{"title":"Workshops and Professional Development","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"lead-with-purpose","title":"Lead with Purpose: A Values-Driven Model for a Sustainable Arts Future","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePresented by: Ontario Culture Days, Mass Culture, The Black Pledge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProgram Summary\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLead with Purpose: A Values-Driven Model for a Sustainable Arts Future\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a small-group professional development series designed for arts organizations committed to embedding anti-racist, community-centered, and values-driven leadership into their operations. Hosted by Ontario Culture Days, Mass Culture, and The Black Pledge Collective, and grounded in CPAMO POC’s facilitation practices, the program brings topics such as community engagement, leadership, and conflict resolution into timely learning opportunities informed by the lived experiences and evolving needs of our networks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith spaces limited to support meaningful discussion and peer-to-peer exchange, participating organizations will engage in three virtual sessions and one in-person intensive, exploring practical tools, problem-solving strategies, and peer-to-peer learning models to strengthen their leadership and operational sustainability. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe series emphasizes actionable reflection, accountability, and tangible methods for building equitable futures in the arts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eParticipant Cost:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e $125 (covers Sessions A-D)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLimited subsidies are available to organizations supporting underrepresented communities. Please email \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"mailto:info@onculturedays.ca\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003einfo@onculturedays.ca\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e by January 5, 2026 to indicate your interest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWant to join a single session? Please email \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"mailto:info@onculturedays.ca\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003einfo@onculturedays.ca\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e by January 5, 2026.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSESSION DESCRIPTIONS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSession A – Purposeful Leadership in Practice\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate: Wednesday, January 21, 2025, 2:00–3:30pm ET (virtual)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHosted by: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSedina Fiati, The Black Pledge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e This session introduces participants to values-aligned leadership and long-term organizational visioning. The conversation will explore how leaders can navigate uncertainty, clarify priorities, and assess emerging needs within their teams and communities. Participants may reflect on their current leadership approaches, consider the role of mentorship and shared wisdom, and examine adaptable planning strategies that support decision-making in complex or rapidly changing environments.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSession B – Building Better Workplaces\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate: Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 2:00–3:30pm ET (virtual)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHosted by: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSedina Fiati, The Black Pledge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis roundtable focuses on building organizational cultures that prioritize equity, accountability, and meaningful action. Through examples and shared experiences, participants will examine how internal systems, behaviours, and unspoken norms shape workplace dynamics. The session highlights the distinctions between performative and substantive practices, the importance of addressing hidden barriers, and the ways organizational values influence both internal relationships and external engagements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSession C – Arts Leaders Navigating Polarizing Environments\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eDate: Wednesday, February 17, 2026, 2:00–3:30pm ET (virtual)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHosted by: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSedina Fiati, The Black Pledge\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis workshop supports participants in engaging with conflict, discomfort, and resistance in constructive ways. The session provides a grounding in conflict navigation tools, effective communication strategies, and approaches that prioritize transparency and accountability. Participants work through real or hypothetical scenarios to better understand how to respond to harm, address defensiveness, and strengthen organizational resilience within challenging or polarized contexts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch2 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eSession D – Expanding Reach\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate: Wednesday, March 11, 2025, 1:00–4:00pm ET (in person)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocation: 401 Richmond St W, Unit 403\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncludes light lunch, networking, and an in-person workshop with Sedina Fiati, The Black Pledge.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn this session, participants explore strategies for meaningful community engagement and relationship-building. Featuring examples of intentional outreach, the discussion considers how organizations can cultivate trust, understand community needs, and design inclusive public-facing initiatives. A facilitated workshop component encourages participants to develop practical approaches for strengthening partnerships, supporting long-term sustainability, and embedding values-based collaboration into their external work.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Series\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLead with Purpose: A Values-Driven Model for a Sustainable Arts Future\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a small-group professional development series designed for arts organizations committed to embedding anti-racist, community-centered, and values-driven leadership into their operations. Hosted by Ontario Culture Days, Mass Culture, and The Black Pledge Collective, and grounded in CPAMO POC’s facilitation practices, the program brings topics such as community engagement, leadership, and conflict resolution into timely learning opportunities informed by the lived experiences and evolving needs of our networks.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Ontario Culture Days\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOntario Culture Days is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates artists and cultural groups in communities across the province. Each fall, alongside our national and provincial affiliates, we work with organizers of all disciplines to produce this province-wide festival Ontario Culture Days festival. showcasing arts, culture, and heritage through free, public programs hosted by organizers of all disciplines. We support the sector through resources and network development, highlighting the diversity and richness of Ontario’s arts and culture to audiences across the province.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Mass Culture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMass Culture is a national arts research organization dedicated to strengthening the arts sector through shared learning, rigorous research, and collaborative approaches to evaluation. By building networks, supporting partnerships, and activating data, Mass Culture helps cultural workers, artists and funders make informed decisions that support a vibrant and equitable arts ecosystem. Learn more: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/massculture.ca\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehttps:\/\/massculture.ca\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout The Black Pledge Collective\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn 2020, the Black Pledge Collective formed by a group of Black women theatre artists. Our purpose is to dismantle anti-Black racism in live performance and create a supportive and affirming space for Black artists and arts workers. Our first project was the creation and sharing of the Black Pledge which asked theatre organizations to affirm their support for Black artists through creating a plan to address anti-Black racism in their organizations. 5 organizations signed and since then,  BPC continues to grow a national reach, through outreach, facilitation and various partnerships.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOur work has included Beyond Black Squares, a workshop series for theatre practitioners in dismantling anti-Black racism, the Decade of Black Performance and Reclamation, a gathering for Black artists who work in live performance and soon to be delivered professional development series for Black artists. Our current strategic partners include Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, Toronto Alliance of the Performing Arts, Choral Canada, Professional Association of Canadian Theatres, Ontario Culture Days and CPAMO.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-34f5b75e-7fff-193a-6927-185123a3d960\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbout Sedina Fiati\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eSedina Fiati is a Toronto based social justice consultant and multi award winning artist for stage and screen. Proudly Black and queer, Sedina holds a BFA in Music Theatre from the University of Windsor. Sedina was the co-chair of ACTRA Toronto’s Diversity Committee where she co-led the committee in several initiatives including a partnership with Working The Scene In Colour and The Sandi Ross Awards and was the 2nd VP of Membership Engagement for Canadian Actors’ Equity Association’s member council. Recent projects: IETM International Performing Arts Network – Workshop Facilitator, University of Windsor, School of Dramatic Art – Research in anti-Black racism in the curriculum, Strategic Planning with Nightwood Theatre and Confluence Concerts, Industry Consultant with Oya Black Arts Coalition Associate Producer – Equity, Diversity, Inclusion for Pretty Hard Cases Season 3.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ontario Culture Days","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43893333983274,"sku":"LWP1","price":125.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0582\/6048\/8234\/files\/ALLSESSIONS.png?v=1771351098"}],"url":"https:\/\/onculturedays.myshopify.com\/collections\/workshops-and-professional-development.oembed","provider":"The Ontario Edit","version":"1.0","type":"link"}