Nia Centre for the Arts

15 years in the making - We're live at Yonge and Dundas Square ! #WhereArtMakesCulture #NiaCentre ⁠ ⁠ Photo by Robert Okine @robertxokine

Are you passionate about live sound and audiovisual production? Looking to sharpen your skills in the industry? Nia Centre for the Arts is building out a roster of seasoned Black live audio and visual technicians, and we want you to be a part of it. Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eTibXyuu

In case you missed it: On Tuesday, March 18th, the acclaimed writer, historian, and dub poet Afua Cooper will be taking the stage at Nia Centre for a reading of some of her best-known works. Join us for an unforgettable celebration of the art of poetry! Tickets: https://lnkd.in/evE_G6wd

We are excited to continue expanding our team with an Events Manager, as we continue to refine our practices for best serving the artists and members of our community. Join us on our journey to evolve Canada's first multidisciplinary Black Arts Centre. To apply and learn more, visit https://lnkd.in/eur7fQBF ⁠ Nia Centre - Where Art Makes Culture.

On Tuesday, March 18th, join us for an enchanting evening of live poetry as the acclaimed author, scholar, historian and spoken word icon Dr. Afua Cooper takes the stage at Nia Centre to carry us through her celebrated writings. 🌟⁠ ⁠ Cooper's many books range across genres such as poetry, history, fiction, and children's literature. She served as the Poet Laureate of Halifax Regional Municipality from 2018 to 2020, and is a founder of the Canadian Dub Poetry movement. She is the foremost expert on Black Canadian histories, and has pushed the question of slavery into the Canadian popular consciousness. She's also a trailblazing scholar who was honoured as one of Maclean's Magazine's 50 most influential Canadians, and her latest book of poetry, "The Halifax Explosion," has received several distinctions.⁠ ⁠ Don't miss this captivating night of poetic reflections on identity, resistance and empowerment. Register for free: https://lnkd.in/eP2e2ubQ

For 8 weeks, these artists meticulously crafted music in our intensive songwriting camp. Now, they're ready to show you what they made. Join us this Friday for an intimate, soulful sound session, where you'll hear the next generation of singer-songwriters spill the contents of their hearts on stage at Nia Centre. Registration is free! https://lnkd.in/eduvUe7D

On Thursday, for the latest instalment of NiaFlix, we'll be screening a selection of short films about the Caribbean diaspora, made entirely by Caribbean filmmakers based in Toronto, Montreal and the UK. Afterwards, our curator, Kourtney Jackson, will present a talkback with some of our featured artists: Roya DelSol, Chelsea Nyomi, Powys Dewhurst, and Natalie Wood. Tickets: https://lnkd.in/eACS9_QD

📣 Calling all youth (15-18) comic book enthusiasts! 📣 If you're obsessive about superhero movies, if you've always loved flipping through comics and graphic novels, if you're fascinated by visual storytelling but don't know where to start — here's one place to start. Sketching Heroes, our new 8-week workshop series, is officially open for registration, and our facilitator is ready to guide you through the process of comic book creation from pre to post production. Our facilitator, Joseph Bonsu, has always been captivated by visual arts, drawing inspiration from the comic books and animated shows he enjoyed as a child. This passion led him to pursue formal training at Sheridan College’s Art Fundamentals program and Seneca Polytechnic’s Digital Media Arts and 3D Animation programs. He has contributed to CBC, CIBC, ArtXperiential, and The City of Toronto, and is the co-founder of Heroes of the World, a comic-inspired brand he created with his long-time friend Mark Williams. The brand showcases heroes and villains representing countries from around the globe. Hit the link in our bio to register for Sketching Heroes. Registration closes Jan. 29. 💥

If you're in search of a new year's resolution, look no further. Consider joining Creative Connect, the longest-running program at Nia Centre, where we pair creative professionals with young, emerging artists. No matter your discipline, we'd love to have you. Together, we can give the new generation the tools they need to get their careers started in the arts. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZ-YVNkS

Are you an emerging artist looking for guidance in your field? Maybe you're a seasoned creative with knowledge you'd like to share with the next generation? On Monday, Jan. 27, we'll be hosting a mixer for Creative Connect, our arts-based mentorship program that pairs young creatives with more established arts professionals. This is an opportunity to learn more about the longest-running program at Nia Centre, where mentees and mentors will get to mix and mingle with one another. We're especially looking to expand our community of mentors in all arts disciplines — so if you're a creative professional in search of a new year's resolution, feel free to drop in! Register here: https://lnkd.in/e7rbNzfu