In June 2013 we launched the Queer Cabaret, an annual celebration of the lives and art of LGBTQ2S+ people of colour. The Cabaret came out of recognition that LGBTQ2S+people of colour experience marginalization in both LGBTQ spaces and explicitly “cultural” spaces. The Cabaret was, to our knowledge, the first event of its kind in Hamilton, and has since set the precedent for more culturally diverse programming in theLGBTQ2S+ community. The Cabaret will be integrated to Roots En Roots Arts Festival and continue to serve as an annual event around which anLGBTQ2S+-of-colour community can coalesce.
We promote a complex, nuanced understanding of 'World Music' and expose local audiences to artists few would hear of otherwise or experience locally.
There are festivals that exist in Hamilton that present excellence in arts and culture, there are no arts festival that connect these specific communities to their heritage or that foster other people's knowledge of their culture and history. An outdoor festival that promotes arts for cultural minorities in the Hamilton community while engaging artists globally provides entirely new ways of understanding our community.
Created with the intention to celebrate Black History Month the Festival has grown to develop a more nuanced understanding of the diversity of cultural arts and identities across Hamilton and provide recognition of the different histories that shape different experiences of community, arts and cultural groups. Roots En Route Arts Festival is set to become the 75% Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) Arts Festival & Conference in 2024.
Save the Date! February 25th– March 1st, 2024 Hamilton, ON
The Matapa Music and Arts Organization Strategic Plan will help us build on the successes that we have achieved since our founding in 2012. keep reading
Our priority in this plan is to continue to deliver and enhance our artistic and cultural programmes alongside our overall goals of audience and market development. We prioritize the achievement of financial self-sufficiency for each of our various programmes and the sustainability of our organization overall.
We seek to develop deeper partnerships with the City of Hamilton, various local social, educational, and cultural groups, and develop our connections with other music and arts festivals in southern Ontario. Securing corporate sponsorship for at least one of our signature events is a priority goal.
Activities & Goals
Matapa World Music Series (now in its 6th season)
Goal:To establish a reputation for Hamilton as a culturally vibrant city that promotes the best in music and arts from around the world.
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Hamilton World Music Festival (now in its 5th season)
Goal: promote a complex, nuanced understanding of 'World Music' and expose local audiences to artists few would hear of otherwise or experience locally
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Roots En Route Arts Festival (now in its 5th season)
Goal: Created with the intention to celebrate Black History Month the Festival has grown to develop a more nuanced understanding of the diversity of cultural arts and identities across Hamilton and provide recognition of the different histories that shape different experiences of community, arts and cultural groups. Roots En Route Arts Festival is set to become the 75% Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) Arts Festival &Conference in 2024.
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BIPOC Creative Industries Conference
Goal: Through the development of a network and Exchange programme which will enhance the skills and opportunities for academics and the creative industries we are integrating new collaborations between the Americas, Southern Africa professionals and Academics by presenting the Creative Industries Conference as an annual exchange program taking part in the America’s and in Southern Africa.
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Get Involved
For Sponsorship & Partnership Opportunities Filimone Mabjaia info@matapa.org Volunteer & Vendors Lorena Costa Operations@matapa.org BIPOC QueerArtists Support Samma Mendonça (She) Productions@matapa.org
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