Artistic Director

Charles C. Smith

charles c. smith is a poet, playwright and performer. He studied poetry and drama at New York City University and Herbert Berghof Studios, and drama at the Frank Silvera’s Writers’ Workshop in Harlem. His play Last Days for the Desperate won an award from Black Theatre Canada. He has received a grant from the Ontario Arts Council’s Writers Reserve Grants Program and the Toronto Arts Council Writers Grants Program, has published four books of poetry (the latest one being released on 10 May 2018!), has edited several collections of poetry (including the works of Dionne Brand, Marlene Nourbese Phillips, Claire Harris, Cyril Dabydeen, Lillian Allen, George Elliott Clarke, Clifton Joseph), and his writings have appeared in numerous journals and magazines, including Poetry Canada Review, the Quill and Quire, Descant, Dandelion, Fiddlehead, Anti-Racism in Education: Missing in Action (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives), the Amethyst Review, Bywords, Canadian Ethnic Studies and others.

Charles was also the founder of the Black Perspectives Cultural Program in Regent Park and has over the years continued to develop and convene community arts workshops in high-needs areas throughout the GTA, funded provided by  the Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council.

Artistic Collaborators

Kevin A. Ormsby

BaKari I Lindsay

Rodney Diverlus

Ana Claudette Groppler

Shannon Litzenberger

Atri Nundy

Morgyn Schell

Benjamin W. Russell

Yui Ugai

Mayumi Lashbrook

Melissa Noventa

Tereka Tyler-Davis

Patricia Allison

Miranda Liverpool

Jillia Cato

Rachel Gauntlett

Walter Maclean

Claire Whitaker

Support Team

Bia Rohde, Administrator

Gia Nahmens, Bookkeeper

Jillia Cato, Project Coordinator

S-Quire Johnson, Digital Design and Production

Victoria Glizer, Webmaster

Claire Whitaker, Social Media Coordinator