We aim to enhance the skills and opportunities for academics and professionals in creative industries through the development of a network and exchange program. By fostering collaborations between the Americas, Southern Africa & CPLP, we present Exchange initiatives alongside Artists in Residence and conferences, creating an annual meeting point for innovation and dialogue in both regions.
Land Acknowledgement
We are situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississauga. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabek to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. We further acknowledge that this land is covered by the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792, between the Crown and the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation.
Our mission
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 America’s, southern Africa professionals and academics by presenting the Roots Exchange Conference as annual conference and Creative Industries Residency taking part in the America’s and in Southern Africa.
The Conferences
Our intentions to question as we continue to deliver the best in our ability to contribute for an intercontinental - cultural dialogue. By questioning, we hope that it will result in collaborations between academic institutions, creative industry organizations, researchers, artists based in the Americas and Southern Africa.
Structure
The Roots En Route Exchange Network is governed by a Board of Directors comprised by the Founders (Chairs), Co-Founder (Committees), Co- Founders (Sub-Committee) and Advisory Committee (Arts Councils and Government Agencies) who are elected each year at the Annual General Meeting. Decisions on the general direction of the organization and its activities are made by the Board of Directors (Founders) who are responsible for implementing the directives, budgeting and hiring of contract workers.
Our Values
- Respect for all culture and identities regardless of race and gender orientation
- Integrity and professionalism for all
- Transparent and accountable engagement with the arts community, public and government
- Commitment to create opportunities regardless of people’s identity or origin.
Priority
Our priority is to recognize and serve the interests of minority arts organization, academic and artists, groups, including Black, Aboriginal, Francophones, LGBTQ + people of colour and other marginalized people.
Goal: To foster cultural exchange between Canada and selected countries or regions, introducing Canadian artists to new audiences and markets. The Network will connect presenters and artists from these regions, enabling them to select Canadian artists for tours within our network and participate in artistic residencies.
The Network: Through the development of a robust network and exchange program, we aim to enhance skills and opportunities in the creative industry by fostering new collaborations among professionals from Canada and the Global South.
The Roots Exchange Network 2024/2027 plan will facilitate opportunities for Canadian artists to engage with audiences in Southern Africa, México, Brazil, and Colombia. This initiative is designed to open new avenues for Canadian artists while encouraging cross-cultural collaboration. In turn, we will invite artists from these countries to Canada to showcase their work at our festivals and seasons.
We are confident that this initiative will create unique opportunities for presenters and artists to explore new markets, art forms, and languages, enriching the cultural landscape. By offering diverse and innovative experiences, we aim to accelerate artistic mobility and inspire meaningful connections.
2025 – 5th Roots En Route Arts Festival
2025 – BIPOC Creative Conference (Hamilton, ON)
2025 – Canada-PALOP Creative Industries Conference (Inhambane, Mozambique)
The BIPOC Creative Industries Conference
Breaking Through Southern Africa & The Americas
November 26th - December 1st, 2024
Hamilton, ON – Canada
Phase 1 – Hosted by City of Hamilton Creative Industries, Matapa Music & Arts, Centre Francais du Hamilton, Theatre Aquarius, Art Galleryof Hamilton, Hamilton Music Collective, Into the Abys and McMaster University.
Our intention isto question as we continue to deliver the best in our ability to contribute for an intercontinental- cultural dialogue. By questioning, we hope that it will result in collaborations between academic institutions, creative industry organizations, researchers, artists based in the Americas and Southern Africa.
Goal: We have three ultimate goals with the conference:
From Academic Perspective: Our academic approach brings first, decolonizing the narrative by providing a platform where the conversation will be around the research and focus on the history of art, from a traditional perspective, and the role of native artists and academics during the colonization period. Second, it questions our role since XXI Century on creating narratives that can recognize our own histories or archeological perspective that can be used between Southern Africa and Americas arts schools, museums and universities emphasizing the similarities, the challenges, the greatness and the achievements in the BIPOC arts communities in Americas and Southern Africans.
From Arts and Cultural Organizations Perspective: Influencing new collaborations between BIPOC arts organizations, artists from Southern Africa and the Americas by sharing practices that support the ideology of preserving and promoting identities of BIPOC artist in both continents, while opening new opportunities for market share and global impact. From Economic Perspective: Bringing festival directors, museums curators, agents, government agencies to the conversations will create an opportunity to connect those in charge of grants, immigration, programming and creativity to discuss funds, mobility and creative ways to generate revenue and a positive economic impact for the BIPOC artists and presenters.
