NAPP Cohort 3

Jun 11

Written By Toyin Oladele

Newcomer Arts Professional Program

Previously called Immigrant Arts Mentorship Program (IAMP)

2024 Pairs

Edmonton Mentees & Mentors

Visual Artist

Bassem Bou Najm, a Lebanese artist born in the midst of Mount Lebanon's cedar trees, discovered his passion for art at a young age when his school principal gifted him three different coloring palettes. However, his artistic journey truly began when war disrupted his childhood and teenage years, plunging him into a world of rubble and ruins. Determined to forge his own path separate from the norms of his town and family, Bassem embarked on a quest to find himself amidst the chaos, seeking solace and expression for his soul, which had been shrouded in the smoke of conflict and darkness for two decades.

After the war, Bassem left his hometown and ventured to the city in search of his identity. He completed a year of military service followed by his high school studies, all the while nurturing his budding talent with brushes and colors. As the artistic movement flourished in various regions for over twenty years, Bassem found himself participating in prestigious international exhibitions such as the High International Symposium for Painting and Sculpture in Aley, the Ahden International Symposium for Painting and Sculpture, and the Junieh International Symposium.

Despite the challenges he faced, Bassem's dedication to his craft bore fruit as he established two permanent exhibitions in Aley and Bhamdoun. His participation in numerous group exhibitions, often by invitation from esteemed organizations like the Professional Artists Association for Painting and Sculpture, earned him over thirty certificates of appreciation. In recognition of his enduring contributions, Bassem was honored with membership in the Professional Artists Association for Painting and Sculpture.
Undeterred by obstacles, Bassem embarked on a monumental project, completing a significant portion of what was anticipated to be the largest portrait exhibition in the world, with over a thousand portraits—a feat poised to enter the Guinness World Records. His journey to Canada symbolized a quest for diverse cultures, inspiring him to weave new narratives and perspectives into his future works. Through his resilience, Bassem Bou Najm transcended the shadows of war to illuminate the world with his artistry and vision.

Art Consultant Visual and Movement Artist

Saskia is a first generation Canadian who has been a part of the arts community in amiskwaciwâskahikan/Edmonton for over 20 years. Her multi-hyphenate skillset includes curator, consultant, art placement, instructor, arts collection management, arts administrator, public programming, mentor, and performer.
She has a BFA - Fine Arts from University of Alberta, and an MFA - Fine Arts from DeMontfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom, and Fontys School for the Arts, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Utilizing her extensive skills, she has worked for and with a number of not for profit, and commercial organizations, and has curated countless visual art and fine craft exhibitions throughout her career. Personal highlights include art placement projects at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women/Robbins Pavilion at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, and the Kaye Edmonton Clinic at the University of Alberta Hospital. Curatorial and public programming projects include Nextfest Arts Company as Visual Arts Curator, iHuman Youth Society as board member/curator and recently at the Alberta Craft Gallery in a variety of public facing roles.
In addition to her visual art career, Saskia is a MENA (Middle Eastern and North African) and Modern Fusion dance instructor, artistic director and choreographer for the past two decades. She has developed a signature improvisational group dance format and has performed extensively with her troupe Luna Dance Fusion throughout the province.
She is deeply passionate about creating accessible pathways to all forms of art and culture, and elevating artistic and cultural voices through public programming, education and mentorship. After a hiatus from her own studio practice she has recently returned to it with a focus stained glass and painting. Her work is a celebration of the feminine, human expression, archetypes and movement.

Rapper, Hip-hop Artist, Song writer

J Scope is a talented HipHop Artist and a singer hailing from Ukraine with Nigerian roots. He has extensive stage experience and was a quarter-finalist in the Ukrainian National Eurovision song competition. His unique music style, delivery, appearance, and flows have earned him a large fanbase and the opportunity to perform on some of Ukraine's biggest Swedish stages and as well Canadian festivals and events include The Junos after party, Rap Nights, YEG Most Wanted Freestyle, The Common Solo Show, Kayday festival, The Ukrainian Village Music Festival, ukraine_student_aid, Open for lfreshthelion from Australia, open for HOMEBOY American OG Rapper, The Works Festival, Purple City Festival, Disney show with orchestra by Winspear, The carrot community arts coffeehouse, Dive Bar,
With each performance, J SCOPE gains new fans who are drawn to his music and stage presence.. He is considered a "real hip hop machine" and a force to be reckoned with, known for his ability to "rock any dancefloor”.

Pop-Latin-Folk Musician, Singer & Songwriter

Cristian de la Luna's pop-Latin-folk music is both contagious and inviting. A versatile artist that combines the simplicity of folk story-telling, Caribbean percussion and the jazzy warmth of brass instruments. Deeply rooted in his Colombian roots, he explores the four corners of his heart through the depth of emotions to the playful naivety of our childhood. Cristian has two albums to his credit, both in Spanish and in French. His performances are endearing and captivating.
« Mi casa es en todas partes » (My home is where we are together): Cristian seeks a communion with his audience. A ray of light, both his music and his lyrics are his invitation to a musical and impactful experience. His universal message calls us to live in the present and never stop dreaming.
His migratory journey from Colombia, through Quebec to finally arrive in Alberta has brought him inspiration in the nostalgia of his harsh exile from Colombia and the excitement of discovering a new land of welcome.

