Ann M. Jastrab is the Executive Director at the Center for Photographic Art (CPA) in Carmel, California. CPA strives to advance photography through education, exhibition and publication. These regional traditions—including mastery of craft, the concept of mentorship, and dedication to the photographic arts—evolved out of CPA's predecessor, the renowned Friends of Photography established in 1967. While respecting these West Coast traditions, CPA is also at the vanguard of the future of photographic imagery.

Before coming onboard at CPA, Ann worked as the gallery director at RayKo Photo Center in San Francisco for 10 years until their closure in 2017. While being a champion of artists, she created a thriving artist-in-residence program at RayKo where multiple residents, including Meghann Riepenhoff, Carlos Javier Ortiz, Kathya Marie Landeros, Klea McKenna, and McNair Evans, all received Guggenheim Fellowships. Ann was also the gallery manager at Scott Nichols Gallery in San Francisco where she incorporated contemporary artists with the legends photography.

Ann is interested in seeing all types of photography, especially work by LGBTQ+ artists, documentary projects, alternative and historical process work, and traditional film based photography. She can offer exhibition opportunities as well as other support for artists.

Muema Lombe is a photographer, art collector, tech startup founder, angel investor, and Vice President of the Board of Trustees at the Center for Photographic Art (CPA) in Carmel, California.

CPA strives to advance photography through education, exhibition and publication. These regional traditions—including mastery of craft, the concept of mentorship, and dedication to the photographic arts—evolved out of CPA's predecessor, the renowned Friends of Photography established in 1967 by iconic artists Ansel Adams, Wynn Bullock and Cole Weston. While respecting these West Coast traditions, CPA is also at the vanguard of the future of photographic imagery.

Curated over 200 exhibitions at various institutions as a Chief Art Curator or Guest Curator including at the Glenbow Museum; Art Gallery of Calgary; the Military Museums, Calgary; Alberta Historical Resources Foundation; Triangle Art Gallery, Calgary; Esplanade Art Museum, Medicine Hat, Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.

As a Consultant worked with nation-wide clients including: art galleries, museums, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, municipalities and private industries providing Board and operational manuals, long range plans and collections management.

Recipient of awards and honours including Honourary Member of the Alberta Society of Artists, the prestigious Government of Alberta Centennial Medal and the Alberta Museums Association, Award of Merit and Outstanding Service Award.

Crista Dix is the Executive Director at the Griffin Museum of Photography, assuming that role in January of 2022 after two years as the Associate Director.

Before coming to the Griffin Museum in 2020 she spent fifteen years operating her own photography gallery, wall space creative, closing it in 2020 to make the move to New England and the Griffin. Having a career spanning many paths she has a background rooted in science, business and creative art. This well rounded experience provides a solid background for supporting the Griffin’s mission to encourage a broader understanding and appreciation of the visual, emotional and social impact of photographic art.

The Griffin Museum curates over 50 exhibitions a year. As an institution, we are committed to ensuring that our mindset, practice and outreach set a framework with priorities for building programs and exhibitions that consider diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion through our mission that is centered around the photograph.

Crista has written essays about photography, introducing creative artists work to a broader community. She has been a member of numerous panels and discussions on the craft of photography, juried creative competitions and has participated in major portfolio reviews across the country in cities like Houston, Portland, Los Angeles, Santa Fe and New Orleans. She is open to view all types of photography, including moving images, installation and public projects. She is open to providing feedback on projects not yet completed and answering questions concerning next steps for projects or series not yet realized.

Hailing from Detroit Michigan, Dave is the Co-Founder of Photoville, the largest free photography festival in North America based in Brooklyn, New York. Photoville is a Non-profit organization whose mission is to promote a wider understanding and increased access to the art of Photography for all. This work has produced shows for the New York Times, United Nations, Four Freedoms, National Geographic, Instagram, and The Fence Exhibition which is shown in 11 North American Cities.

During the last Decade, Dave has presented Photography seminars at Grand Valley State, and served as a reviewer at The New York Times, Exposure Festival, Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards, International Center of Photography, Houston FotoFest, ASMP and WNYC.

He is also an actor and in his 32-year career has Performed on Broadway, off Broadway and toured internationally as an associate member with New York City’s Wooster Group Theater Company. He has numerous film and television credits and continues to perform in various formats including weekly podcasts.

