

Tricia Strachan is half dreamer, half mystic. Her unique ability has always been the power of visualization. Whether visualizing her own vision or that of her client’s, she realizes these ideas with resonance, spunk, and accessibility.  Tricia is a lifelong creator, with over 7 years experience in writing, editing, video production, and social media design in the digital media industry. She’s always had a knack for creating compelling stories with an accessible voice, and has tailored her creative chops to specific business objectives. Tricia discovers creative solutions and delivers engaging content optimized for online, mobile, social media, and video platforms. Currently, she is a part-time Digital Content Strategist for Toronto’s non-profit organization, Black Women in Motion.

Vipooshan Gangatharan is a media artist in Toronto, Canada who currently works as a Social Content Creator for FCB Canada.  In addition, Vipooshan also works as a freelance artist creating and editing videos. Vipooshan has edited films such as The Worst Student Ever, and My 18th Birthday. Vipooshan has also worked with the city of Toronto, Toronto Public Health Network and Toronto Youth Job Corps to create short videos. Vipooshan aims to create and contribute to community-oriented stories.

Whyishnave Suthagar is an installation artist and graphic designer from Toronto. She has received her BFA from McMaster’s School of the Arts. Her practice focuses on creating graphics & site specific installations (using black light, fluorescent thread and soundscapes). Her work plays with light, space and sounds to create immersive meditative experiences. Themes she explores in her body of work include ancient myth, dreams, memory and the subconscious mind. She specifically creates work reflecting on her experience as a member of the second generation Tamil diaspora community assessing her dual heritage being both of Eelam Tamil descent and born in 21st century Canada. To date, she has shown her work at the McMaster Museum of Art, Much Music HQ, the Gladstone Hotel, ManifesTO, The Drake Hotel, Stackt Market, the MOCA Toronto, the Toronto Distillery District & Artscape Daniels Launchpad. She has received support from both the Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council to develop her upcoming artworks.

Foundations Stream:

Lily Huang is a first-generation Chinese-Canadian visual artist and illustrator based in Toronto. Her artistic practice references the history of heritage in technique and materials. Through her artwork, she aims to communicate the intricacies of connection, of people and the world we inhabit, and represents the empowerment and celebration of personhood. In her illustrative practice, she utilizes digital and analog tools to create original designs to be used in web and print media such as conceptual illustration, packaging, and advertising.

Brian Jiang (they/them) is a queer Tkaronto-based designer, illustrator and artist of Chinese descent. They graduated from OCAD U (2020) with a Bachelors of Design (Illustration). Their multidisciplinary work combines both digital and analogue (drawing, painting) media to discuss topics such as identity politics, queerness, communities, and communal spaces. Through their work, they explore the connection between the individual, the community and the greater world. Currently, they are also experimenting with animation and motion graphics. Most recently, they worked as the illustrator for Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s  “Get Sensible” campaign which strives to provide evidence-based cannabis-use education for youth. Brian finds inspiration in the formal qualities of folk art, 60’s Japanese Graphic design, Surrealism, print ephemera and the natural world.

Pranavi Suthagar is a Toronto based designer and artist. She is an OCAD U graduate with over 5 years of industry experience designing at various successful businesses and corporations, and creating commissioned artworks for companies including SONY, Reebok and Atlantic Records. Pranavi is also the creator behind her personal illustration series turned brand Not Sari – an exploration of identity, culture and personal reflections. She also continues to work in the arts sphere through creating illustrations for city wide banners, commissioned mixed media artworks, planters and much more.

Paul Daniel Torres is 23 years old videographer who was born and raised in Toronto by Ecuadorian immigrants. A filmmaker, poet, and youth worker, his films have screened at TIFF Next Wave and NFFTY. Paul’s work often deals with identity, race, mental health, family and love (platonic, romantic and familial). He is trying to figure out himself and the world, and hopefully make others laugh, cry and everything else along the way.

Selin Ayman is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on digital illustration and graphic design. She experiments with various mediums such as installation, sculpture, and interactive work incorporating themes of experimentation and the human experience. When she is not designing, you can find her making music and dancing.

Serville Poblete is a Filipino-Canadian filmmaker based in a highrise community in downtown Toronto known as “Bleecker Street”. His work explores boyhood and sports culture in urban and familial settings. After spending his young adulthood pursuing a professional basketball career in the Philippines, Serville has used the locker room to revise and retell adolescent gender roles and friendships, often in the context of his first-generation immigrant upbringing.