Mandala Art Therapist and Visual Artist

Experienced educator, consultant, and therapist with over 16 years of diverse experience in education, nutrition, mental sports training, and art therapy. Author of "Secrets of Mandalas: Forty Secrets to Touch the Light Within You" and creator of various mandala coloring books. Skilled in developing innovative approaches to therapy through art and drawing. Proven track record of successfully treating over 150 cases with art therapy. Passionate about community service and volunteering, particularly in areas related to children's health and well-being.

Art Consultant, Visual and Movement Artist

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he started his art career in Canada in 2019. Over a short period, he has completed two major public art projects in Edmonton, received several grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Edmonton Arts Council, directed two community-based murals for Alberta Culture Days, and built a remarkable body of work where he examines ideas of identity, immigration, language and meaning. He holds a BA in Social Sciences and Humanities, a Project Management Professional PMP® Certification, and co-founded Red Knot Studio, specializing in mosaic installations and site-specific art. In 2022, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts acquired his work Hopscotch for its permanent collection. He lives and works in Edmonton, AB.

Performing Artist and Song Writer

My name is Patrick Byishimo (which means happy), I am a singer/songwriter and instrumentalist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I began singing in a refugee camp in Nairobi, Kenya, at ten. While there, a competition was held for young artists. I was among the few chosen to win a year of musical mentorship sponsored by the United Nations Refugee Agency and the Danish Refugee Council. I learned to play piano, guitar, and percussion while in the mentorship program, but singing is my first choice. Bishop Maganda of Kenya encouraged my musical development. With the Bishop’s help, I recorded my first song. He credits me with growing his church from 70 people to over 500, but I give the glory to God. When I arrived in Canada, I continued my musical practice at McNally High School and my church.

The music of award-winning Rwandan-born Gentil Misigaro has influenced me, and I was blessed to collaborate with him while he toured Canada in 2022. My goal is a career as a full-time professional recording artist singing songs about community and spirituality. I am motivated to give back to the communities that supported me in Alberta and Africa. I have been invited to future collaborations with singer, Téa G (TeaGTunes.com) and Jonathan Singleton, Program Director for the Gospel Performance Program at Berklee College of Music and Assistant Professor in the Ensemble Department and Minister of Music for the Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury, MA among other director positions.

Vocal Performer

Garth Prince is a Juno award-winning vocal performer with years of experience in community building through song, dance, and instruments. He performs interactive music workshops in schools across Canada and encourages cultural diversity in an environment of work and play that appeals to students of all ages and abilities. His latest children’s album with picture book garnered him nominations for Children’s Artist of the Year in the Canadian Folk Music Awards and a Juno win for Children’s Album of the Year in 2022. He continues to produce music that preserves the cultural heritage of Africa for future generations and helps non-Africans to discover languages, cultural insight, and stories from the Motherland.

Performing Artist and Arts Administrator

Hymns (Tsz Him) Chu, originally from Hong Kong, found a new home in Edmonton, Alberta, in 2022. Embracing his passion for the performing arts, Hymns has become an active member of the vibrant arts community in his adopted city.
With a deep appreciation for the transformative power of theater, Hymns immerses himself in the local arts scene, attending numerous commercial shootings and engaging with talented performers. Inspired by the creativity and dedication he witnesses; he believes in the potential of the arts to bring about positive change and empower newcomers.
A dedicated vocal singer with a powerful baritone voice, Hymns lends his talents to community choirs in Edmonton, enriching musical experiences and fostering a sense of belonging. He sees his involvement in the arts as a platform to promote diversity and encourage aspiring youth to pursue their dreams.
Currently serving as a Board Member at Northern Light Theatre, Hymns is committed to contributing to the growth and development of the arts scene in Edmonton. He strives to be a role model for newcomers, demonstrating that with passion, dedication, and perseverance, anyone can succeed in the world of arts and entertainment.

Film/Video, Media Arts, Playback Theatre, Public Art, and Arts Management

Shawn Tse 謝兆龍 (he/him) is a father, artist, filmmaker, and community organizer based in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (amiskwacîwâskahikan/Edmonton), Treaty 6 Territory & Métis Homeland. He primarily works in the arts and non-profit sectors and is grateful to share his experiences as a:
Video director/producer at Fallout Media, creator of the Asian artist talk show This CanAsian Life
Actor for Thirdspace Playback Theatre, an improvisational method creating spaces of dialogue for communities of colour
Consultant for the CanAsian Arts Network, a national digital platform increasing visibility and connection for Asian Canadian artists
Member of aiya哎呀 (artist collective) who dream new futures for Chinatown
Co-organizer of Chinatown Greetings, an artist initiated community project and fundraiser

Photo, Credit: Jordon Hon

Calgary Mentees & Mentors

Multi-disciplinary Artist

Alex (they/them) is a Filipinx queer multi-disciplinary artist working with collages, photography, and personal archiving. They have a passion for connecting and creating art for newcomers, and creative community. They moved here five years ago as an international student, and continues to find community in Calgary through pockets of interactions and community.

