Meet the artists and arts workers offering free mentorship in 2024!
Learn more about the mentors and their offerings before clicking the register button below.
Please note: The Mentor in Residence program is currently closed and will reopen in early 2025.
MENTORS
Alexia Bréard-Anderson (she/her) is a writer and cultural producer from Buenos Aires, based in Toronto.
Alexia is incredibly passionate about music and has a deep love for supporting independent artists through storytelling and collaborative space-making. She has a web of experience developing events, exhibitions, mentorship programs, art residencies, concerts and workshops over the past decade.
Since her 2.5 year directorial term at Xpace Cultural Centre, she’s embraced entreprenurship, which includes: running digital media & marketing at renown music venue BSMT 254, leading a PR campaign for 2023 Mayworks Festival for Working People and the Arts, leading a digital & print marketing campaign for the launch of XR music app A More Beautiful Journey and most recently offering digital media, communications, PR, grant + writing services to independent artists and organizations.
Alexia has contributed to publications such as RANGE Magazine, Femme Art Review and The Ex Puritan, writes about music, spirit and in-betweenness in her newsletter MANZANA and has just released her debut indie electronica EP 'Entre Mundos' as Golondrina.
Connect with Alexia for support on:
- Grant Writing/Review
- Project Design
- Communication Skills Improvement
- Strategic Planning
- Professional Network Expansion
- Research and/or Evaluation
*Alexia is no longer available for mentorship.
Dalton Higgins (he/him) is a publicist, author of six books, award-winning journalist and concert producer. Higgins’ publicity roster includes clients that have won Awards including: Grammy Awards (USA), BET Awards (USA), Emmy Awards (USA), The Mercury Prize (UK), Victoires de la Musique/French Grammy’s (France), and Juno Awards (Canada). His book Far from Over: The Music and Life of Drake is carried in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame collection in Cleveland, and his best-selling Hip Hop World book is carried in Harvard University’s hip hop archive. Higgins is a former concert producer for Harbourfront Centre who now runs his own live event production company (Rap N’ Roll) and has co-produced/hosted popular podcasts for the CBC (This Is Not A Drake podcast) and Rogers Media (Black Tea). His university course “Deconstructing Drake and The Weeknd” has been featured on CNN, New York Times, NPR, and 6ixBuzz and he has been a mentor at Toronto's creative incubator HXOUSE.
Connect with Dalton if you want support on:
- Communication Skills Improvement
- Arts Education
- Professional Network Expansion
- Public Relations / Publicity + Marketing
*Dalton is no longer available for mentorship.
Hanan Hazime (she/her) has a Master of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Windsor. Hanan's writing has appeared in a number of publications including The Windsor Review, Feckless C*nts: An Anthology of Feminist Writing, and on CBC Arts. Her first poetry chapbook Aorta was published by ZED Press in 2018. Hanan’s interdisciplinary and visual artwork has been featured in several shows including the 2018 Rendezvous with Madness Festival, the 2021 digital series Talking Back And Together at the AGO, and most recently the 2022 CoMotion festival at the Harbourfront Centre.
When not writing or creating art, Hanan enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction novels, overanalyzing things, photo-blogging, dancing with faeries in the woods, and drinking copious amounts of tea. IG: @the.mad.muslimah / Website: hananhazime.com
Connect with Hanan if you need support with:
- Navigating the arts world with mental health issues
- Education / Advocacy for Mad Arts
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility
- Assistance with Creative Writing
Isorine Marc (she/her) is an accomplished Arts Manager with a wide range of experiences in Canada and worldwide and thrilled to share her experience with mentees.
In 2011, Isorine founded Jamii (Swahili for “community”), a community-arts organization which mandate is to enhance the vitality of The Esplanade neighborhood. As Jamii's Alchemist (Executive & Artistic Director), Isorine has initiated several arts-based community-engaged projects and events for over a decade. In 2022, Isorine secured funding for Jamii’s new home and has since developed year-long programming in The Jamii Hub. With Jamii, Isorine has also been nurturing relations with artists in Pikangikum First Nation (Northern Ontario) since 2018, and with artists in Nairobi (Kenya), since 2023.
From 2006 to 2018, Isorine was CORPUS’ Artistic Producer. CORPUS is a dance/theatre company based in Toronto and performing worldwide. Isorine Marc, originally from France, graduated from the University of Brest, France, where she obtained her Masters Degree in Performing Arts Management (2006). Isorine has sat on various Board of Directors and has been on juries with TAPA, Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council.
