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Emerging Creators Unit

education programming supporter
NIGE GOUGH SHINE ON FOUNDATION AT THE TORONTO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

What is the Emerging Creators’ Unit?

The Emerging Creators Unit is an artist-driven, mentor-supported creative model; we look for strongly motivated emerging queer and/or trans artists.

The Emerging Creators Unit offers an intensive opportunity to develop your artistic practice and producing skills. As part of this program, artists are invited to apply with a project—or a seed of a project—that will serve as a vehicle to advance their artistic practice.

This year, the unit is facilitated by theatre-maker, performer, and multidisciplinary artist Stephen Jackman-Torkoff. Workshop and masterclasses will be curated around identified areas of growth from participants. The Unit will conclude with a micro-residency at Buddies and a sharing of an artistic offering as a part of Buddies’ Queer Pride Festival in June 2024.

Our 2024 Emerging Creators Unit participants are isi bhakhomen, Heddy Vargas Graterol, and Sebastian Urmom. Read more about the artists and their projects here.

A close-up headshot of isi bhakhomen. They have dark skin and short black hair.
A black and white image of figure with a blurred face.
Photo of Sebastian Urmom - they have a shaved head and are wrapped in a pink crinoline. The background behind them is red bricks.

Past Participants

2023 // C4LDEIR4, James Knott, Marium Masood
2022 // Kalale Dalton-Lutale, Tan Vu
2021 // Ajahnis Charley, Janis Mayers, Babe Waters
2020
// Rochelle R, Gabe Maharjan & Merlin Simard
2019
// Ophira Calof, Brock Hessel, Shohana Sharmin, Jade Walker & Kasden Leo Indigo
2018
 // Rhiannon Collett, Erum Khan, Kwaku Okyere, Heath V Salazar
2017
// Bilal Baig, Teiya Kasahara, François Macdonald, Sofia Rodriguez
2016 
// Marina Moreira, Joshua Middleton, Chase Lo, Monica Garrido
2015
// kumari giles, Faith-Ann Mendes, Andre Prefontaine, Brian Postalian
2014 // Jackie Rowland, Ramon Vitung, Rory Jade Grey
2013 // Sina Gilani, Shaista Latif, Aemilius (Milo) Ramirez, Mx. Sly
2012 // Jamie Ebbs, Daniel Jelani Ellis, Michael David Lorsch, cassy walker
2011 // Meg Gennings, Olive-or-Oliver, Andrew Robinson, Evan Vipond
2010 // Cassandra Moore, Flerida Pena, Zita Nyaraty, Jonathan Schuster
2009 // Cole J. Alvis, Kim Crosby, Tawiah M’carthy, Rob Salerno
2008 // Jessica Michael Reynolds, Mark Shyzer, Alisha Stranges, Jordan Tannahill
2007 // Andrew Bathory, Shannon Curry, Waawaate Fobister, Dawn Nearing, Jay Stewart

Program Supporters

Program Support:
The NigE Gough Shine On Foundation at the Toronto Community Foundation