Dramaturg, Lyricist, and Producer

Kodie Rollan is a Philippine-born, Scarborough-raised, Mohkinstsis-based playwright, dramaturg, lyricist, and producer. He is a passionate community-builder and always aims to create spaces for shared storytelling and arts equity within the nonprofit sector.
As a storyteller, Kodie is drawn towards explorations of justice within racialized bodies and how we can move towards more abolitionist futures. He is currently the Artistic Director of Chromatic Theatre, the Associate Dramaturg at the Banff Playwrights Lab, and is also currently a facilitator of the Rozsa Foundation’s arts management and education programs. He was also one of the recipient of Theatre Alberta’s 2023 Michelle Dias Community Service Award. Outside of theatre, Kodie is an avid baker and a fan of the Toronto Raptors.

Art Educator, Multi-disciplinary Artist, Arts Administrator and Cultural Worker

Dominic O. Fayenuwo is a highly accomplished theatre manager and artistic director with over 5 years of proven experience in overseeing the seamless operations of performing arts venues and diverse theatrical events, ranging from drama and comedy to musicals and dance. He excels in drafting and managing budgets and resources, scheduling, and staff coordination to ensure the smooth delivery of productions and the satisfaction of patrons. Dominic also collaborates effectively with artists, production teams, and stakeholders, facilitating production's creative and technical components to bring exceptional performances to life.

Performing Arts, Artistic Director

Mark Hopkins (he/him) is the Co-Artistic Director of Swallow-a-Bicycle Theatre, which generates productive discomfort through art-making, and an Associate with Human Venture Leadership, which seeks to build our collective capacities to reduce ignorance, error, waste, suffering and injustice. Mark volunteers with Kawalease Arab Canadian Theatre and the Centre for Newcomers, is a Ambassador of the Energy Futures Lab, and founded We Should Know Each Other, a community-bridging initiative.
The best websites to read about my work would be www.swallowabicycle.com and www.humanventure.com.

Literary Artist and Arts Administrator

Ernesto is a Venezuelan writer, who relocated to Calgary in June 2021 from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Drawing upon a robust background in journalism, communications, public relations, and content writing, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the Central University of Venezuela. Additionally, he holds a certificate in Technical Communication from Mount Royal University, Calgary, and is currently engaged with a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting newcomers in settling into Calgary.
In his book for children, "Portrait of a Child with Chickenpox," Ernesto delves into the theme of overcoming childhood bullying. He is focused on crafting narratives centered around migration and the unique challenges faced by non-English speaking newcomers upon their arrival in Canada. Through his literary endeavours, Ernesto aims to foster empathy and promote cross-cultural understanding among first readers, encouraging them to embrace diversity and appreciate varied backgrounds.

Multi-genre Author/Writer

Barb Howard is a Calgary multi-genre author who has published five books of literary fiction and more than 50 short stories and essays in magazines, journals, and anthologies across Canada. Her recent experience as a mentor includes the 2024 Writers’ Guild of Alberta Mentorship Program, 2021 Own Voices Alberta Mentorship program for emerging BIPOC writers, and four years as a writing mentor for The Shoe Project — a literacy and performance workshop for immigrant women.
Barb’s writing has won the Howard O’Hagan Award for short story and The Canadian Authors Association Exporting Alberta Award. Her work has been shortlisted for the international High Plains Book Awards, the Alberta Trade Fiction Book of the Year, and several Alberta Literary Awards.
An active member of the provincial and Mohkinsstsis writing communities, Barb has been President of the Writers' Guild of Alberta, Writer-in-Residence for the Calgary Public Library, editor of FreeFall Magazine, and a board member for Calgary Arts Development. She taught Creative Writing at the University of Calgary, the Alexandra Writers’ Centre, and the Banff Centre. Her formal post-secondary education consists of a Bachelor of Arts (Canadian Literature) from the University of British Columbia, a law degree from Dalhousie University, and a Master of Arts (Creative Writing) from the University of Calgary.
Find out more about Barb at www.barbhoward.ca

Visual Artist and Fashion Designer

Farzaneh Azizpour is an artist who specializes in figurative expressive oil painting. She participated in several international exhibitions in CANADA, USA, FRANCE, ITALY and TURKEY. She was awarded as the ten bests among competitors in FRANCE.