Over his career, he has produced numerous commercials, print photography, short films and theatrical events.

While working for Olympia Entertainment/ the Fox Theatre in Detroit and all their properties Dave produced, concerts, plays and stadium shows, (The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Eminem) at Comerica Park, Ford Field and various Detroit venues.

He has produced and production managed for the artist Matthew Barney, Professor Stephen Hawking, The Tribeca Film Festival, The World Science Festival, Vagina Monologues, and charities including The Red Cross and Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Dave has served on various boards/foundations including The American Society of Media Photographers, United Photo Industries, Dumbo Bid, and The Plant Ant Theater Company.

Janine Windolph (Atikamekw/Woodland Cree) is the Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre Arts and Creativity. Windolph is known as an Interdisciplinary artist: filmmaker educator, curator, and storyteller. She has a Master of Fine Arts Interdisciplinary in Indigenous Fine Arts and Media Production. She is currently the Writer in Residency for the University of Winnipeg. Janine teaches beading, visual arts, photography, filmmaking, writing, storytelling, and Indigenous symbols in schools, libraries, and non-profits.

Filmography includes Our Maternal Home (Director/Writer), Stories Are In Our Bones (Director/Writer) Lifegivers: Honoring Our Elders and Children (Director/Writer), The Land of Rock and Gold (Director/Writer/Producer), Ayapiyâhk ôma niyanân “Only us, we are here at home” (Production Mentor/Narrator), From Up North (Producer), The Beacon Project: Stories of Qu’Appelle Valley (Production Support/Storyteller /Producer), and RIIS from Amnesia: Recovering the Lost Legacies (Co-Director and Co-Producer).

Karen is the Creative Director of Shutter Hub, the UK based photography organisation providing opportunities and support for creative photographers worldwide. She founded the organisation to create a supportive community for photographers and to provide a platform for the development of ideas and careers.

She is dedicated to creating fair access to photography and opening up opportunities for everyone. She'd love to see work by creative photographers who are looking for support and direction, who want to exhibit their work, develop their networks, and connect with others.

Karen has spoken at industry events and locations such as FOAM Museum, London Art Fair, FORMAT Festival, and the Festival of Creative Industries; curated exhibitions at London Photomonth, Cambridge University, and St Bride Foundation, to name just a few in the UK, and taken shows to Belgium, Denmark, France, Israel, Portugal, Romania and The Netherlands. She’s reviewed portfolios in the UK, Europe, Canada, the US and Israel; at Unseen Amsterdam, FORMAT International Photography Festival, Belfast Photo Festival, London Photomonth, The Photographers’ Gallery, Getty Images Gallery, Exposure Photo Festival, Griffin Museum of Photography, the Photographic Resource Center, Photo Vogue Festival, and more.

Karen is a consultant, curator and collaborator who works to bring innovative ideas and fundamental kindness to every project. She has won awards for photography, writing and community development. In 2019 she was named the Digital Influencer of the Year at the Holland Press Awards, and in 2022 she received a Barclays Social Entrepreneur Award for positively driving social and environmental change through business.

Karen is experienced in working with museums and galleries, developing exhibition spaces and publications, and collaborating with organisations such as The National Archive, English Heritage and Cambridge University. She also founded and co-directs Toiletries Amnesty, an NGO supporting over 2.25m people, working to end hygiene poverty and divert beauty industry waste.

For more information: karen-harvey.co.uk and shutterhub.org.uk

The Magenta Foundation isn't the average arts-publishing house. With a fearless approach to art curation and publication, this trailblazing powerhouse, propels emerging and under-represented artists into the global spotlight.

At the heart of its mission lies a commitment to emerging and underrepresented artists, transcending borders, and bringing captivating projects to life. Magenta’s influence resonates internationally, capturing the essence of today's art scene and providing a platform for artists whose voices might otherwise go unheard.

Diverse in its pursuits; Magenta extends its impact to high schools, nurturing young talent and fostering a new generation of creative minds through its innovative education programs. Its latest venture is the groundbreaking collaboration with Emerging Curatorial and MFA students, who are crafting their inaugural exhibitions and publications sourced from LGBTQ2+ archives. This demonstrates Magenta's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of art curation and promoting diverse narratives.

