Youth Mentorship & Engagement

Nia Centre provides youth and emerging artists the opportunity to explore a wide range of creative pathways, expand their artistic abilities and build supportive connections with their peers and career artists. We are an approved vendor with TDSB and offer a variety of school activities. Click here to schedule a school engagement activity!

Current Programs

CREATIVE CONNECT

Our Creative Connect program connects emerging artists with career artists across all art forms, to share knowledge, provide support and guidance as they navigate their individual artistic pursuits in creative sectors, through mentorship and programs!

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WELLNESS CONNECT

Our Wellness Connect program provides youth with resources, supports, and a safe space to learn about wellness, mental health through an artistic lens!

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Our Kuumba After School Program is a 7 day virtual arts camp that allows youth to connect with their peers and explore their artistic interests!

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Black Pen is a 4-month intensive creative writing program for emerging Black writers between the ages of 16-29. Participants will deeply and authentically explore their passion and skill for writing, and get published!

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Past Programs

ART OF FACILITATION

Our Art of Facilitation program provided trained youth between the ages of 13-29, in the areas of facilitation, workshop planning and leadership through a series of skilled based workshops, training modules and lectures led by Community Leaders and Arts Educators.

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Artists for Recreating Opportunities (A.F.R.O)

A.F.R.O was Nia Centre’s youth-led steering committee that worked to unify and enrich the artistic and cultural experiences within the Afro-Diasporic community through educational art-based programs and professional development opportunities.

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FILM & VIDEO INTENSIVE CAMPS

A two-week filmmaking intensive camp in collaboration with Black Women Film! that provided Black women and non-binary youth the opportunity to build their skills, techniques and learn alongside film industry professionals to create a short film.

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FILM PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAMS

In partnership with Gallery 44

Our annual film photography intensive programs in collaboration with G44, allowed youth to explore their photographic interests through a series of workshops, gain hands-on experience working in a darkroom and work alongside career professionals to produce their own individual project(s).

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LUNCH N’ LEARN SERIES

A monthly series of informal talk-back sessions that allowed Black emerging artists the opportunity to connect with career-level artists over lunch, to learn about a professional life within the creative sector.

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THE WAY SHE LOOKS: YOUTH SHOWCASE

Artists: Chanel Carter, Idil Dhafer, Kourtney Jackson, Fabio Tavares Manuel, Hermmela Tafesse, Warda Youssouf
November 20, 2019 | Ryerson Image Centre, 33 Gould St

The Way She Looks: Youth Showcase is a presentation of portrait photography developed in response to the The Way She Looks: A History of Female Gazes in African Portraiture exhibition.

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CAMP KUUMBA

Camp Kuumba is a FREE Youth March Break program that gives you the opportunity to explore new art forms and experiences while working and learning alongside professional artists over the course of 4 days.

2021 Camp Kuumba TBA

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