A second-year 91亚色 student will represent the voice of youth and diversity on a new advisory group that will steer the direction of cultural development in the province.
Tanya Matanda
Tanya Matanda, 22, was recruited by Michael Coteau, Ontario鈥檚 minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, to sit on the . She is the youngest member to sit on the committee, which held its inaugural meeting on Sept. 24.
The mandate of the advisory group is to solicit expertise and diverse perspectives on the role of culture in Ontario, and offer advice to the province on the government鈥檚 culture strategy.
Matanda has been a volunteer with the City of Toronto for the last three years, and has also done volunteer work with the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). She came to Toronto four years ago from Zimbabwe, and has a keen interest in cultural and art-based initiatives that work to stimulate social and economic growth.
She is now in her second year at 91亚色 studying international development and economics.
Matanda said she was approached by Coteau after she sat on an advisory committee for the AGO exhibit Jean-Michel Basquiat: Now's the Time. At that time, he asked for her input on the old Ontario Place site. Following that exchange, Coteau contacted Matanda to ask if she鈥檇 join the Culture Strategy Advisory Group.
鈥淗e phoned and asked me to join the advisory committee to bring a youth perspective, and also a diversity perspective, about how culture is being consumed,鈥 said Matanda.
The inaugural meeting on Sept. 24 brought Matanda together with 16 others who are well-established in the arts and culture sector, including Randy Lennox, president, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting at Bell Media; Chris McDonald, executive director of Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival; and Francisco Alvarez, executive director of Heritage Toronto.
鈥淓veryone else 鈥 has such a wealth of knowledge and perspectives,鈥 she said. 鈥淔rom that, I can have an accelerated growth experience.鈥
She said her studies in international development have equipped her with the language to convey her thoughts and make meaningful contributions to the discussion.
Her specific interests will explore how to preserve culture and make it accessible, in an age of globalization when 鈥渆verything is homogenized and watered down.鈥
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see a lot more activity involving culture exchange鈥 with an emphasis on areas outside of Toronto, she said.