In this ever-evolving art arena, The Magenta Foundation thrives, forging alliances with international galleries, visionary curators, forward-thinking artists, and esteemed post-secondary institutions. Together, we are redefining the art landscape, illuminating the path for emerging arts practioners and creating a vibrant, inclusive space where creativity knows no bounds.

For more information: magentafoundation.org

Nicola Shipley is a Curator, Producer, Mentor and Consultant specialising in contemporary photography. She is co-founder and Director of GRAIN Projects, UK. She trained as an art historian, has an MA in History of Art, and a background in the visual arts, including in commissioning, curation, project management and artists professional development.

GRAIN Projects is a platform for contemporary photography and a hub and network for practitioners. Part of the national photography network GRAIN collaborates with photographers, communities and organisations nationally and internationally. Recent projects have included with artists and photographers Anthony Luvera, Arpita Shah, Ayesha Jones, Edgar Martins, Jonny Briggs, Liz Hingley, Lydia Goldblatt, Mark Neville, Mark Power and Maryam Wahid. She has collaborated and produced work with FORMAT International Photograph Festival, Diffusion Festival, Coventry – UK City of Culture, Birmingham 2022 Festival – the Commonwealth Games, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, MAC, Centrala, Photoworks, Forestry England, Royal Photographic Society and internationally with Tasweerghar, Pakistan, British Council, Guangzou Library, China and IED Gallery, Madrid.

In 2021 Nicola was a judge for ‘Portrait of Britain’. In 2020 she was invited to select the Source magazine BA Photography Awards and in 2019 was a judge for the Taylor Wessing Photography Portrait Prize at the National Portrait Gallery. She is a board member of Photofusion.

For more information: grainphotographyhub.co.uk

Pat is a photographer and multimedia journalist based in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.

He takes a documentary approach to stories about life in Northern Canada, with a special focus on issues important to Indigenous people, including the relationship between land and identity.

Pat is a National Geographic Society grantee, a Royal Canadian Geographical Society grantee, and an alumni of the 2020 World Press Photo, Joop Swart Masterclass.

His work appears in National Geographic, The New York Times, World Press Photo, The Globe and Mail, The Atlantic and other media worldwide.

Pat is of Irish-Canadian and Algonquin Anishinaabe ancestry, and is a member of the Timiskaming First Nation.

He’s part of the photo collectives Indigenous Photograph and Boreal Collective.

See his work at: patkanephoto.com

Vincent Cianni is a documentary photographer exploring community, memory and social justice issues through image, text and audio. Cianni holds an MFA in Photography from SUNY New Paltz and teaches at Parsons, The New School for Design in NYC. The Archive for Documentary Arts (Duke University) established a study archive of his photographic work in 2007. We Skate Hardcore, published by NYU Press and the Center for Documentary Studies in 2004, was awarded the American Association of University Press Best Book Design and a major survey of this work was exhibited at the Museum of the City of New York in 2006. Gays in the Military, an investigation into the effects of the military’s ban on the lives and careers of LGBT service members was published by Daylight Books in May 2014 and was featured in the New York Times Sunday Review and The Katie Couric Show. He recently presented at TED x University o fNevada (2015) and has lectured on his work at the Library of Congress, the American Psychiatric Association and OutServe/SLDN Leadership Conference, and in many photographic, gallery, and museum venues. Cianni’s photographs have appeared in The New Republic, Aperture, Double Take, The New Yorker, Slate, Vice UK, Photography as Activism; New York 400: A Visual History of America’s Greatest City; The Polaroid Book and numerous anthologies and online magazines. His photographs have been exhibited nationally and internationally at the Stephen Daiter Gallery (Chicago), Verve Gallery (Santa Fe), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the George Eastman House, and in international photo festivals at Houston Fotofest, KOLGA Tbilisi Photo Festival, and the 7th Internaltionale Fototage Mannheim. His photographs reside in numerous public and private collections including Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro; The Library of Congress; The Kinsey Institute for Sexual Research; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; George Eastman House; Philadelphia Museum of Art; Museum of the City of New York, Brooklyn Museum of Art, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Vincent Cianni’s documentary photographs explore social justice. He holds an MFA in Photography from SUNY New Paltz and teaches at Parsons School of Design in NYC. The Archive for Documentary Arts (Duke University) established a study archive for his photographic work in 2007. We Skate Hardcore was published by NYU Press and the Center for Documentary Studies in 2004 and a major survey of this work was exhibited at the Museum of the City of New York in 2006. Gays in the Military, a look at the effects of the military’s ban on the lives and careers of LGBT service members was published 2014 and featured in the New York Times Sunday Review and The Katie Couric Show. Cianni has lectured on his work at TEDxUniversityofNevada, Library of Congress, psychiatric and military conferences, and in museum and educational venues. His photographs were exhibited at Stephen Daiter Gallery, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, George Eastman House, and internationally. His photographs are published in and numerous anthologies and print and online magazines, and reside in numerous public and private collections. He is founder/director of Newburgh Community Photo Project, a grassroots community organization teaching photography and activism to young creatives in Newburgh, NY, where he lives and photographs.

