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Mississauga Arts Council Awards $94,000 in MicroGrant Funding to 31 Winning Mississauga Artists!

Mississauga, ON – December 12, 2023

Mississauga Arts Council (MAC) is pleased to announce the 31 winners of their Fall MAC MicroGrant Program, distributing $94,000 in MicroGrant Funding across six funding streams. These funds directly support artist-led projects and initiatives that make a strong positive impact on the careers of artists while contributing to the growth and recovery of the arts sector.

“Our MicroGrant program instills confidence in artists, many of them receiving a grant for the very first time,” says Susan Durnin, MAC’s Administration Lead. “These grants make a positive impact on their career progression while animating and beautifying our city and beyond. This fall round of MicroGrants saw 93 applications from our arts community. The winning projects range from therapeutic arts programs for seniors, community events for youth, concert performances, theatre in the park productions, literary works and programs, short films, music recordings, and more! Congratulations to all!”

“This year, we have distributed more funds from our MicroGrant program than ever before, supporting 50 artists and groups by investing $154,000 in our community,” says Mike Douglas, MAC’s Executive Director. “MAC’s impactful MicroGrant program is completely self-funded and would not be possible without the support of MAC volunteers earning proceeds from RAMA Gaming House through the Mississauga Charitable Gaming Association. We’re also blessed by the success of the MACsquerade Glam Ball, this year’s sold-out event on November 30, is our most successful fundraiser yet!”

“I am beyond grateful to MAC for their support of my writing, this will enable me to complete the manuscript of my debut poetry collection. The encouragement and validation of receiving this grant has bolstered me immensely as an artist, and I truly appreciate the value placed on my work.” – Leah Duarte, MatchMaker MicroGrant Winner

Project MicroGrant Winners:

ArtsCare Program Development MicroGrant: 

  • Sabyasachi Nag – Moving Memoirs 
    • Graphic memoir project designed to engage and support early-stage dementia patients in preserving and sharing their life stories.
  • Mississauga Players Theatre – Jubilee Seniors Theatre and Acting Program
    • Offers seniors an exciting way to stay mentally sharp, express themselves creatively, build communication skills, and make new friends.

Community Art Activation MicroGrant: 

  • Stay Woke – Speak Your Truth
    • Youth event that will amplify the voices of young artists, foster growth, and peer mentorship.
  • Studio.89 – Nature’s Canvas: Grow Your Tomorrow
    • Youth-focused program at Studio.89, promoting sustainable artistry for ages 11-30.
  • Thipashini Balakrishnan – Mississauga Community Fashion Runway 
    • Bringing together individuals of all ages to celebrate South Asian heritage through the captivating medium of fashion.

Music Showcase Event Production MicroGrant:

  • JD Era – The Sauga Continues
    • Hip-hop showcase featuring local artists to bridge the gap between the generations of Mississauga Hip-hop artists.

Theatre in the Park MicroGrant: 

  • Colleen Snell – War of the Worlds Reimagined 
    • 60-minute dance-theatre work by Frog in Hand, featuring thrilling performances, an original soundtrack, and choreography for 20+ dancers.
  • Marilyn Campbell – The Great Blue 
    • Theatre performance that will follow the decade-long struggle of a Great Blue Heron to find her place in an ever-more urbanized world.

Matchmaker MicroGrant Winners

  • Anna Yin – Polyphonic celebration for Mississauga’s 50th Anniversary
    • Collegial artistic effort with poetry, translations, photos and paintings.
  • Archy Jay – Scotland the Brave India the bold
    • Bagpipe fusion song about unity and bravery. 
  • Cat Bernardi – Muovermi 
    • Recording of a new single and accompanying music video.
  • Caterina Sauro – Exprosé
    • Space for writers to commune with featured poets and share their works.
  • Heather Christine – Soul Call 
    • Creation, recording, production and distribution of sophomore EP/album.
  • JACELYN – Ice Flower
    • Marketing campaign and radio promotion for a holiday album.
  • Leah Duarte – Unclean Heads
    • Free-verse and prose poetry collection.
  • Mississauga Writers Group – Writing Contests 
    • Contest for youth and seniors, allowing writers to get published.
  • Muniyat Haque – The Picture of Parveen 
    • Short film about dealing with high expectations from an immigrant father. 
  • Ruba Zouzou – DNA Cultural Music Performance 
    • Concert featuring music from the Levant, Anatolia, and Persian regions.
  • Sabrina Narzoles Aly – Do We Have Time?
    • Short docu-series featuring 7 Canadians on a journey of self-reflection.
  • Sauga Poetry
    • Mississauga’s hub for the spoken word with a monthly open mic.

Career Development Winners

Carolyn Topdjian, Gaby Al Botros, JSAL, Sahar Golshan, Sarena and Sasha Nanua, Sasha Shevchenko, Simran Patel, Susan Ksiezopolski, Tahira Rajwani, Tylor Key-Carr, Vishakha Ghosh.

About MAC’s MicroGrant Program:

MAC’s dynamic and impactful MicroGrant program provides funding for artist-led projects which have a pronounced and impactful connection to the public and bring recognition and increased awareness to the arts across the city. These MicroGrants are made possible through sponsor contributions and MAC’s fundraising efforts.  Learn more: macarts.ca/microgrants

MAC is extremely grateful for the contributions from RAMA Gaming House – Mississauga, through the Mississauga Charitable Gaming Association. Our team of volunteers who contribute their time to this volunteer program have contributed significantly towards this Fall round of MicroGrants. Want to make a difference in the lives of artists in your community? Contact Sherri Parliament at sherri@macarts.ca to learn how you can volunteer 2 hours of your time to fund a MicroGrant project.