We created the Creativity Everything Connection Fellowships program to support brilliant creators in the Toronto area. There are currently seven Fellows and we are highlighting them one-by-one in these profiles.
Vanese Smith is a multi-faceted artist who possesses a variety of talents as a music producer, DJ, facilitator, and visual artist. As a music producer, the themes of her albums range from environmental responsibility to highlighting the career of the first Black woman pilot, Bessie Coleman. Aside from releasing her music, she has toured the world and taught workshops in an electronic music space where Black female representation is limited. She also co-runs the organization Loop Sessions Toronto, where they encourage musical experimentation, teach music history and vinyl culture.
Vanese is currently examining articles from the seminal Ebony Magazine archive from the 60s and 70s. She will create a platform/installation to highlight and celebrate past images and stories of unsung Black women pioneers in entrepreneur and underrepresented fields/industries. Moving forward with her creative practice, Vanese will continue to look for ways to uplift and educate others, while emphasizing gender and racial diversity, historic firsts and cultural achievements.
Vanese brings experience in over two decades as a self-managed music artist and creator, workshop facilitation, and tactile old-school artistic methods to the Connection Fellowship community. She looks forward to networking, community building, and the inspiration that stems from being surrounded by other creative minds.