22.   About CPAMO

23.   Contact Us

While our team is enjoying the summer—whether gardening or spending time outdoors—it's also been a busy season behind the scenes at CPAMO.

Following a successful spring that included our Gathering Divergence Multi-Arts Festival & Conference Spring 2026 in May, our public programming has slowed for the summer, allowing us to focus on organizational development and supporting the broader arts sector through client training and capacity-building initiatives.

This summer, our team participated in professional development with Joyce Rosario and Brian Postalian, exploring Liz Lerman's Critical Response Process (CRP). CPAMO has incorporated CRP into our work for many years and Kevin A. Ormsby is a certified CRP facilitator. This training provided an opportunity for the rest of the team to deepen and refine their skills in using this valuable feedback methodology.

CPAMO was featured on the Imagine Talk: Transforming Cultural Equity in Canadian Arts virtual launch and panel discussion on July 22, 2026, where CPAMO's co-directors Erin Jones and Kevin A. Ormsby, and CPAMO's founder charles c. smith  (CNERJ) joined cultural leaders from Canada and Australia to discuss equitable approaches to transforming the arts sector. A recording of the event will be available from Diversity Arts Australia in the coming weeks.

We've also been reviewing and updating our internal policies and governance documents as part of our ongoing commitment to organizational excellence. At the same time, we're continuing our search for new Board members to help guide CPAMO's future growth.

Although summer is a quieter season for public programming, we're already looking ahead to the fall and winter. We're excited to be working on a new publication and planning its launch event this winter.

Need leadership training, consulting or organizational development services?  Don't hesitate to reach out to us. 

Stay tuned—more information about our upcoming programs, festivals and publication will be shared in the coming months!

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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.

Missed one of our Gathering Divergence sessions or would like to revisit the conversations? Recordings from our Winter 2026 and Spring 2026 (Days 1 & 2) events are now available on our YouTube channel.

Watch the recordings:

• Building a Diverse Canadian Cultural Arts Management Ecology panel (May 12, 2026)
  https://youtu.be/s5wNX37xgmo
• Can Your Work Tour? Building an IBPOC Touring Network and Supporting Artists to Be Tour Ready (May 14, 2026)
  https://youtu.be/_0HlUEJVN8E
• Performance & Workshop: Nathaniel Hanula-James – Metachrosis (May 14, 2026)
  https://youtu.be/XBdq2tgpE70
• Worldbuilding the Collective Dream workshop with Zainab Amadahy (May 14, 2026)
  https://youtu.be/rQsSJZGaQDc
• Keynote by Walter Borden (May 14, 2026)
  https://youtu.be/7JxMp0AQY04
• The State of Black Arts in Canada panel (February 24, 2026)
  https://youtu.be/ts93lSrCEGQ?si=Z1Td0P2Ve15j5oS1

We're also working on uploading recordings from Gathering Divergence Spring 2026 – Day 3, which will be available in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

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. 

CPAMO is honoured to be featured by Diversity Arts Australia as part of the Imagine Talk: Transforming Cultural Equity in Canadian Arts initiative. The case study highlights CPAMO's work in advancing cultural equity, pluralism, and systems change within Canada's arts sector.

Read the feature: https://diversityarts.org.au/iatw/cultural-pluralism-in-the-arts-movement-ontario/

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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, experience and perspectives to support our mission. This volunteer role is a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the arts community and build/share professional skills. While our call is open to all, we encourage interest from the IBPOC 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, legal knowledge, technology, and administration. Board members are expected to attend 4–5 meetings via Zoom per year and dedicate a few hours each month to committee work.

Want to support equity in the arts and work with other dynamic individuals?  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

Since its launch in 2021, the festival has become one of Milton’s premier cultural celebrations, attracting thousands of attendees annually. The festival showcases music, dance, visual arts, food, and traditions from around the world while providing a platform for artists, entrepreneurs, vendors, and community organizations to connect with new audiences.

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  NON-MEMBER COUNSELLING PILOT PROGRAM
  
  Not a member of the DTRC, but looking to access counselling?
  
  In summer 2026, the DTRC is offering a pilot counselling program accessible to performing dancers based in Toronto who are not members of the DTRC and who identify as belonging to one or more equity-deserving communities.
  
  Through this program, individuals may be pre-approved to submit receipts for reimbursement of up to three counselling sessions (up to $120 maximum per session).
  
  There are limited spaces available in this pilot program, and eligible applicants will be approved on a first come-first serve basis.
  
  To apply, you must:
  
  • be 18 years of age or older
  • be a performing dancer be based in Toronto, and
  • identify as belonging to one or more of the following equity-deserving groups:
     o Indigenous: Inuit, Métis, First Nations
     o Afro-diasporic
     o Asian
     o South Asian
     o Pacific Islander
     o Latino/Latina/Latinx
     o West-Asian/Arab
     o Racialized Person
     o 2SLGBTQIA+
     o Deaf, Mad, Disabled
     o Newcomer to Canada (moved here within the last 5 years)
     o Francophones Outside QC
     o Living in a Rural or Underserved Area
     o Other
  
  Follow this link to apply: https://dtrc.ca/non-member-counselling-form/
  APPLICATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 15, 2026
  
  REIMBURSEMENT DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 30, 2026
  Sessions must be for Personal Counselling* ONLY.
  
  (Due to funding limitations and DTRC’s staff capacity, this pilot program is currently limited to Toronto-based dancers and to Personal Counselling* ONLY. In the future, we hope to expand the program and to include other regions and other forms of counselling and coaching.)

Are you a talented artist, performer, leader, or visionary?

The Majdi-Bou-Matar Bursary, named after the visionary founder of MT Space, offers $5,000 and a year-long mentorship with MT Space designed to fit the recipient. This bursary is open to performers, leaders, and administrators who are racialized (newcomer, immigrant, refugee) and/or Indigenous, emerging in their craft/career in the Canadian performing arts sector and within commuting distance of MT Space (located in the KW region).

The deadline to submit is August 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST.

Apply today https://mtspace.ca/majdi-bou-matar-bursary-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.