She was born and raised in Iran. She started in painting totally self-motivated and was instructed by iranian well-known painter artists. She pursued to graduate as a master degree in painting from Tehran Art University in Iran, although her bachelor degree was in medical radiology technologist.
Not far from home is where she found her inspiration to paint, friends, relatives, family and specially her kids. She notices their faces, looks and gestures to bring her perspectives to canvas.
She has been working some projects such as Gaze, Gap generation and Claustrophobia focusing on people around herself. Instructing Kid’s creativity in painting is her another activity.
All the years of studying, teaching and drawing coupled with her academic experiences, have given her the derive and inspiration to be also a fashion designer. Mrs. Layth is her fashion design collection retrieved from Iranian historical monuments.
She has chosen Canada as her new home from July 2020. She believes that art could be a common language among multicultural people to better understanding each other regardless of beliefs, religion,....,differences.

Visual Artist & Entrepreneur

"Syd The Artiste" - Sydonne Warren - is a Jamaican-Canadian Contemporary Visual Artist who specializes in large-scale expressive paintings, murals, and digital design. Her artwork often showcases a combination of high contrast subjects, bold colour palettes, and a mixture of expressive strokes, drips and rigid lines. Her themes reflect her experiences as a Jamaican-Canadian immigrant woman and mother. She uses her perspective to share her desire for the African diaspora to occupy, impact and own space.
Sydonne’s work has appeared in locations across Calgary including the Core Shopping Centre, the Jamaican Canadian Association, Centre Street and Kensington. In 2020, Avenue Magazine listed Sydonne’s Black Lives Matter mural as one of the “Good things that happened in Calgary”. That same year she was named “Artist of the Year” by Diversity Magazine’s African Caribbean Awards for her impact on the city as a person of colour.

Comic Book Artist - Writer and Illustrator

Ferrucio Burco Filho (Pistashi) is a 27-years-old Brazilian comic artist who recently moved to Canada. Known for his sharp line-art and vibrant colors, Pistashi loves to bring his characters to life through "Go to Hell", a supernatural themed webcomic which is full of bad puns and heartfelt moments. A specially good read for young kids and teenagers.
Very approachable and open to share experiences in the field, Ferrucio is also excited to learn new things and meet new artists!

Multidisciplinary Artist

Jarett Sitter is a full time Calgary based freelance artist and has worked extensively creating artwork within the music industry and the world of publishing.
Jarett has been featured as the cover artist of the Believer Magazine multiple times. He is also known for his animation work, especially within music videos. He has contributed animation and post-production for various Juno Award and Much Music Video Award nominated music videos, including for musical artists Mother Mother and Walk Off The Earth. In 2022 Jarett created the feature image for Greenpeace's demonstration at COP15 in Montreal, which hung 46 feet high in the downtown "Ring" sculpture. 2024 will see the completion of his upcoming public art installation series “The Bison and The Dragon”, which will fill multiple walls within Calgary’s Chinatown, as well as other public artworks scheduled to be installed.
You can view more of his work at www.jaretts.com

Arts Administrator and Multi-disciplinary Artist

For over a decade, I've thrived at the intersection of artistic passion and organizational leadership. My career has been a captivating blend of working alongside talented performers and managing the intricate workings of performing arts organizations.
Being a trained dancer and actor myself, has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the dedication and creativity that performers bring to their craft. On one hand, I've had the privilege of collaborating with exceptional artists. And I've played a role in nurturing artistic expression. On the other hand, I've honed my managerial skills within the dynamic world of performing arts organizations. From planning events, managing operations and budgets, and overseeing marketing campaigns to fostering a collaborative environment, I've ensured the smooth operation of these vital institutions. This background has equipped me with a keen understanding of the business side of the arts, allowing me to champion artistic endeavors while maintaining financial sustainability.
In my journey ahead I aim to gain a profound appreciation for the delicate balance between artistic vision and practical execution. To hone my unique perspective and development skill set that allows me to navigate the complexities of the performing arts world, ensuring artistic excellence flourishes within a well-managed environment.
Whether I'm advocating for an artist's vision or ensuring a production runs seamlessly, my passion lies in using my skills to empower the performing arts to thrive.

Artistic Producer, Programmer, and Director

Joshua Dalledonne is an artistic producer, programmer and director for live performance and community activations. A believer in the transformative power of creativity, collaboration, and kindness he gathers artists and audiences to make the world a more welcoming place. An advocate and connector for equity-seeking artists and communities, he’s privileged to be the Associate Director Creative for Arts Commons and is deeply invested in supporting a programmatic vision that centres the audience – our community – in its ongoing investigation of its role and relevance. Josh began his career with the UK’s Birmingham Repertory Theatre and while his work has been focused on cornerstone arts organizations in Calgary, he has been privileged to work across Alberta, Canada and internationally. A proud member of the Queer community, he volunteers his time with Calgary Arts Academy among others and recently married his husband Max – his partner in life, love, and adventure.