Lucy Reddy is a filmmaker specializing in contemporary art and directing video productions. Lucy ensures her storytelling skills engages with a diverse audience and generates solidary values. While producing for Red Betty Theatre, Lucy adheres to making space for BIPOC, LGBTQ2+, and women playwrights, and shows a promising new direction for Canadian Theatre and Film.

Mudja Hakime is a Toronto-based artist and graphic designer with 5 years of experience. As a self-taught artist, Mujda enjoys creating dynamic designs to help clients communicate their ideas and strengthen their business or brand. What makes Mujda unique is her combined expertise in visual design, user interaction and illustration. Design is mostly focused on visual organization of information while user interaction is focused on using design principles to enhance user experience. That means creating designs that are accessible, usable, useful, desirable, intuitive and credible. Her skills in graphic design, UI/UX design and Illustration allows her the freedom to create full seamless and cohesive design systems. Previous Clients include York Reserve Unit, Edmonton Reserve Unit, Yorker Magazine, Incite Magazine, McMaster University, Western University, and other private clients.

River-Jordan Allick is an interdisciplinary artist currently focused on documentary film and creative writing that sheds light on and gives a voice to disadvantaged communities, including currently persons with lived mental health experiences, visible minorities, newcomers and 2SLGBTQIIA+ individuals. River-Jordan wants to use art as a medium to denormalizing stigma and discrimination in Canada.

Anthony Gebrehiwot,
Founder, XVXY Photo

Anthony Gebrehiwot, the founder of XVXY Photo, is a self-taught photographer, community leader, and social entrepreneur who describes photography as “an ongoing dialogue of social change between subject and society.” As a former participant of ArtWorksTO, Anthony (aka “Tony”) was awarded with professional contracts at a young age, building his experience in how to navigate those opportunities.

Tony completed ArtWorksTO creative and event photography projects for ActiveTO and YouthTO.  His work with ArtWorksTO provided him with further experience in preparing for meetings with clients, giving presentations, negotiating, and talking with clients about their needs and what he could provide.  He states that his work with ArtWorksTO provided him with “respect as a young professional.”  Tony found that his success with ArtWorksTO projects opened the door to working with other City of Toronto clients: “If you do a good job, you gain a reputation and get connected to other opportunities in the City.”  Tony is busy creating professional and creative projects through XVXY Photo and has been able to provide subcontracts for other young photographers through this work.  Tony is currently working with the City and Scarborough Arts on “Scarborough’s New View Photo Contest.”  He also has a new exhibit at U of T Scarborough called “From Boys to Men, the Road to Healing”.  Tony recently shot the “Desire Lines Project,” a campaign for RBC and Vibe Arts highlighting emerging artists. His clients have included Nike, Hudson Bay Canada, Nuit Blanche, Afrochic Festival, and LinkedIn.

@tonyxtones
www.xvxyphoto.com

Dwayne Holness,
Founder, Corex Creative

“ArtWorksTO changed my life,” says Dwayne Holness, founder of digital media production company Corex Creative.  Dwayne credits ArtWorksTO with changing his approach to business:  “As a person of colour working in the production world, it’s hard to stand out and get that type of contract… Before ArtWorksTO I was having a lot of doubts as an entrepreneur… ArtWorksTO had a light bulb effect on me, and showed me that I’m capable of.”  Dwayne was a participant in the first round of ArtWorksTO, completing graphic design and videography projects for Urban Planning and the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy.

His first ArtWorksTO contract was his biggest at the time, and according to Dwayne “It was a milestone in my success and gave me an opportunity to look at my company, talk to clients, set deadlines and organize myself to make sure the work was getting done at its highest production level.”  The work also gave Dwayne an opportunity to bring in a team, which gave him experience with delegating tasks and creating excitement within a team.  Dwayne’s successful ArtWorksTO projects opened the door to more work within the City, including video production for Toronto Employment & Social Services and Solid Waste.  Dwayne is currently working full-time on Corex Creative, with a mission to create a bridge between the community and corporate worlds.  Through this work, Dwayne has been able to travel the world and has completed videos for major clients including Lauryn Hill, Baskin Robbins, TD Bank, and Participation, to name a few.  Dwayne continues to mentor young creatives and is a current member of the ArtWorksTO Advisory Committee.

