Our team is excited to welcome spring and the refreshing sense of new growth that comes with the season. The past few months have been especially busy, as they have been for many organizations, with March grant deadlines. We have also recently completed our co-leadership development project supported through the Catalyst & Transformation (CAT) Fund grant from WorkInCulture. 

Erin Jones, Co-Director and Curator of Transformational Change, has been working on projects including organizationals reviews and instructional design. We are delighted to work with arts organizations to support organizational and professional development. If you are interested in learning more about our educational offerings, please visit our website.

Kevin A. Ormsby, Co-Director and Curator of Programming and Engagement, has been managing and coordinating the selection committee process to review submissions for Gathering Divergence: Multi-Arts Festival and Conference Spring 2026. It is always inspiring to see the talented artists who submit their work for our festival and conference.

Our team also recently visited the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre as part of preparations for the upcoming Gathering Divergence, taking place on May 12, 14, and 15. You’ll find more details in this newsletter, and registration is now open online.

The Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre is a vibrant cultural arts hub created through a unique partnership between Tapestry Opera, Nightwood Theatre, and St. Clare’s Housing. The venue is only one year old, and we are excited to gather in this inspiring space. A special thank you to Pip Bradford for the wonderful tour!

We’re nearing the final stages of the 5th cohort of the CPAMOPOC Project (Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario’s Pluralism and Organizational Change initiative). Over the past two years, nine participating organizations have worked to transform their own practices while gaining the knowledge and skills to deliver anti-racism, equity, pluralism, and organizational change sessions within their own communities. Many of our CPAMOPOC V organizations have demonstrated innovation and collaboration to facilitate numerous sessions reaching over 800 participants collectively.   We are pleased and proud of the progress that our partnering organizations have made!  Stay turned for examples in our upcoming newsletters.

For more information, visit our website:
🔗 https://cpamo.org/equity-education-in-the-arts/cpamo-poc-cohort-5/

CPAMOPOC VI is the next evolution of the CPAMO’s capacity-building initiative, building on the proven success of CPAMOPOC V. Designed to strengthen leadership, governance, and organizational resilience, CPAMOPOC VI responds directly to the sector’s current realities: increased complexity, equity imperatives, and the need for adaptive leadership models. This new iteration deepens its commitment to inclusive excellence by integrating Situational Leadership methodologies and equity-informed coaching practices, ensuring that leaders and organizations are equipped to effectively navigate change while centering equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Please reach out to Erin Jones, Convenor/Co-Director Curator of Transformational Change, at education@cpamo.org to learn more and participate in CPAMOPOC VI.

Gathering Divergence – A Journal Centering IBPOC Perspectives in Canadian Arts Practices

The arts sector in Canada is in a moment of transformation—one deeply shaped by Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour (IBPOC) creatives whose work continues to challenge, inspire, and reimagine how we experience art and culture. Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) proudly announces the newly titled publication, Gathering Divergence – A Journal Centering IBPOC Perspectives in Canadian Arts Practices.

This journal represents a deliberate intervention against the historical and ongoing erasure of IBPOC contributions to the Canadian arts ecosystem. It features essays, reflections, and images from artists, scholars, and cultural leaders who are not only practitioners but also catalysts for systemic change. Many contributors have also presented or performed at The Gathering: Divergence Multi-Arts Festival and Conference, a complementary event that continues to nurture cross-sector collaboration and creative dialogue.

The first issue, Shifting Perspectives and Evolving Ways of Working in the Arts, explores how IBPOC artists engage with questions of social impact, cultural relevance, and artistic innovation. Through an intergenerational and interdisciplinary lens, Gathering Divergence highlights creative practices that honour legacy, center Indigeneity, and envision more inclusive and equitable futures for the arts in Canada.

With this launch, CPAMO reaffirms its ongoing commitment to cultivating space, opportunity, and understanding—ensuring that the voices shaping Canada’s cultural landscape are heard, celebrated, and sustained for generations to come.

To view the table of content or to purchase visit our website.

The Gathering Divergence
Multi-Arts Festival & Conference Spring 2026

May 12, 14 and 15, 2026

Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre
877 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4W 3M2

This three-day hybrid festival and conference centers Indigenous, Black, racialized, Deaf, disabled, Mad, women, and other historically marginalized artists and arts communities.

Featuring performances, literary readings, visual arts exhibitions, panels, workshops, and creative investigations across diverse artistic practices, Gathering Divergence is grounded in cross-sectoral understandings of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Pluralism (EDIP). The festival explores transformativ
e change in the arts through critical reflection, collaboration, and visionary practice.