For more information see vincentcianni.com

Ashley Slemming is a curator, art writer, and arts educator who calls Calgary, Alberta home. Since 2015, Ashley has worked with a variety of artists and arts organizations, each creatively engaging in visual and cultural storytelling projects in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta. They have developed programs and exhibitions with Alberta Printmakers, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts Travelling Exhibition (TREX) program, Alberta University for the Arts, Colouring it Forward, Exposure Photography Festival, and Illingworth Kerr Gallery.

With nearly ten years of experience collaborating with various community projects, they maintain a strong interest in intersectionality within art, aesthetics, and education. Their curatorial work encourages curiosity and critical discourse while creating opportunities for artists to exhibit their work in relational and context-responsive ways. Ashley values careful contemplation and collaborative goal setting in their ongoing curatorial practice, and engages with projects that invite reflection and dialogue around multifaceted human experiences.

Bryce is a commercial, advertising and editorial photographer based in western Canada. He has been a professional photographer for 15+ years. Bryce’s work has been published in The New York Times, MacLean's and countless magazines and periodicals across north America. Most of Bryce’s ad work is within Agriculture with clients that span the industry from egg farmers to BASF. As a retired professional cyclist, Bryce has rediscovered his love of cycling and spends most of his off time riding and hanging out with his wife and dog, Trapper.

Christine initially attended Red Deer College for two years before moving to Calgary to finish her BFA majoring in Sculpture and Printmaking from the University of Calgary in 1997. Christine began working in commercial galleries as a recipient of an internship program through the DFAIT, eventually managing the day to day operations of The Weiss Gallery from 2007 until 2012 when she took over partnership with James McIntyre and the gallery legally changed its name to Christine Klassen Gallery. Christine has worked diligently to establish the gallery as a keystone gallery of Calgary's art and design district and has been an active contributor to the Calgary arts community for over 10 years; Co-chair for the Calgary ArtWalk Festival Society (2008 to present) and Secretary for the Exposure Photography Festival (2011 to 2018).

For more information see christineklassengallery.com

David Simmonds is an Associate Professor of Photography in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Calgary. He has an MA in Photography from the Royal College of Art in London. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including the Photographers Gallery (London); the Triangle Gallery (London); Victoria and Albert Museum (London); Space Forth Gallery (Tokyo). As a member of the My Home, My Rights collective his work has been exhibited at Dalhousie University (Halifax); The Sunroom at Halifax Library (Halifax); and the University of Ghent (Ghent)as part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 75 conference.

Dona Schwartz is a photographic artist whose work explores everyday life and culture. Her work examines definitions of family and the nature of domesticity, cultural continuity and change, and transitional moments in life. In addition to her work as an artist, she is a scholar and educator. She earned a PhD at the Annenberg School for Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in visual communication and ethnographic research. She has published two photographic ethnographies, Waucoma Twilight: Generations of the Farm (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1992) and Contesting the Super Bowl (Routledge, 1997). Her photographic monograph, In the Kitchen, was published by Kehrer Verlag in 2009. On the Nest, also published by Kehrer, was released in December 2015. Schwartz’s award-winning photographs have been internationally exhibited and published. Schwartz’s work is included in the collections of the Library of Congress, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Musée de l’Elysée, the George Eastman Museum, the Harry Ransom Center, the Portland Art Museum, and the Kinsey Institute. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Schwartz is a Professor in the Department of Art at the University of Calgary, and she is President and Board Chair of the annual Exposure Photography Festival. Schwartz is represented by Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto.

