Fuelling 18 creative, community-driven arts projects across Mississauga
Mississauga, ON – May 7, 2026
Mississauga Arts Council (MAC) is proud to announce $145,800 in arts-related economic activity generated by the 18 recipients of its Spring 2026 MicroGrant Program. The program has distributed $43,600 in matching funds to professional artists, supporting their innovative and impactful arts projects across all disciplines throughout the city.
“Since 2019, MAC’s self-fundraised MicroGrant initiative has awarded $559,700 to 235 artist-led projects,” says Mike Douglas, MAC’s Executive Director. “For every $1 we invest, these projects generate an additional $2.34 in economic benefit to Mississauga’s arts community, strengthening the city’s creative landscape and helping artists build careers, expand their supporters and contribute to the city’s cultural vitality.”
MAC’s MicroGrant Program is powered by its Matchmaker MicroGrant model, which pairs artists’ fundraising efforts with matching funds from MAC. This approach validates and amplifies the impact of each project. The selected arts projects are publicly accessible and foster strong, meaningful connections with their diverse communities, helping to raise the profile and appreciation of the arts across the city.
“The artists in our city are dreaming up innovative and interesting projects, and we are inspired by the 64 MicroGrant applications we received this round,” notes Susan Durnin, MAC’s Operations & Development Manager. “The 18 winners of MAC’s Spring MicroGrant round demonstrate the creativity and community-minded spirit of artists in Mississauga. These are exciting projects across all artistic disciplines, actively engaging audiences and inviting Mississauga residents to discover the arts in new ways. Congratulations to all the winners!”
Congratulations to the Spring 2026 MicroGrant winners:
Andrew Gaboury, Angelo Brown, Anju Malhotra, Anubha Jha, Carla Gonzalez-Casanova, Chamil Janith, Daven Seebarran, Gaby Al Botros, Juwan Salsa, Lisa Jayne Irvine, Olive Rose Steele, Qurat Dar, Raquel Jaworski, Saad Tauseef, Sam Wolter, Sarena and Sasha Nanua, Stephen Uhraney, and Tennyson King.
The MicroGrant program is made possible by funds raised by MAC’s volunteers through the Charitable Gaming program. Thank you, Rama Gaming House, Mississauga Charitable Gaming Association, and Charitable Gaming. Community Good. for helping to fund artist-led projects!
Help Fund a MicroGrant Project; new volunteers are always welcome! Inspire a community by investing in local art projects. Contact Sherri Parliament at sherri@macarts.ca to learn how just 2 volunteer hours can help raise $2,000 to fund a MicroGrant project!
Spring 2026 Matchmaker MicroGrant Testimonials
“Receiving the MAC MicroGrant affirms the quiet importance of this work. The Story of Care: Lives Touched by Dementia is an intimate photographic exhibit revealing the fragile, resilient bonds between those living with dementia and those who stand with them. The quiet, everyday moments people don’t usually see.”- Stephen Uhraney, 2026 Spring MicroGrant Recipient
“As a low-income artist, the MAC MicroGrant has given me a treasured opportunity to delve into new and ambitious career possibilities with my work. My project, Rising Colours, is a variety showcase designed to spotlight Mississauga-based queer artists, celebrating and increasing the visibility of our 2SLGBTQ+ community.” – Angelo Brown, 2026 Spring MicroGrant Recipient
“We are so excited to use our MicroGrant to fund our “How to Get Published” workshop series. We’ve dreamed of being able to teach these writing workshops to a wider audience, and now we can, thanks to MAC’s generosity.” – Sarena and Sasha Nanua, 2026 Spring MicroGrant Recipient
The Spring 2025 MicroGrant Winners are
- Andrew Gaboury (Workshops: Therapeutic Clowning at Mind Forward)
- Angelo Brown (Concert: Rising Colours: A Mississauga Queer Arts Showcase)
- Anju Malhotra (Film: Disconnected)
- Anubha Jha (Concert: “Pyaasa – Geeta – Guru aur … Cinema”)
- Carla Gonzalez-Casanova (Concert: Sauga Community Celebration Vol. 3)
- Chamil Janith (Music Festival: Akasha Festival by Sonic Pills)
- Daven Seebarran (Drag is Art Brunch: Dias de las Muertas themed Drag Event)
- Gaby Al Botros (Concert: Songs de Andalucía)
- Juwan Salsa (Rising Phoenix: The Debut Album Concert)
- Lisa Jayne Irvine (Between Seasons: Exhibition & Book Launch)
- Olive Rose Steele (Book Event: Up Close and Personal with your Local Authors)
- Qurat Dar (Book Launch Event: “Non-Prophet” by Qurat Dar and “Precedence” by Pujita Verma)
- Raquel Jaworski (Concert: Let’s Inspire Talent (LIT))
- Saad Tauseef (Song & Video: Child Of The Broken Sky)
- Sam Wolter (Film & Music Project: Love Me ‘Til I’m Me Again)
- Sarena and Sasha Nanua (Workshop Series: How to Get Published)
- Stephen Uhraney (Photography Exhibit: The Story of Care: Lives Touched by Dementia)
- Tennyson King (Music & Film: 100 Cities Live Performance)
About MAC’s MicroGrant Program
MAC’s dynamic and impactful MicroGrant program provides funding for artist-led projects that have a pronounced and impactful connection to the public, bringing 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
For more information about MAC’s MicroGrant program, please contact:
Sherri Parliament, Communications Manager & Music Strategist
Mississauga Arts Council
sherri@macarts.ca
Thank you to RAMA Gaming House & Mississauga Charitable Gaming Association for their generous support of MAC’s MicroGrant Program.
