2021 Project CREA’s pilot year, an 8-week mentorship, arts entrepreneurship initiative for Toronto-based youth creatives who identify as Latinx.
This project was designed by the Creato community FOR the Creato community, with the goal of amplifying the unique voices of Latinx creatives in Toronto. Mentees will learn practical skills on how to circulate, support and maintain their arts-practice through the development of a personal creative piece under the invaluable mentorship of 5 professional Latinx mentors from different creative disciplines. Project Crea culminates in a special community showcase of the participants final piece.
The ultimate goal of Project Crea is to support emerging youth artists to feel more confident in expressing their creative voice and more prepared as they navigate the arts and cultural sector in Canada.
Thanks to the overwhelming enthusiasm and support for this project, we hope to do again in coming years, stay tuned!
the mentors
Five professional Latinx mentors from different creative disciplines are selected to lead and support this program. Mentors are strategically selected by Creato’s leadership team to represent a wide range of disciplines, methodologies and backgrounds in order to support mentees with a diverse set of skills and expertise. The pilot years’ mentors included Fidel Peña (Graphic Designer and Creative Director), Luis Mora (Photographer) , Camila Salcedo (Multidisciplinary Artist), Sofi Gudiño (Dancer and Performer), Ale Macouzet (Illustrator).
the mentees
Participants of Project Crea’s pilot year were:
Between 18 and 29 years old
Identify as Latinx / Latine
Toronto-based
Artist, cultural worker, student or work in a creative field
Mentees who complete Project Crea and attend the agreed sessions will also receive a financial honorarium and a certificate of completion.
the showcase
For the culmination of Project Crea’s pilot year, we partnered with Underscore Projects, a studio space and art gallery dedicated to artists and creatives to present Creato’s first exhibition. Departing from the mentorship program, the exhibition highlighted both the mentees' final pieces as well as some of the mentors' work for a duration of three weeks at U.P.’s gallery space in Toronto’s west end. We welcomed hundreds of enthusiastic guests and community members to celebrate this important milestone.
Photos taken by Ramon Vasconcelos
Funding for our pilot year of the project has been provided by the City of Toronto through