Pianist & Arts Administrator

Juliana Jorge started her studies at the age of 6 at her birth city, São Pedro, in Brazil. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music – Piano, from the State University of Campinas – UNICAMP, and a Master’s in Music degree, focusing on both Collaborative and Solo Piano from The University of New Mexico in the USA. In 2016, Juliana received a full scholarship to deepen her studies at the Bard College in NY, where she attended the Advanced Performance Studies program specializing in collaborative piano.
She was the staff pianist for many music festivals, and collaborated with renowned artists, such as Charles Schlueter, Matthew McBride-Daline, Adam Frey, James Gourlay and Alex Klein. She has an album with the Brazilian brass group Metallumfonia, premiering the chamber music works for brass and piano by the Brazilian composer Almeida Prado. She also performed under the baton of famous conductors, such as Roberto Minczuk, Victor Hugo Toro, Jorge Perez-Gomes and Karl Martin.
Juliana currently resides in Calgary, where she is a piano faculty at the Mount Royal University Conservatory, and is a very active collaborative pianist on the music community under her business. To know more about her work, please visit www.thepianistondemand.com.

Songwriter, Producer, Vocals, Creativity & Performance Coach

In her adopted hometown of Calgary (Moh’kinsstis, Treaty 7), Kenna Burima has earned a reputation as someone who can turn ideas into big projects, teach the unteachable and inspire people to come together.
Since doing her time in the institutional hallowed halls of classical music education, Kenna’s love for all musical forms has driven her involvement in a diversity of projects. From the indie-folk of Woodpigeon and the sweaty garage sludge of Beaver Squadron; grandiose projects abound, nurturing Kenna’s compositional skill and style. Her cherished collaboration with Calgary theatre company, One Yellow Rabbit offered the unique opportunity to compose for the largest and loudest of instruments, the Calgary Tower’s carillon in 2014. Until only recently, you could hear the bells of The Calgary Songs Project, weekdays, which featured a thirty-song playlist of Calgary songwriters spanning thirty years.
Collaboratory and theatrical work dovetails into her daytime concerns of offering city street singalongs to unsuspecting citizens, teaching music, and creativity through her public songwriting program and residencies uncovering the mysteries of creativity (hint, it’s not a mystery) and songwriting (hello formulas!) to anyone regardless of training or experience.
Kenna’s solo albums span classical-cabaret-pop-rock and jazz; musical affairs that draw on her vast technical and artistic know-how. The complexities of her songwriting reflect the heart of an artist who is never content to restrict herself to one genre, one project, or one ideal. With her third solo album While She Sleeps, the angry intensity of her sophomore release Hymn (2016) turns inward to unravel the quiet mysteries of creation.
Her new album While She Sleeps is available now in Illuminated Songbook form on her website and audio form on streaming platforms everywhere.
www.kennaburima.com

Sand Artist

I am a sand artist, using sand art performances to address various topics. I have been actively involved in various community centres such as government agencies, schools, libraries, senior centres, and youth centres, providing engaging and emotionally impactful experiences to people. Sand art is a unique form of art that utilizes sand to create diverse stories. Through this, I aim to raise awareness of social issues such as anti-bullying, drug prevention, school violence, smoking cessation, multiculturalism, and self-esteem. Additionally, I showcase opening performances tailored to the themes of various events, providing audiences with new experiences and emotions. While I have learned a lot through my activities in Korea, I am now eager to contribute to Canada's cultural industry. The reason for my decision to immigrate to Canada lies in my desire to continue my sand art activities there and inspire and bring hope to people, just as I have done in Korea.

Filmmaker, Curator and Cultural worker

Vicki Van Chau (周倩瑜) is a filmmaker, curator and cultural worker based in Calgary, Alberta on Treaty 7 territory. She is currently the Executive Director for the Alberta Media Arts Alliance Society (AMAAS) where she serves media artists and media art organizations across the province through advocacy work, development opportunities and bridging connections. She was formerly the Programming Director at EMMEDIA Gallery & Production Society, where she co-founded the PARTICLE + WAVE Media Arts Festival.
As a freelance arts administrator, she has worked with many non-profit organizations in various capacities including producer and consultant roles, with national organizations and initiatives like the Independent Media Arts Alliance and the CanAsian Arts Network. She has also curated an exhibition at The Confluence: Historic Site & Parkland (formerly known as Fort Calgary) titled "Culture & Kin: Reclaiming the Chinese Narrative through Contemporary Art" that will be on display until September 2024. She recently presented this initiative at the Canadian Museums Association National Conference in April 2024.
As a filmmaker, she has directed and produced several award-winning short films that have screened across Canada and internationally. As a second generation Chinese-Vietnamese Canadian, her short films mainly focus on the Asian diaspora experience. Her family and cultural identity has been a core inspiration in her artistic practice and helps her to promote the appreciation of both Chinese and Vietnamese culture through a uniquely Canadian perspective. For more information on her films, go to vickichau.com.
She is an active arts community member and volunteer and has sat on the Board of Directors for the Untitled Art Society (now known as The Bows), EXPOSURE Photography Festival, Alberta Media Arts Alliance Society, and the Calgary Underground Film Festival. She also co-founded the Calgary Chinatown Pop-Up Movie Club, an event series that shares knowledge about Chinese culture and the Chinese diaspora experience through film.
She has received the Spirit of Helen Award (2014, AMAAS), the Horizon Alumni Award (2018, AUArts) and the Echo Award (2021, EMMEDIA) for her contributions to the media arts community. In 2022, she received the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award and was inducted into Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40. In 2023, she received the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal for her contribution to the arts & culture in Alberta.