Canada-PALOP’s Creative Industries Conference & Residency
The Americas Breaking Through Southern Africa & Palops Countries
May 18 - 25, 2025
Inhambane, Mozambique
Phase 2 – Hosted by: Centro Cultural Machavenga, CulturArte Mozambique, Block 4 Foundation, Zifa Prodction, Municipality of Vilankulo, Quissico, Maxixe, Massinga and Casa Provincial da Cultura de Inhambane
Our intention isto question the BIPOC creative minds from Palop’s how to democratize the creative industries sector and how to repair the damage created to creative minds in Palop’s. With that in mind how to move forward with an Exchange network that offer tours, Mentorship, Creative Residency, Researcher and Publications while facilitating access and advocate for funds to support the development of this Intercultural Dialogue
We will share practices, policies and strategies used by E-Swatini, South Africa, Cuba, México, Brazil, Canada and USA and compare with the Palop’s African Countries. Our intention is to question the Creative Industries from both sides if they are aware of the rules of the creative economy, Laws, Distribution, Copywrites and immigration requirements. We advocate for a fare exchange and a network ruled by UBUNTU- humanity to others and principles agreed by all members on how to share knowledge and market.
Goal: We have three ultimate goals with the conference:
From Academic Perspective: Our academic approach brings first, decolonizing the narrative by providing a platform where the conversation will be around the research and focus on the history of art, from a traditional perspective, and the role of native artists and academics during the colonization period. Second, it questions our role since XXI Century on creating narratives that can recognize our own histories or archeological perspective that can be used between Southern Africa and Americas arts schools, museums and universities emphasizing the similarities, the challenges, the greatness and the achievements in the BIPOC arts communities in Americas and Southern Africans.
From Arts and Cultural Organizations Perspective: Influencing new collaborations between BIPOC arts organizations, artists from Southern Africa and the Americas by sharing practices that support the ideology of preserving and promoting identities of BIPOC artist in both continents, while opening new opportunities for market share and global impact.
From Economic Perspective: Bringing festival directors, museums curators, agents, government agencies to the conversations will create an opportunity to connect those in charge of grants, immigration, programming and creativity to discuss funds, mobility and creative ways to generate revenue anda positive economic impact for the BIPOC artists and presenters.
Phase 1 – Hosted by City of Hamilton Creative Industries, Matapa Music & Arts, Centre Francais du Hamilton, Theatre Aquarius, Art Galleryof Hamilton, Hamilton Music Collective, Into the Abys, McMaster University and Red BetiTheatre,
Our intention isto question as we continue to deliver the best in our ability to contribute foran intercontinental- cultural dialogue. By questioning, we hope that it willresult in collaborations between academic institutions, creative industryorganizations, researchers, artists based in the Americas and Southern Africa.
Goal: We have three ultimate goals with the conference:
From Academic Perspective: Our academic approach brings first, decolonizing the narrative by providing a platform where the conversation will be around the research and focus on the history of art, from a traditional perspective, and the role of native artists and academics during the colonization period. Second, it questions our role since XXI Century on creating narratives that can recognize our own histories or archeological perspective that can be used between Southern Africa and Americas arts schools, museums and universities emphasizing the similarities, the challenges, the greatness and the achievements in the BIPOC arts communities in Americas and Southern Africans.
From Arts and Cultural Organizations Perspective: Influencing new collaborations between BIPOC arts organizations, artists from Southern Africa and the Americas by sharing practices that support the ideology of preserving and promoting identities of BIPOC artist in both continents, while opening new opportunities for market share and global impact.
From Economic Perspective: Bringing festival directors, museums curators, agents, government agencies to the conversations will create an opportunity to connect those in charge of grants, immigration, programming and creativity to discuss funds, mobility and creative ways to generate revenue and a positive economic impact for the BIPOC artists and presenters.
For Sponsorship & Partnership Opportunities
Filimone Mabjaia
info@matapa.org
Sponsorship & Community Partnership
Shefali Liyanage
Operations@matapa.org
Roots En Route Exchange CPLP
Cassia Andrade
d.executiva@machavenga.org
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