Connect with Isorine if you need support with:
- Grant Writing/Review
- Project Design
- Communication Skills Improvement
- Strategic Planning
- Volunteer Management
- Accessibility
- Professional Network Expansion
- Research and/or Evaluation
- HR
- Team Management
- Programming/Curation
- Community Outreach/Engagement
- Festival Direction
Jenn Paul (she/her) is a highly creative and versatile Producer with experience in film, television, and agency environments. With a specialty in Film Production, Jenn's career spans development, production, post-production, marketing, distribution and exhibition as well as DEIB advocacy. She started her career producing a number of internationally screened short films before working as a Film Marketing and Distribution Manager, travelling across the country with Canadian films and running market test screenings for films such as MAUDIE. She also worked as the Digital Media Supervisor on CBC’s KIM’S CONVENIENCE, before working as a Unit Manager at Bell Media for CTV’s YOUR MORNING, SIDES* on MUCH, and various Branded Content projects with large brands. During her time at Bell Media she also co-founded their first and largest Diversity & Inclusion employee resource group, representing 5000+ employees in all Bell Media offices across Canada. In 2018, she produced the first Canadian-Caribbean Afrofuturist feature film, BROWN GIRL BEGINS, which has screened at 20+ cities internationally and was nominated for two CSA’s including Best Adapted Screenplay. Jenn is a passionate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advocate, most recently being appointed as ACTRA National's Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
Connect with Jenn if you:
- Are considering a career in film, television, marketing, or communications
- Are Producing your first film and don’t know where to begin
- Require feedback on scripts or in-progress cuts of your recent film project
- Are a Board member or employer and want support with implementing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Advocacy in your workplace
Katriina Campitelli (she/her) manages the temporary public art exhibitions at the Toronto Sculpture Garden, and commissions artists for new permanent public art opportunities across the City of Toronto.
She is deeply dedicated to developing outstanding and community-centric public art projects, with a focus on creating opportunities for emerging artists. In the past, she has organized several public space projects including BigArtTO (a series of nighttime projections around the City of Toronto, providing over 200 paid opportunities for emerging artists), and lead the partnership projects for ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021-2022 (organizing over 250 temporary public art interventions).
Connect with Katriina if you want support with:
- Project Design
- Professional Network Expansion
- Installation Advice
- How to respond to Calls for Artists
- Public Art; Competition Help (RFP/application reviews)
Keosha (she/her) is an award-winning artist, activist and educator who builds spaces for creative and collective liberation. As a poet and writer, Keosha is notable for centering self-actualization, womanism and social constructs throughout her work. Her work also rooted in systemic change and reimagination, Keosha explores Black joy and radical self-care, as a way of rebellion.
In 2016, Keosha founded Our Women's Voices, a Toronto-based non-for-profit focused on empowering the voices of women + girls, and making social change through arts, education and community. Our Women’s Voices has led over 70+ impactful programs, events and initiatives that have prioritized the well-being and leadership of Canadian women and girls.
With her BA in Psychology and roots in creative arts, Keosha has graced many stages and rooms as an educator, facilitator and public speaker — exploring themes of mental health, wellness, race and gender advocacy.
Keosha's work can be found in collaboration with Facebook, Nike, Art Gallery of York University, Never Apart Magazine & more. Her poem "A Prayer for Black Women" has been shared nationally and featured in CBC’s Poetic License. In 2021, Keosha debuted her first mental health series titled Black & Vulnerable. Most recently, Keosha was the recipient of the Community Hero Award presented by TFC for her contributions towards her community. Ultimately, Keosha Love is a storyteller and pivotal voice that inspires others to use theirs.
Connect with Keosha if you want support with:
- Accessibility
- Communication Skills Improvement
- Professional Network Expansion
- Self-care, Arts Education, Evaluation, Advocacy
Mahad Shoaib (he/they) – a passionate advocate for community arts, fundraising and impact evaluation aficionado, and a wizard of project management.
During the day, Mahad works as the Director of Development at Unity Charity, a national charitable organization that builds resilience among youth through Hip Hop. In this role, he writes grants, secures corporate donations, fosters sponsorships, and meticulously evaluates the organization's impact. Over the last 5 years, Mahad has raised $5M through a mosaic of grants, donations, and sponsorships, and helped Unity develop a multi-year case for support for its work!
When the sun sets, Mahad becomes "Arxade," a dynamic persona that merges his passion for music production with his love for 80s music, movies and video games, producing original works alongside local artists and game studios. “Arxade” has produced over 68 tracks, released two solo EPs, and recently released a collab EP "Redline" with Toronto artist “Seeking Safety”!
When he isn’t immersed in community arts or music production, he is usually out on his motorcycle (or fixing it…!), dabbling in film photography, or planning his next travel adventure!