Theatre Artist & Drama Educator

Tiffany Lai, a registered social worker in Hong Kong and Alberta. She graduated with distinction from the Hong Kong Academy For Performing Arts with a Master’s degree in Drama and Theatre Education, focusing her thesis on the use of drama in education pedagogy to enhance their Chinese language proficiency of students with dyslexia. During her studies, she received the Estella Wong Drama Education Scholarship, the HKSAR Talent Development Scholarship and the Reaching Out Award. She was also sponsored by the Lee Hysan Foundation to undergo two short-term drama trainings in the UK.
Currently, Tiffany is involved in planning, educating, and performing roles of the drama aspects in Hong Kong and Canada. In 2021, she co-founded DuO Lab, a drama education company in HK, and received support from the Social Innovation Fund. She has collaborated with over 30 organizations, implementing drama in education workshops for various social welfare agencies, using drama as a medium to address the needs of different communities.

Director, Deviser, Playwright, Educator

Eric is an award-winning director, deviser, playwright, educator, and the Artistic Director of Calgary’s acclaimed Ghost River Theatre (GRT). Eric’s work is fueled by his dyslexic brain and is characterized by a striking audio-visual aesthetic that embraces the impossible, constantly reframing and rediscovering what theatre is and what it is capable of. Eric’s passion for the creative process has inspired the diversity of his theatrical experience, spanning large-scale contemporary and classical theatre, site-specific and immersive performance, experiential design, devising theatre, and dance.
As a sought-after teacher, Eric has shared his unique approach to theatrical creation with students and professionals all over the world. For GRT, Eric has taught its 4-Day and National 3-Week Devised Theatre Intensives for the last 14 years. He has taught for the Young Vic in London UK, Prague Quadrennial of Performance and Design, Kathy Knowles Theatre Company in Accra, Revolutions International Festival in Albuquerque, and across Canada at various post-secondary institutions and festivals. Eric has been honoured to be the Playwright in Residence at Alberta Theatre Projects, to be named to Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 and to have received the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Artist Award for his body of work as a theatrical innovator.
Recent GRT credits include: playwright /director STRUCK (Betty Nomination Best New Play); director/co-playwright SensoryBox; director/co-playwright GIANT (Betty Mitchell Nomination Outstanding Director & New Play – Award for Outstanding Ensemble); concept/direction/co-creation of Intuition Project; co-adaptor, sound designer and director Tomorrow’s Child (Edinburgh Fringe), directing/co-playwright The Last Voyage of Donald Crowhurst (Betty Mitchell Awards for Outstanding Production, Direction, New Play and shortlisted for the Gwen Pharis Ringwood Prize in Playwriting).
Additional credits include: directing a lab workshop of Troilus & Cressida for Stratford Festival; Concept/Co-Creator I am Canada, Canadian Museum for Human Rights; Concept/Co-Creator TropiCalgary, GLOW Festival; directing/co-creating A Date With The Night for The Globe Theatre; directing/dramaturging a new version of Hannah Moscovitch’s The Huron Bride for Vertigo Theatre; directing the Canadian premiere of The Kite Runner for Theatre Calgary/Citadel Theatre; directing/co-writing Once Upon an Atom Bomb with Jennie Esdale and David Rhymer for the Green Fools Physical Theatre; directing/co-writing Peril in Paris with Ethan Cole (Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding New Play) a new musical for Lunchbox Theatre; directing/dramaturging The Forbidden Sacrifice for the Kathy Knowles Theatre Company in Ghana.
For Film and TV, Eric recently co-wrote a feature-length documentary, Close the Divide for New Path Influence, which premiered at the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival, and is currently in post-production for a new Cli-fi Streaming Series, So Dark the Sky, which he co-wrote with Jason Patrick Rothery and co-directed with Kyle Thomas of North Country Cinema.

Visual Artist

I'm Kateryna Pysarenko, a Ukrainian artist. With a master's in graphic design from Kyiv, I spent over a decade in the design scene, specializing in creating prints for clothing and tableware. In 2017, I transitioned from digital to traditional art, immersing myself in watercolor.
As an artist, I'm all about exploring the dance between the external and internal worlds. I am also showing peace in turbulent times and aiming to showcase the beauty of everyday life.
Immigrating in 2022 also shifted my worldview and immersed me in exploring both Ukrainian culture and other ethnicities.

Artistic Director, Multidisciplinary Artist

Dan Cardinal McCartney (hey/they) is an interdisciplinary artist and emerging curator who holds a degree from AUArts (2016) in Drawing. Most importantly, they are a full-time caregiver for their sister, Karri. Dan is of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nations with family ties of Mikisew Cree, Metis, and mixed settler lines from Treaty 8 territory, specifically Fort Chipewyan. He is a foster care survivor raised in the northern boreal region of Fort McMurray.
As a Two Spirit transgender artist, Dan sifts through patterns of intergenerational trauma and troubles the colonial narrative of hyper individuality. He relates his personal, ongoing reconnection with his family to his yearning for gender euphoria through storytelling. Dan focuses on mixed media collage, painting, moving images, and performance.
Currently, they are the Assistant Director at Stride Gallery in so-called Calgary, AB.

