Manifesto is a hip-hop music and cultural arts festival that celebrated its 5th Anniversary this year in Toronto! Manifesto is a non-profit grassroots organization working together in order to bring together, and support Toronto’s multi-cultural and diverse music and arts community. The 11 day festival had over 100 artists and people interested in hip-hop and music participating in art project and exhibitions, movie screenings, summits, concerts dancing and so much more! This year the main show was hosted by legendary Canadian hip-hop icon Michie Mee. The show featured so many great artists and group performances including Michie and the best part was that it was all free at Yonge and Dundas in T.O. It also gave a chance for young entrepreneurs to showcase their talent and merchandise.
One of the projects I played a small role in was the Inside Out project, which is a global initiative that brought public art to certain communities in Toronto. Public Arts is a form of communication, interaction and it helps to see the diverse people living in Toronto. Through their individualistic face, each person has a story to tell. There are photographs featuring people of all ages, ethnicity, cultures, sexuality and religions. The people are not trying to sell anything in these photos, instead the art project aims at displaying the vibrant creativity of people in Toronto. I was lucky enough to be asked by Manifesto Executive Director Che Kothari to have my picture taken for this project. Che mentored student Sheeba on photography. Sheeba is from the Regent Park community and is a youth who I already knew from working together in art programs. She took my photographs and I was happy to be there when they were plastering the photos including my face in the Regent Park community. I am so proud to have been part of this unique experience because as an artist myself I truly support everything art!
To learn more about the Inside Out project and Manifesto, visit their website. http://themanifesto.ca/
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