Connect with Mahad if you want support with:
- Grant Writing, Project Design
- Strategic Planning
- Communication Skills Improvement
- Evaluation
*Mahad is no longer available for mentorship.
Mariam Zaidi is a filmmaker, film programmer, and arts leader based in Toronto, Canada.
Alongside her independent film and arts leadership work, Zaidi is also an International Programmer at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival and an Associate Programmer at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.
Connect with Mariam if you want support with:
- Grant Writing, Project Design, Strategic Planning
- Volunteer Management
- Communication Skills Improvement
- Professional Network Expansion
- Self-care, Arts Education, Media
Mary Anne (Mare) Garcia (she/her) is a Canadian Filipinx product/furniture designer and creative director behind Space Queen Studio - a Toronto-based home goods studio where cute 'n kitschy meets pop culture but with a succulent green twist. Garcia’s creative practice is guided by her fascination with building, experimentation, and material exploration.
She is a recipient of COFO design’s inaugural furniture design challenge, and an advocate of slow and ethical design. Her work looks to transform ordinary interactions through playfulness and greenery.
Connect with Mary Anne if you want support with:
- Portfolio consultations for review or feedback
- How to craft your bio and artist statement
- Fundamentals on presenting a strong portfolio for education, employment, and grants
- How to write about your creative work
*MaryAnne will be available for limited registrations starting March 2024.
Su-Ying Lee (she/her) Using gallery spaces for my work as well as self-determined platforms, engaging the possibilities within each site are considerable concerns of my practice. I am interested in employing the role of curator as a co-conspirator, accomplice and active agent. Querying what the presentation of art can contribute to creating “otherwise” compels me.
I am an independent curator and have also worked in institutions as Assistant Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA), Curator in Residence at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, and Assistant Curator at the Art Gallery of Mississauga. I received a Masters Degree in Curatorial Studies at the University of Toronto and am an alumnus of the Toronto Arts Council/Banff Centre’s Cultural Leaders’ Lab. My projects have taken place across Canada, in Hong Kong, Mexico City and Quezon City (Metro Manila, Philippines). I write creative non-fiction and social criticism.
Connect with Su-Ying if you want support with:
- Understanding gallery systems; identifying opportunities and understanding whether opportunities are a good fit
- Research as part of one's practice
- Curatorial strategies
- How to communicate with colleagues, organizations, curators and others
- How to ask for and conduct a studio visit
- Exhibition strategies for artists, curators and organizers;
- Collective work; how to put together a proposal package; and more
*Su-Ying has limited spots available for mentorship.
Vanessa Dion Fletcher is a Lenape and Potawatomi neurodiverse Artist; her family is from Eelūnaapèewii Lahkèewiitt (displaced from Lenapehoking) and European settlers. She uses porcupine quills, Wampum belts, and menstrual blood to reveal the complexities of what defines a body physically and culturally. Reflecting on an Indigenous and gendered body with a neurodiverse mind, Dion Fletcher primarily works in performance, textiles and video.
She graduated from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2016 with an MFA in performance and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from York University in 2009. She has exhibited across Canada and the USA at Art Mur Montreal, Eastern Edge Gallery Newfoundland, The Queer Arts Festival Vancouver and the Satellite Art show in Miami. Her work is in the Indigenous Art Centre, Joan Flasch Artist Book Collection, Vtape, Seneca College, Global Affairs Canada and the Archives of American Art.
Connect with Vanessa if you want support with:
- Grant Writing
- Project Design
- Accessibility
- Communication Skills Improvement
Zarita is a Kenyan arts manager, crafts educator, socio-cultural entrepreneur and creative leader whose heart beats for holistic development of artists and the communities they create in. Zarita has worked in the arts sector in Kenya and Canada producing projects centered on self expression, social integration, and cultural celebration.
Her work is grounded in creating barrier-free spaces where everyone can explore the artist in them. In Toronto, she has worked with organizations like Jamii Esplanade, Arts Etobicoke, Lakeshore Arts, Afghan Women Association, Newcomer Women Toronto, CultureLink Settlement. In Kenya she founded Sekoya East Africa, an arts organization building capacity among craft artists. She was spotlighted in ArtworxTO - City of Toronto Year of Public Art 2022 - for producing Sekoya Magazine, an E.African crafts publication. Zarita enjoys supporting the creative industry as mentor, consultant, art juror and speaker. It is her delight to join NAN as a mentor in residence!
Connect with Zarita if you want support with:
- Project Design, Strategic Planning
- Volunteer Management, Communication Skills Improvement
- Professional Network Expansion, Self-care, Arts Education, Evaluation, Advocacy
- Marketing and outreach strategy, social media management, portfolio development
*Zarita is no longer available for mentorship.
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