Painter

Laleh Dehghani, born in 1969 in Shiraz, is a painter with a penchant for innovative ideas and techniques for creating art. She began her professional painting in 2010 and has had several exhibitions which have attracted attention of many Persian artists. Throughout her journey, Laleh found her voice through illustrating ethnic and nomadic women and trying to tell the story of their lives through her art. She hopes her art can help their voice be heard. Growing up in Shiraz, Laleh was always exposed to art in all its shapes and forms, from poems of renowned Persian poets such as Hafiz and Saadi to the magnificent architecture of Persepolis which kept her mind open for innovation.
Water-colour, soft pastel, and acrylic have all been used by Laleh to make her works. In this gallery a selection of her artwork has been presented.

Interdisciplinary Artist, Arts Producer and Public Art Advocate

Natasha Faye Jensen is an interdisciplinary artist, arts producer and public art advocate hailing from Moh’kins’tsis/Calgary, Treaty 7 territory in Southern Alberta, Canada. She earned her BFA from the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly known as Alberta College of Art and Design) in 2013 and completed an MA in Contemporary Art Practice at the Edinburgh College of Art in 2020. Natasha has showcased her artwork in exhibitions, galleries, and festivals across Canada, Finland, the United States and the United Kingdom.

Visual Artist

Olamide Adedipe is a trained fine artist, environmentalist, and craftsperson who uses sustainability as a strong platform to speak against the abuse of nature and to inspire social change. Olamide’s journey in art began after he lost a significant percentage of his hearing due to auditory pollution. The stigma of constantly asking people to speak louder or repeat a sentence was a constant struggle he faced. At some point in his career, he found an animal fatally injured by poachers. Knowing there was no other option, he was forced to act compassionately to ease the animal's suffering. Olamide used this moment of pain to convey a strong message through his art by painting on the animal’s pelt, which swiftly transformed into a movement advocating against animal cruelty. He creates mixed media art, utilitarian art, and paintings, using found items.

Multidisciplinary Visual Artist

Carlos Roche is his name, and Trako is his nickname. Although Roche wanted to, he never took art as an elective throughout highschool as he preferred woodworking instead. After completing his education in advertising. Roche decided to pursue an artistic path and went to Sheridan College for a 3-year visual arts program, graduating with honours. He is proud to say he won first place for Sculpture Award of Excellence within hi graduating class of 2015!
DIVERSITY is the name of his creations, as well as his persona. As a Venezuelan-born, Canadian Artist, Roche has had the opportunity to live in different places. Immersing in their culture has opened his mind to different ways of thinking, ultimately broadening his empathy and adding colour to his mind. It is no different inside of his skills toolbox. Woodworking, photography, painting, and sculpting are his proudest talents amongst all the disciplines that he brings to the table... or walls!

Theatre Professional

Snizhana Bora - born on December 31, 1993 in Ukraine.
In 2011, she entered the University of Arts in Kharkiv.
Professional actress and director of drama theater and cinema. Acting teacher. Performer.
Studied at KhNUM I.P. Kotlyarevsky in Kharkiv (2011-2016). Bachelor's and specialist's diploma, complete higher education. Practiced in theaters in Germany and Poland. Participated in international projects and festivals as a participant and organizer.
Served (worked) at the Kharkiv Drama Theater (2016 – 2020).
International theater project "Salt" (2015 - present).
She opened her dance and theater school for children from 2 to 18 years old.
Experience working with children - 10 years.
He is a valid member of the Theater Union of Ukraine.
She starred in many television projects.
Now lives in Canada, Calgary because of the war in Ukraine.

Actor, Theatre Facilitator, Teaching Artist

Linda is a second generation Filipina-Canadian, blessed to call Mohkinstsis home. She serves as an actor, a Theatre of the Oppressed Forum Theatre Facilitator, and a Teaching Artist, practicing Aesthetic Education and experiential learning to champion inclusivity and empowerment in learning environments. Linda works as a Teaching Artist with organizations such as the CBE, the Jubilee Auditoria Society’s Jube School, the Arts Commons education program and is a sessional acting instructor at the University of Calgary’s School of Creative and Performing Arts. Working in film and television and on stage, Linda also writes and produces her own independent work to amplify melanated voices, including a Telus Storyhive supported podcast titled “Being Under the Influence,” a platform exploring shared arts and cultural influences with Calgary’s vibrant artist community. Linda supports her artistic practice as a Synergy Partner Yoga instructor, and includes moving meditation in her process. She feels honored to share her love and passion for storytelling and the performing arts in exploring what it means to empower and build healthy communities.

