CSMARI: Building Anti-Racism Capacity and Action in the Media Arts

April 2023–March 2024

About the Project

Supported through Heritage Canada’s Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives program, this is a first time, small-scale resource redistribution initiative for IMAA aimed at increasing capacity, connection and support within the independent media arts community. Led by the needs of our members, it will financially and administratively support selected organizations in finding and employing a ‘consultant’ to support their anti-racism capacity building project.

Five selected organizations within IMAA’s membership will receive a subtle yet powerful boost of up to $8,000 to put towards working with someone who will support your initiative. This careful fusion of resources is designed to empower smaller projects, equipping your organization with the tools and support needed to make a genuine and lasting impact.

Members

IMAA x CSMARI is proud to announce the 5 member organizations who received funding for their Anti-Racism Capacity Building projects. As you know, our approach to this work followed a by-and-for model and these 5 organizations have shown amazing initiative!

NIMAC – National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition

Decolonial policy and by-laws review with governance and expert policy writer Nadia Bello.

nationalimac.org

Harbour Collective

Anti-Racism Capacity building 3-day LAB with two-spirit / indigiqueer artists

harbourcollective.ca

Vidéographe

Engaging a curator from a diverse background to excavate and spotlight a selection of films from diverse filmmakers otherwise hidden within Vidéographe’s catalogue.

videographe.org

TAIS -Toronto Animated Image Society

Two-Part project. Part one involves commissioning an animation created through a co-mentorship between two BIPOC artists investigating their relationship to racialization in the context of animation. Part two is finalization of an Anti-Racist Policy under the guidance of Yasmine Hassen from Imagine an Otherwise.

tais.ca

Main Film

Overhauling of their process for filing a complaint related to non-compliance with their anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy, and EDI Commitment which specifies that Main Film neither tolerates nor accepts any form of discrimination within its ranks.

mainfilm.qc.ca

We want to thank everyone who participated in the project!

CSMARI Team

  • Project Manager: Faraz Abdullah (they/them), csmari@imaa.ca
  • Administrative Support: Yuko Fedrau (she/they), Barbora Racevičiūtė (she/her), Lindsey Wilson (she/her) 
  • Oversight Committee: Eunice Bélidor, Yun-Jou Chang, Samuel Garrigó-Meza, Eusebio Lopez-Aguilar, Juhi Sohani 

Get in touch with us

For any questions, please contact Faraz Abdullah (csmari@imaa.ca).

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