Hire
This section features Black led arts organizations in Toronto and Black facilitators you can hire for workshops and events on a variety of topics (not just related to racism!)
Speakers
Canadian Black hosts/moderators/speakers list: Hire Black speakers to talk about issues other than racism! Here is a robust list of people in Toronto compiled by Nana Aba Duncan.
Arts Workers
HireBIPOC.com is the definitive and ubiquitous industry-wide roster of Canadian BIPOC creatives and crew working in screen-based industries.
All self-identified BIPOC working in all areas of the industry, across all experience/education levels, are encouraged to join. Hire your next BIPOC crew or creative here!
Arts
Nia Centre for the Arts: Nia is a Toronto-based not-for-profit organization that supports, showcases and promotes an appreciation of arts from across the African Diaspora through Professional Development, Mentorship, Exhibitions and Special Events.
The Power Plant: The Art Gallery at Harbourfront (operating as The Power Plant) is Canada’s leading non-collecting, public art gallery dedicated exclusively to contemporary visual art from Canada and the world. Governed by its board of directors, The Power Plant serves a strong network of community stakeholders and is a registered Canadian charitable organization, supported by its members, sponsors, donors, and funding bodies at all levels of government.
Obsidian Theatre: Obsidian is Canada’s leading culturally specific theatre company. Their threefold mission is to produce plays, to develop playwrights and to train emerging theatre professionals. Obsidian is passionately dedicated to the exploration, development, and production of the Black voice. Obsidian produces plays from a world-wide canon focusing primarily, but not exclusively, on the works of highly acclaimed Black playwrights. Obsidian provides artistic support, promoting the development of work by Black theatre makers and offering training opportunities through mentoring and apprenticeship programs for emerging Black artists.
COBA: The Collective of Black Artists (COBA) was founded February, of 1993 by Junia Mason, Mosa Neshama (formerly Kim McNeilly), Charmaine Headley, & BaKari I. Lindsay (formerly Eddison B. Lindsay); four dancers of African descent, passionate to fill a void on Toronto's arts scene by constructing a platform for dance creations reflecting the physical and social realities of the African diaspora world wide..
Black Artist’ Network in Dialogue (BAND): Black Artist’ Network in Dialogue (BAND) is dedicated to supporting, documenting and showcasing the artistic and cultural contributions of Black artists and cultural workers in Canada and internationally. BAND Gallery and Cultural Centre is dedicated to developing emerging artists, curators and administrators by providing an accessible venue to showcase their work to the general public. BAND’s Quarterly Canadian Culture Series, is a presentation and speaking series intended to encourage dialogue on current events among Black artists, cultural workers and the larger society.
Blank Canvas: Blank Canvas is an art collective that continues to build a vibrant art community that drives culture forward and creates platforms for marginalized artists through events, panels, workshops and content creation. Blank Canvas seeks to reimagine spaces that allow emerging artists to explore their intersectional identities, where the ability to share narratives and raise awareness of culturally critical issues facing our communities is fostered. Using varying forms of artistic and cultural expression, Blank Canvas focuses on what’s best for our community spreading positive energy, showcasing new artists, taking up space unapologetically and being a cultural conduit for creatives.
Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism is a vessel that seeks to nurture Black radical creation in Toronto and beyond. Inspired by Octavia Butler’s evocative novel, this artist-run centre aims to be fertile ground for Black creativity and organizing. Wildseed was birthed by Black Lives Matter artivists who hope to build an enduring space that could cultivate the most transformative and radical ideas from Toronto’s diverse Black communities. Wildseed is a transformed industrial space; a blank canvas reimagined as a multipurpose artist-run community incubator, gallery, studio and home to Black Lives Matter — Canada. Wildseed is a transfeminist, queer affirming space politically aligned with supporting Black liberation work across Canada.
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Afro-Biz.ca: Discover Toronto Black Owned Businesses
Black & Indigeneous-owned businesses Toronto: Explore with this clickable Google map, and search by category!