Multi-disciplinary Artist, Arts Administrator and Cultural Worker

Svetlana Staritskaya is a creative professional with a master's degree in performing arts production, graduating from one of the biggest theatre institutes in Russia — GITIS. Throughout her professional career, Svetlana has implemented over 100 projects of various scales:
Organization of performances, concerts, tours, festivals, educational clubs, and creative conferences
Development of educational courses with a creative approach for marketers, teenagers, and even yacht captains
Distribution of independent films
Creation of podcasts and audio walks
She taught creative thinking methods at the British Higher School of Art and Design and other organizations.

Arts , Marketing & Event Management Professional

A Calgary arts professional, Morgan has worked for numerous Calgary art organizations including Sled Island, BIG Winter Classic, Music Calgary, Emmedia, Calgary Queer Arts Society, Calgary International Film Festival, THIRD ACTion Film Festival, and BeatRoute. She also founded and books live music under her own promotion label, CryBaby, and programs a women filmmaker-focused screening series at Globe Cinema called A League of Her Own. She believes Jack Black's performance in School of Rock is the biggest Oscar snub of all time, and that "Everything is Embarassing" is the best pop song ever written. She also tends to speak in hyperbole.

Visual Artist

My name is Violetta Khabanets and I am from Ukraine. I am a watercolor artist. I love to paint nature and especially flowers in watercolor. When I moved to Alberta (Calgary) I was even more inspired by the local amazing nature.In my artworks I want to show that nature has incredible details and we can enjoy them.I feel that painting with watercolors has a positive effect on me and on people who have painted with me.In the future, I plan to create deeper and more meaningful works.

Visual Artist

Katie Green (she/they) is a visual artist creating intimate watercolour personas that are eerie and ethereal. These emotionally visceral reflections provide Katie with a healing process that manifests as visual characters and scenes that explore internal emotional landscapes. For Katie, the process of painting is one of searching as they wait for something or someone to emerge. Inside this in-between presence is where surprises come forward and characters from unseen places take shape in visual ways. Being in relationship with the beings that appear becomes a form of therapeutic release, helping to both guide and nurture something within. Using these watercolours as the inspirational foundation for their practice, Katie creates murals that abstract feelings and forms into immersive scenes where fantastical beings morph and melt together within imagined worlds. Increasingly, their mural projects involve communities in a process of mask making that result in large-scale public expressions of hidden identities, emotional realities, and internal experiences.
Katie resides in Mohkínstsis in Treaty 7 Territory (Calgary, Alberta). Their work has been supported by grants from the Canada Arts Council, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and Calgary Arts Development and by various international residencies including the Santa Fe Art Institute and the Vermont Studio Centre. Their murals have been executed in Canada, the United States, Taiwan, Belgium and Germany. Working in a number of different contexts, from puppet builder to muralist to workshop facilitator, their collaborators include The Old Trout Puppet Workshop, cSPACE King Edward, The Esker Foundation, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation, Pink Flamingo, The Calgary Drop-In and Rehabilitation Centre, Nelson and District Arts Council, and the Beltline Urban Mural Project.

Toyin Oladele

NAPP Cohort 3

Newcomer Arts Professional Program

2024 Pairs

Edmonton Mentees & Mentors

Bassem Bou Najm

Saskia Aarts

Cristian De La Luna

Hanan Abusalimeh

Christian Peres Gibaut

Patrick Byishimo

Garth Prince

Tsz Him Hymns Chu

Shawn Tse

Calgary Mentees & Mentors

Kodie Rollan

Dominic Fayenuwo

Mark Hopkins

Ernesto Jose Campo Gonzalez

Barb Howard

Sydonne Warren

Ferrucio Burco Filho (Pistashi)

Jarett Sitter

Josh Dalledonne

Juliana Briense Jorge

Kenna Burima

Vicki Chau

Eric Rose

Dan Cardinal

Laleh Dehghani Zahedani

Natasha Jensen

Olamide Adedipe

Carlos Trako Roche

Snizhana Bora

Linda Kee

Morgan Cairns

Violetta Khabanets

Katie Green

NAPP Cohort 3

Newcomer Arts Professional Program

2024 Pairs

Edmonton Mentees & Mentors

Bassem Bou Najm

Saskia Aarts

Cristian De La Luna

Hanan Abusalimeh

Christian Peres Gibaut

Patrick Byishimo

Garth Prince

Tsz Him Hymns Chu

Shawn Tse

Calgary Mentees & Mentors

Kodie Rollan

Dominic Fayenuwo

Mark Hopkins

Ernesto Jose Campo Gonzalez

Barb Howard

Sydonne Warren

Ferrucio Burco Filho (Pistashi)

Jarett Sitter

Josh Dalledonne

Juliana Briense Jorge

Kenna Burima

Vicki Chau

Eric Rose

Dan Cardinal

Laleh Dehghani Zahedani

Natasha Jensen

Olamide Adedipe

Carlos Trako Roche

Snizhana Bora

Linda Kee

Morgan Cairns

Violetta Khabanets

Katie Green

ICAI Wins the 2024 Calgary Award

Artist of the Month: June 2024