@dukeydukez
@corexcreative
www.corexcreative.com

Dymika Harte

ArtWorksTO 2018 alumni Dymika Harte is the Founder and Creative Director of UNSGND a women-led graphic design and branding agency. Dymika founded UNSGND when she was only 18 years old while participating in an incubator program with the support of a mentor.

Her technical training is a combination of self-taught and skills honed during a graphic design program at George Brown College. In 2014 she won first place in the George Brown Youth Start Up Hub pitch competition.

Her favorite ArtWorksTO project was creating a promotional video for the City of Toronto Protegée Program, where her team interviewed past participants and city councillors. When asked about how the program helped her grow professionally, Dymika said the biggest learning curve was practicing time management, as well as establishing clear communication, boundaries and professionalism with large clients has helped UNSGND continue to grow. These larger-scale projects elevated her portfolio and demonstrated her ability to work on high- level projects, which was beneficial even to UNSGND’s target demographic of small businesses. Since completing the ArtWorksTO contract, Dymika has established a long-term relationship with Toronto Community Housing and has done 5-6 projects with various TCH divisions since.

Dymika’s advice for emerging media artists is to take advantage of mentorship opportunities. Her points of contact in ArtWorksTO mentored her throughout the project and they are still in touch as collaborators to this day. Dymika is passionate about creating opportunities for young BIPOC women in the industry, and is currently giving back to the community by offering mentorship through UNSGND where she mentors independent contractors as they develop their own brands. She is also launching a new tech company, Clutch in December 2021.

@unsgnd
www.unsgnd.ca

Maria Pineros,
Designer and Illustrator

Now an established designer and illustrator, Maria Pineros was diving into freelancing on her own before participating in ArtWorksTO in 2018. This program offered insight throughout every step of the way, from communicating ideas, and implementing feedback, invoicing, writing a proposal, and sharing ideas.  Maria completed two projects during her placement, one with Shelter and Housing Support Administration creating pamphlets that contained resources for youth at risk of homelessness, and another for Parks, Forestry, and Recreation which resulted in a community mural, of which Maria designed the display component and the illustrations which were inspired by five words provided by the City: accessibility, Indigenous rights, diversity, welcoming (immigration) and Toronto.

Maria said she learned a lot about collaborating with each division, and that it was interesting to work on two different projects because the components and deliverables were so different, even within the city. The divisions had different dynamics and offered varying levels of creative freedom and structure through their guidelines and requests. When asked about what she gained from the program, Maria said that “as creatives, we are not always taught professional development skills but it is so important we learn about this element of being a professional creative. Part of the program includes being able to communicate your process with your clients, and knowing how to be assertive when we need to regarding budget, tool limitations, requested edits, and much more. I also feel more confident in replying to RFP’s. Now, I feel very confident writing proposals, and as someone for whom English is not my first language, my ability to talk about my work and skills has brought me to another level of confidence. Getting used to the process helps you learn how to talk about your skills and sell yourself, as well as communicate the advantages of giving me the opportunity compared to someone.”

Maria is currently a full-time designer and Illustrator with over six years of experience managing the branding, communications, and marketing needs of social enterprises, non-profits, government agencies, and start-up organizations. She was hired as a freelancer to design the creative materials for ArtWorksTO: Skills for a Creative Future (2020).

@Mari_pineros_mu
www.maripineros.com

Mike Regis,
Film Director

Mike Regis credits ArtWorksTO with building his confidence and excitement to work on media art projects.  ArtWorksTO has helped build Mike’s experience in working with clients through a process that, as he states it: “includes people who care about your growth as an artist… As a BIPOC person in this industry, it’s harder to get opportunities.”

Mike is currently working on a video for the Toronto Youth Job Corp program and a public education campaign on the City’s complaints process for the Confronting Anti-Black Racism strategy.  After successfully completing short videos for the City’s Youth Week events, Mike succeeded in getting additional contracts with the City and the LAMP Community Health Centre.  Mike concludes: “I’m so grateful to ArtWorksTO for really giving me my start.  The program is such a great training ground to get work, and it makes me feel good about myself too.”

@mikeregis
www.mikeregis.com