For more information see donaschwartz.com

George Webber has been photographing the people, landscape and architecture of the Canadian west for over 40 years. He was inducted into The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts in 1999. George has twice been the recipient of the National Magazine Gold Award for Photojournalism. His books include Requiem, A World Within, People of The Blood, Last Call, In This Place, Prairie Gothic, Badlands and Alberta Book, Saskatchewan Book and Borrowed Time. Webber’s work can be found in numerous Canadian and European museum collections. The documentary Lost Horizons: The Photography of George Webber chronicles his career.

For more information see georgewebber.ca

Leah Hennel, an award-winning photojournalist based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In search of stunning visuals, she's travelled the globe — yet she's also managed to uncover some of her most arresting shots in her backyard. In particular, Leah's work documenting rural life is captivating stuff. A graduate of SAIT, she's worked for more than 20 years for daily newspapers in Calgary. Leah has covered two Paralympic Winter Games, Sochi and Rio and the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games for Postmedia. Tokyo 2020 Summer Games and Beijing 2022 Winter Games for the Canadian Olympic Committee.

The Calgarian's work appears in publications around the world, such as the Globe and Mail, The Guardian, Maclean's, Canadian Geographic, Postmedia, The Narwhal, Getty Images, Reuters and CBC. Hennel has also published two photography books Along the Western Front and Alone Together: A Pandemic Photo Essay.

With a speciality in Alberta visual art, Mary-Beth has worked for over a decade as a contract curator – researching and organizing exhibitions for public art institutions in Alberta. They include: Glenbow Museum, Nickle Galleries & Illingworth Kerr Gallery (Calgary), Art Gallery of Alberta (Edmonton), Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (Banff), Red Deer Museum + Art Gallery, The Esplanade Gallery (Medicine Hat), Galt Museum (Lethbridge), Okotoks Art Gallery and Lougheed House (Calgary).

In the area of photography, as a university student she developed her own work in a darkroom and later expanded her interest through writing reviews and profiles of exhibiting photographers. They were also featured in An Alberta Art Chronicle (2005); Alberta Art & Artists: A Survey (co-author, 2007) and A Delicate Art: Artists, Wildflowers & Native Plants of the West (2012). More recently, Mary-Beth co-curated High Adventure: Bryon Harmon on the Columbia Icefield, 1924 and developed in 2019 the survey exhibition, Before Digital: Post-1970 Photography in Alberta. Awaiting publication through the University of Calgary Press is Photophelia: Encounters with Alberta Photographers and Their Art featuring over two dozen artists working in analogue or digital modes.

Mitch Kern is an Associate Professor of Photography at the Alberta University of the Arts in Calgary. He has an MFA in Photography from Penn State University and a BA in Visual Art from the University of Maryland. His work explores themes of identity and belonging through portraiture.

Nancy Tousley was art critic of the Calgary Herald for more than 20 years and has been a contributing editor of Canadian Art since 1986. She has organized exhibitions and written numerous catalogue essays for public art galleries across Canada. In 2002 she was recognized for outstanding achievement in arts journalism by the Canadian Museums Association and in 2011 received a Governor General’s Award in Visual and Media Arts for her contributions to contemporary Canadian art. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.

Naomi Potter is the Director/Curator of Esker Foundation in Calgary. From 2009-2011, she was curator of Walter Phillips Gallery at The Banff Centre where she produced solo projects, exhibitions, and public art commissions. In 2003, Potter was awarded a yearlong Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst (DAAD) artist residency in Istanbul, and from 2003 to 2007 was co-director of the international artist residency program at CESTA in the Czech Republic. In 2015 was a guest of both the Australian Arts Council and British Council International Curatorial Visit programs, and has been a jury member for numerous Canadian art awards and jury’s including: a member of the Curatorial Selection Committee for Venice 2019; BMO 1st Art! Selection Committee (2017/18); Sobey Art Award (2016); and the RBC Canadian Painting Competition (2014). She currently sits on the Board of the Calgary Institute of the Humanities, University of Calgary, and the Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Outstanding Artist Program Committee for the Banff Centre. Potter holds a BFA from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, and an MFA in sculpture from Concordia University, Montreal.

For more information see eskerfoundation.com

If you are looking for mentorship, exhibition and professional development opportunities in the Calgary/Mohkinstsis arts ecosystem come chat with me.

