By Dawar Naeem
(Dawar is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre)

Last week the Daniels Corporation, the development partner for building phrase 1 – 3 of the Regent Park Redevelopment,  announced in a press conference held on April 13th, at the Daniels Spectrum Arts Centre, that Daniels Corporation is partnering with the Black North Initiative to launch a work-live studio initiative in Regent Park.

According to Heela Omarkhail, the Vice President of Social Impact at Daniels, the work-live studios at DuEast Condominiums and the soon to be completed Artworks Tower, will create opportunities for Black-identifying artists and creatives to rent a work-live studio space in Regent Park at approximately 50 per cent of the market rate. The collaboration will support artists to help develop their practice, showcase their work and build relationships in the local community, while also addressing systemic barriers faced by Black artists in accessing housing, workspaces and economic opportunities. The initiative includes a social impact exchange whereby artists in the work-live studios, participate in community initiatives and activities that meaningfully contribute to the Regent Park neighbourhood.

“This initiative offers emerging artists and change-makers from the Black community an unique opportunity to work and live in a creative and culturally vibrant community at reduced rental rates. The Black North Initiative is proud to support and partner where both access and inclusion are priorities.”says Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, Executive Director of the Black North Initiative.

According to Benny Bing, “the Daniels work-live studios will provide artists with a space to create, grow and learn, a space to fully thrive at their truest, most full capacity. This initiative continues to show Daniels’ commitment and belief in the power of arts to enrich our lives and build community.” said Benny Bing, the inaugural artist participating in Daniels’ Work-Live program at The Du East Towers in Regent Park.

Heela Omarkhail also use the opportunity of the press conference to also announce the Daniels Entrepreneurship Hub. Inspired by the vision of local entrepreneurs, Daniels has launched the Daniels Entrepreneurship Hub, as a resource that will provide workspace for emerging entrepreneurs from Regent Park to grow their businesses. Located in the Daniels DuEast Building located at 225 Sumach Street, the Hub will serve as an ally for small businesses and will promote knowledge-sharing and collaboration within the community. Heela announced that InfiniGuard would be one of the beneficiaries and will be provided with an office in the hub. Murwan Khogali Ali, Executive Director InfiniGuard and Healing as One expressed his gratefulness, “As a community-serving organization, it is really exciting that we will be included in the Daniels Entrepreneurship Hub that will be located in our Regent Park community.”

The announcements were followed by spoken word art performances by Nadine Williams, South Side Santana and Spoken by T.  The artist amazed the residents in attendance with their beautiful and very true to life words and emotions.

The event ended with a communal Iftar, the breaking of fast, which was prepared by the Regent Park Catering Collective and sponsored by Daniels Corporation.