Announcing the 15 Phase One winners of MAC’s 2020 Micro Grant Program.
The Mississauga Arts Council (MAC) is happy to announce the Phase One winners of their 2020 Micro Grants Program. Fifteen artists and group projects have been awarded a total of $21,000 for their works, benefitting artists and residents.
Jasmine Sawant, writer, is awarded the Theatre in the Park grant of $5,500 for their play “Pandemic Pandemonium”, an original work that will look at life during the COVID-19 lockdown and the experience of near and not-so-near family members over months.
Angela Chao, visual artist and filmmaker, was awarded the Artists on Film – South Asian Women Grant of $6,000 for “Mississauga Creates: South Asian Creatives”. This short documentary will highlight South Asian Women artists working in poetry, visual arts and filmmaking. Sharing their stories will provide motivation and encouragement to others and demonstrate some of the diverse talent in Mississauga.
Wali Shah, speaker, poet, was awarded the Touring Words of Meaning Grant of $2,500 for their proposal to deliver a poetry anthology written on timely and relevant social issues (Black Lives Matter, COVID-19, and immigrant/POC narrative) as well as pieces on Mississauga. This book will speak to the struggles and the blessings for diverse people in Canada.
Qurat Dar, emerging author and spoken word artist, also won a Touring Words of Meaning Grant of $2,500 for their project, “Hot Damn It’s a Queer Slam – Mississauga”. This tour will put on a series of poetry slams and workshops live in Mississauga or online, each including a featured LGBTQPIA2S+ poet in an open mic.
Eleven Mississauga-based musicians; Dimitri Hyacinth, Tennyson King, Justin Moy, Paige Blossom and Danny Lwin, Cmagic5, Shan Fernando, Andrea Arthur, Abhishek (Abby V), Cat Bernardi, and Vivek Mehmi received a Musicians as Video Makers Grant, each receiving access to a 1-year subscription to Adobe Premiere Pro and 6 hours of free instruction in video editing, digital marketing and social media impact. Using this software and guidance, each musician will create their own music video that will then be presented and promoted in MAC’s online ‘Sauga Showcase on a date to be announced.
Over the past year, MAC members have volunteered to work at the Rama Gaming Centre on Battleford Road, raising the Micro Grant monies as well as funds for Open Mics and other public arts programming. Stay tuned for the announcement of additional winners of Visual Arts and Dance Micro Grants.
