Arts, Culture & Creative Industry Development Agency rebrands into Brampton Arts Organization

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Brampton Arts Organization held its launch party at the Springdale Branch of the Brampton Library. The event was an opportunity to celebrate the renaming of the Arts, Culture & Creative Industry Development Agency (ACCIDA) into the Brampton Arts Organization (BAO).

ACCIDA started in 2021 with its mission as to incubate, advance, connect and advocate for Brampton’s arts, culture, and creative industries. There were several changes during its inaugural year, which saw more team members being added as well as six members who made up the Inaugural Advisory Panel. They include: Herman Grewal, Michael Halls, Sumit Judge, Vijai Kumar, Jael Richardson and Jaspreet Sandhu.

The rebranding of ACCIDA into BAO is intended to fulfil the City of Brampton’s strategic vision and Culture Master Plan. The aim of BAO is to build a thriving, confident, and valued creative scene and cultural ecology in the heart of Brampton. In order to accomplish this, it will be a key partner in fulfilling the city’s ambitious vision for arts, culture and creative industries.

The basic values of BAO are: Passion and Ambition, Diversity and Inclusiveness, Service, Community and Collaboration, Excellence and Innovation, Optimism. Three areas that BAO is centred on as it fosters programs and services with its inter and cross-sectoral partners include:

• Funding, finance, and investment
• Leadership-advocacy and innovation
• Sector development and growth

The festivities started at 6:00 pm with DJ Lady Pista spinning the wheel. There was a Meditate and Create Workshop by Director X and Zenesoul. There was live painting by Abiola Idowa and Robyn Ligthwalker as well as a performance by Brampton-based artists: Nicole Chambers, Kwasi Obend, and Mix Tapper.

Director X stated, “I want to support what BAO has got going on, spread the importance and the need of the arts to the youth and to us grown folks. Check out their events and their workshops, there are some amazing things that they are doing. The arts are a viable thing for us, it will send our kids on the right path.”

Director X along with poet Rupo Kaur and hip-hop artist Haviah Mighty will serve as cultural ambassadors.

BAO continues to think of creative and exciting ways to engage individuals in the creative enterprise. As it fulfils Brampton’s vision for the arts, culture, and creative industries, it will no doubt tap into the energy and hope of creative artists. As a means to enable: growth, advocacy, and celebration it will be able to fulfil its: vision, mission, and values for the wider Brampton community.

For those who are engaged in the arts, culture and creative community can sign up for events, and if you are interested in learning about the Brampton Arts Organization can check:

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