This unique partnership between the Toronto Arts Council (TAC) and Banff Centre kicks off with a one-week intensive leadership retreat in Banff, followed by scheduled program activities in Toronto.
The goal of the program is to mobilize Toronto’s extensive pool of arts leadership talent to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the sector, and the city.
The program participants are an accomplished and diverse group of leaders from across arts disciplines whose experiences range from leadership roles in large institutions and festivals to grassroots and local initiatives. Collectively, their work uses arts-based strategies and approaches to increase civic engagement, animate public spaces, and create a more inclusive, accessible, and culturally rich society.
TAC and Banff Centre have developed the Leaders Lab in response to the need for increased opportunities for cross-sector learning and collaboration among Toronto’s arts and cultural leaders. The hands-on program provides leaders with the motivation and tools needed to redefine leadership and its role in building the creative city.
Faculty
Laura Nanni
Faculty
Laura Nanni is a Toronto-based curator, producer and artist, known for her successful leadership of initiatives focused on artistic experimentation, community building and interdisciplinary collaboration. Laura also actively mentors and provides consultation for emerging producers, curators and organizations across the globe.
Since 2016, Laura has served as the Artistic and Managing Director for the SummerWorks Performance Festival dedicated to supporting new possibilities in performance and as a recurring facilitator for The Banff Centre’s Leadership Department. In 2015, Laura served as Programming Supervisor for Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, managing the event’s 10 for 10th exhibition, a collaboration with 10 major arts organizations across the city, including the Art Gallery of Ontario, Gardiner Museum, OCAD University and Royal Ontario Museum. From 2010-2014 Laura served as Rhubarb Festival Director for Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, where she curated new and experimental work for adventurous audiences. She has also worked for a variety of arts organizations and festivals, including Harbourfront Centre, Hot Docs, The Theatre Centre and Toronto International Film Festival. Her performance and installation work has been presented across North America, Europe and the UK.
Photo credit: Tanja Tiziana
Syrus Marcus Ware is an Assistant Professor at the School of the Arts, McMaster University. A scholar, visual artist, activist, curator and educator, Syrus uses painting, installation and performance to explore social justice frameworks and black activist culture, His work has been shown widely across Canada in solo and group shows, and his performance works have been part of local and international festivals. He is part of the Performance Disability Art Collective and a core-team member of Black Lives Matter – Toronto. Syrus is curator of the That’s So Gay show and a co-curator of Blackness Yes!/Blockorama. In addition to penning a variety of journals and articles, Syrus is the co-editor of the best-selling Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada (URP, 2020).