Featured Panels:

- Building a Diverse Canadian Cultural Arts Management Ecology | May 12
- Access Panel: Strategies for Increasing Access in the Arts (in partnership with Tangled Arts) | May 12
- Can Your Work Tour? Building an IBPOC Touring Network and Supporting Artists to be Tour Ready | May 14
- From EDI to What? The Changing Landscape of Equity and Inclusion in the Arts | May 15

Plus workshops, artist performances, and exhibitions. More details coming soon!

Join us online or in person

Tuesday, May 12 – Online only
Register: https://Gathering-Divergence-Spring-2026.eventbrite.ca

May 14–15 – In person at the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre
Register: https://tapestryopera.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/events/a0SOF000002aPZp2AM

May 14–15 – Online
Register: https://Gathering-Divergence-Spring-2026.eventbrite.ca

Tickets

General Admission: $20
Artist / Arts Worker / Accessibility Pricing: $15

If ticket prices are a barrier to attending, please email info@cpamo.org to request a complimentary ticket.

Accessibility: 

Online:  Otter closed captions will be available 

In person: the Nancy & Ed Jackman Performance Centre: all spaces are accessible to most; many are barrier-free. For more information: https://jackmanperformance.ca/how-to-find-us/

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 City of Toronto, and the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration.


Back to top 

The second volume of An Anthology Visioning Canadian Cultural Transformation: Thoughts from Canadian Artists / Arts Workers / Organizations in the Arts Ecology is available for purchase!

This publication builds on Volume 1 and continues the conversation on the need for sectoral change centering the voice of IBPOC visionaries for the Arts sector’s future. Featured articles (previously published / written) will complement articles from invited contributors from all performing arts and visual arts disciplines, digital / media arts and arts administration. View the table of contents and introduction here.

This publication is available for purchase in print here (book $30 + $8 shipping) or as a PDF here ($30). The PDF version is available for immediate download after purchase. Please make sure to download the PDF right away. 

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are pleased to welcome Alana De Florimonte as the new Chair of CPAMO’s Board of Directors.

Alana brings a dynamic blend of executive-level administrative expertise, community engagement, and a deep-rooted commitment to equity and cultural pluralism. With over a decade of experience across finance, real estate, and the arts, she consistently centers people-first approaches and fosters inclusive collaboration in every space she enters.

In her current role as Senior Administrative Assistant at IG Wealth Management, Alana also leads programming for the Black Business Resource Group, curating events that elevate Black artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. She is both a strategic organizer and a natural storyteller and advocate, with a strong ability to build partnerships and meaningfully engage diverse audiences.

Alana’s lived experience as a Black Caribbean woman, combined with her operational expertise and natural ability to bring people together, makes her uniquely suited for this leadership role. Her work—ranging from coordinating Grant Thornton’s inaugural Toronto Caribbean Carnival social, to facilitating conversations on anti-Black racism, and organizing panels for Black History Month and Emancipation Day—reflects a deep and ongoing commitment to building inclusive communities.

Her values strongly align with CPAMO’s vision, and we are excited for the insight, continuity, and care she brings to this next chapter of our leadership. We are confident that Alana will not only support our mission, but help amplify it with integrity and a unwavering commitment to cultural equity.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Alana to the Board.

Board of Directors

Meet Alana De Florimonte

Alana De Florimonte is an accomplished administrative leader and equity advocate with over a decade of experience across finance, professional services, real estate, and the arts. She currently serves as a Senior Administrative Assistant at IG Wealth Management, where she also leads community engagement for the company’s Black Business Resource Group. In this role, Alana curates culturally resonant programs and fosters partnerships with Black artists, entrepreneurs, and community leaders to advance equity and representation across the organization.

Her career journey reflects a deep commitment to cultural pluralism, with past roles at KPMG and Grant Thornton LLP, where she not only supported executive leadership but also took initiative to create inclusive spaces—most notably organizing Grant Thornton's first-ever Toronto Caribbean Carnival social. A natural connector and storyteller, Alana has organized internal panels, facilitated dialogue on anti-Black racism, and led programming for events such as Black History Month and Emancipation Day.

Alana’s contributions extend beyond the workplace. She has served on charity event committees such as Bay Street Hoops, co-founded Grant Thornton’s first women’s basketball team, and continues to support grassroots arts and cultural initiatives across Ontario. As a proud Black Caribbean woman, she brings lived experience, strategic insight, and heartfelt dedication to her work in advocacy and the arts.

Alana is passionate about building inclusive communities where diverse voices are heard, celebrated, and empowered—and she is committed to advancing this mission through leadership, storytelling, and meaningful collaboration.

Our equity and anti-racism training programs are customized to your organization’s EDI needs.

There’s still so much work to do.

For more information view our brochure here.

An Anthology of Visioning Canadian Cultural Transformation is available for purchase in print (book $20 + 15 shipping) and pdf ($20). To purchase please visit our website https://wp.me/p3jYa5-bVuTf or contact us.

Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO) is seeking new Board Members.

CPAMO is a movement of Indigenous and racialized artists working to advance equity, access, and pluralism in the arts across Ontario. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about the arts, community engagement, and equity-based work, and who are interested in contributing their skills and perspectives to support our mission. This volunteer role is a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the arts community.

For more information about our work, please visit: https://cpamo.org

We welcome a variety of skill sets, including but not limited to human resources, strategic planning, governance, communications, financial management, fundraising and grant development, technology, and administration. Board members are expected to attend 4–5 meetings per year and dedicate a few hours each month to committee work.

If you are interested in joining the Board, please send your resume and a short paragraph about yourself and your interest in the role to Erin Jones, Co-Director and Curator of Transformational Change, at education@cpamo.org

The wind in the leaves collective (www.windintheleavescollective.com) 2025/26 season is under way with three offerings: Mallo Nights, allies and friends, and the Indigenous/ Black/People of Colour (IBPOC) Touring Network.

Allies and friends

These performances take place at the Citadel+Compagnie where the collective is presenter in residence (https://www.citadelcie.com/event/allies-and-friends-mar/)

May 1 & 2, 2026

Sylvie Bouchard formed BoucharDanse, a company that serves as an umbrella for her artistic endeavors. Bouchard cocreated and performed in the popular series Four Square at Tree House TV.

Jim Nason and Stephanie Harkness.

These two performed together for Mallo Nights in 2022. JIm is an artist and educator who  is the author of eight volumes of poetry. Stephanie is (they/them) is an artist, rehearsal director, and anthropologist based in Toronto.

Organized by Akwaba Cultural Exchange

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2026
Location: Milton Community Park, 805 Santa Maria Blvd, Milton, ON (Canada).
Time: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Contact:
Jean Assamoa
Founder and Executive Director

Akwaba Cultural Exchange& Milton African and Multicultural Festival akwaba.exchange@yahoo.ca
 416-938-2320
 http://www.miltonmulticulturalfestival.com.

A big thank you to event sponsors: Ontario Arts Council, Heritage Canada, Canada Council for the Arts, CSVIAMONDE, and Milton Community Fund.

The Black Screen Office exists to champion Black creators, grow Black-led businesses, and ensure Black stories are made and seen. By focusing on talent, access, and visibility, we help shape a screen industry that reflects the full richness of Black experiences in Canada and around the world.

About the Framework

• The Black Screen Office, in partnership with ADVANCE Music Foundation and Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario (CPAMO), is launching the first-ever Anti-Black Racism Policy Framework for Canada’s cultural industries.

• This is a community-informed, sector-wide roadmap grounded in consultations with over 140 Black creatives from across the screen, music, performing arts, theatre, and literary sectors.

• The Framework contains actionable recommendations covering definitions, hiring, mentorship, training, accountability, and more.

• It is designed for organizations of all sizes across Canada’s cultural industries and can also support Black-led organizations in advocacy with all levels of government.

Why this matters

We should care about Black people in culture because:

• It’s the right thing to do — Black artists deserve permanence, not performative gestures.

• It’s good for business — audiences demand authenticity, diversity, and representation.

• And relevance is survival — without change, cultural organizations risk becoming irrelevant to the very communities they need to serve.

Why It’s Needed

• For years, organizations have said: “We want to do better, but we don’t know where to start.”

• Symbolic gestures and statements have too often replaced structural change for Black artists and creative professionals.

• The Framework provides practical, measurable guidance to help organizations move from intention to implementation.

• It updates and adapts the definition of Anti-Black Racism—last widely revised in 2003, specifically for the realities of Canada’s cultural industries.

Statistics

• Cultural sector: Black professionals hold just 2% of board seats despite making up 4.3% of the population.

• Music sector: 98% of Black professionals have never applied for grants, and 89% of those who did were denied.

• Screen sector: Fewer than 3% of Black screen professionals occupy top creative roles like showrunner or executive producer.

Key Features

• Not a checklist - a tool for honest reflection, gap analysis, and the creation of tailored ABR policies.

• Encourages year-round promotion of Black talent and stories, moving beyond tokenism and “Black History Month-only” visibility.

• Recognizes the diversity and intersectionality within Black communities, urging sector-specific approaches for groups such as Black disabled creators or Black newcomers.

• Guides organizations through self-reflection, data analysis, goal-setting, and progress measurement.

Impact & Vision

• Backed by national funding partners including: Canada Media Fund, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Creative BC, Ontario Creates, and Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative through the Black Business Initiative.

• Aims to create a cultural sector where Black artists, executives, and professionals are not just included, but empowered and celebrated.

• Builds capacity for structural change by equipping organizations with tools to dismantle anti-Black racism in their policies, programs, and workplaces.