Sanja Lukac (she/her) is a visual artist, curator and community activator who is passionate about equity in the arts and elevating the work of emerging artists. As an immigrant artist herself, Sanja works to create meaningful opportunities in the arts for equity seeking artists and is a mentor to many emerging and newcomer artists.

As the Senior Curator, Visual and Media Arts at Arts Commons, Canada's 3rd largest Art Centre she is actively involved in helping other artists thrive in the Calgary/Mohkinstsis arts ecosystem. She volunteers on the Board of Directors of the Exposure Photography Festival, and as a Director and the Programming Chair at the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI)

Sanja is a founder and the Executive Director of SEITIES STUDIO a traditional photography publication + gallery dedicated to international artists who work with traditional methods of production in contemporary photography, and is one of the Authors of The Stimulant, an Environmental Developer catalyzed to lessen the toxic effect of the traditional darkroom on the environment and the photographers health.

In her spare time, she is either exploring nature or is creating in her studio/darkroom.

For more information see artscommons.ca | icaionline.org | seities.ca

Todd Korol is a western Canadian based photographer who has been documenting the Canadian prairies for the last 30 years. He has published the book entitled “Harvest”. The photography book was a look at a Saskatchewan farm family during the busy prairie harvest season. It rose to the top ten non-fiction books in Maclean’s magazine. He has done assignments and been published in most of the world’s leading magazines which include, National Geographic, Canadian Geographic, Maclean’s. Readers Digest, Our Canada, Men’s Journal, Outside, Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Globe and Mail, National Post, Stern, and Paris Match. He has also had his photos published in well over 100 books, including two Day In The Life Books, A Day In The Life of the NHL and America 24/7.

Toyin Oladele is a multi-disciplinary artist, curator, arts manager, creative strategist, and community builder, originally from Nigeria. She is a motivated and results-focused professional with two decades of experience, she has demonstrated excellence in organizational development, strategic planning, program development and implementation, community and arts-based event planning, production and event management, engagement, and equity & diversity.

Toyin has overseen the development, delivery, and evaluation of a range of programs, projects, and partnerships focused on elevating the cultural landscape and supporting arts and culture professionals from all backgrounds. Her professional strengths are firmly rooted in her passion to invigorate community spaces with arts and culture, infusing inclusivity and vibrancy into her community, through a strategic approach that is highly collaborative.

Toyin has facilitated over 50 jury sessions for exhibitions, grants, awards etc and has also sat on over 20 jury sessions as a juror. She consults for cultural and arts organizations including the City of Calgary, Bird Creatives, Rozsa Foundation etc and is an advocate for equity and inclusion in the arts community. She is a member of the Community Working Group on Equity Diversity, Inclusion and Access for Calgary Arts Developments and has been a part of several jury committees and mentors many newcomer arts and culture workers from underserved communities. She currently serves on the board of Calgary Young People’s Theatre (CYPT), Contemporary Calgary, Chromatic Theatre and CARFAC Alberta.

Toyin founded the Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation (ICAI) in 2019 and currently serves as the organization’s Executive Director. ICAI is a nonprofit society that aims to remove barriers for newcomers and immigrants who are seeking to continue careers in the arts in Alberta and she is also the project manager for the Public Arts in the NE part of Calgary with the City of Calgary. For more information see icaionline.org

Toyin has been named Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada 2022, Avenue Calgary 40 under 40 2023, Top 25 EDIA Person of the year, Global Women, Local Changemakers by Calgary Immigrant Women Association in 2022 and has been nominated for countless others.

Toyin has a Bachelor's in French Language and Literature with a minor in Performing Arts and is currently an Executive MBA student at the Smith School of Business of Queens University in Kingston, Ontario.

Yves Trépanier is the founder and co-owner with Kevin Baer of TrépanierBaer, a gallery specializing in the exhibition and sale of Canadian and international contemporary art. It is considered to be one of Canada’s leading commercial contemporary art galleries. In addition to representing well-known mid-career and senior artists the gallery maintains an active and successful program for the presentation of younger, emerging Canadian artists’ work. Since its founding in 1992, the gallery has launched many careers and staged first exhibitions of works by now critically acclaimed artists.

For more information see trepanierbaer.com