GLOBAL TORONTO RE-IMAGINES AND SHAPES A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE MUSIC SECTOR

This week, Small World Music launches their annual Global Toronto 2021 (GT21) music conference and showcase, opening their online platform, releasing pre-recorded panels, sharing programming details and more. This year’s global gathering explores equitable systems, climate justice, and the barriers that continue to exclude equity-deserving communities. The conference achieves this through action-based conversation, programming and events that will assist in developing ways to improve full-sector participation.

In 2021, topics include Indigenous-settler relations, interrogating the idea of genre, and the power of peer-assessment jurors. While the panels lean into social and political issues, there is also space for Professional Development Sessions, from a TikTok Masterclass to post-pandemic streaming strategy, EDI (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) Planning, tips from music supervisors and more. GT21 panelists include international representatives from Keychange, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Le Phoque OFF, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, Beirut & Beyond, and more. For a full list of GT21 panels and speakers, visit the website.

Panel audio recordings are now accessible to registered participants on the GT21 online platform. Participants can listen on their own schedule before continuing and contributing to important conversations in small-group Breakout Sessions during the GT21 week (June 14 – 18). To access panels, register here and view the full program here.

Small World Music is hosting the Global Toronto conference on their own app, Minodee (the Anishinaabe word for “good-hearted”). Powered by Swapcard, Minodee is an innovative shared online conference space for events prioritizing equity, accessibility, sustainability, and the representation of equity-seeking voices. Registered participants on iOS can access the conference by downloading the Minodee app here, while Android users can download it here.

An array of artists will be ambassadors for all countries and styles, with a spotlight on AfrotroniX, Bantü Salsa, Briga, The Commotions, Élage Diouf, Golnar & Mahan Trio, Waahli, Labess, The Liquor Store, Moneka Arabic Jazz, Pantayo, PIQSIQ, Malika Tirolien, Turkwaz, Le Vent Du Nord, Bruno Capinan, Due Perse-Inca, Fanfara Station, Kurbasy and Moskitto Bar.

Learn more about Global Toronto’s artists here.

www.globaltoronto.org