Celebrating stories, and validating challenges; The Evolution of Nia Centre for the Arts

BY PAUL JUNOR

The announcement of the creation of Canada’s first Black Art Centre on Friday, October 16th, was good news. It received widespread coverage by the local community-based media, Share and The Caribbean Camera as well as mainstream media.

The 14,000-square-foot facility is located at 524 Oakwood Avenue in the heart of the Oakwood/Eglinton area. It will provide opportunities for local artists to showcase their works, and a space to interact and nurture their talents and crafts.

In the announcement at the news conference held on October 22nd, 2020, Executive Director Alicia Hall told reporters, “We recognize that despite black artists being celebrated around the globe, there isn’t a professional facility in the city where we can present their work. We often take for granted the rich diversity of cultures within the diaspora.”

There will be a state-of-the-art 150 seat performance area with space for an artist studio, recording studio, digital media lab, hallway galleries and co-working spaces.

“We are creating a destination for black Canadians. Finally, we will have a place to celebrate our stories and validate our challenges as well as our success.”

Funding for the Nia Centre came from $2 million that the federal government provided in September 2019. The Nia Centre originally started as an initiative for young people by the Youth Challenge Fund, which is administered by the provincial government and the United Way. The City of Toronto, Canadian Heritage and Trillium Foundation also contributed. Alicia reiterates, “Since we were established, our mission has always been to support, promote and showcase art from the Afro Diaspora.”

Toronto Mayor, John Tory, in his speech at the news conference recalled the history of the building as a bowling alley and banquet hall. He told reporters, “Now it is going to be the first professional Black Arts Centre of its kind in Canada and I am proud that it is here in this building that the city has provided.”

In many ways, the creation of this Centre is a fruition of the hard work done by many individuals who are involved in the black community in Toronto. Weyni Memgesha, who served as Artistic Director of the Soulpepper Theatre Company, Ian Kamau, Artistic Director, Artist and Designer, as well as Playwright, D’bi. Young Antiafrika, and Professor, Dr Mark Campbell of Ryerson University all worked together collectively to see this cultural facility come into existence.

Work has already started on the project and a deadline has been set for October 2021.