By Women Artists, is a documentary series highlighting the stories of BlWOC Canadian creatives and entrepreneurs. The goal is to spread awareness of local BIWOC businesses, increase civic engagement and inspire Women of Colour to self-explore through creative hobbies and endeavours.The medium of choice will be through content creation. Platforms that this documentary series can be published to include: Youtube, Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, and Instagram. Here is a cost break-down of how the funds will be used:Pre-Production (20% - $2,000): Research, scripting, and planning, including location scouting and obtaining permits.Production (50% - $5,000): Equipment rental, crew wages (camera operators, sound, etc.), travel expenses, and on-location costs.Post-Production (20% - $2,000): Editing, sound design, and colour grading.Marketing and Distribution (10% - $1,000): Promotional materials, social media campaigns, and festival submission fees.Scene 1: Portrait Style Interview of BIWOC creative/entrepreneurScene 2: Day In The Life of BIWOC creative/entrepreneurI recently graduated from a 10-week media mentorship program called GEM-Theory, led by award-winning director Danica Ricamara. GEM-Theory has provided me with the fundamental skills of visual story telling, and has allowed me to build meaningful connections and partnerships with industry leaders and creatives from Toronto that can help support me with bringing By Women Artists to life.A skill that I am hoping to learn through filming By Women Artists, is how to create "feel good" content. Content that actually feels good for the nervous system of the viewer. Whether it is through filming style, technique, or use of colour, I am hoping to learn all aspects of what is required to create therapeutic content for my audience. It is equally important that I am creating content that will allow viewers to learn something new. It is my hope that by learning something new, it would inspire them and catapult them into action - which would be to immersive themselves in a creative hobby or endeavour.

By Women Artists

BWAPB5.jpeg

BWAPB2.jpeg

Black Women and Art (@ blackwomenandart ) • Instagram photos and videos

BWAPB4.jpeg

BWA2024.jpeg

BWAPB3.jpeg

BWAPB.jpeg

Hi! My name is Shanyah Mark. I am passionate about social impact, wellness and designing therapeutic environments that not only look good, but feel good. My journey to becoming a creative began as a result of my experience with chronic burn-out, anti-Black racism and discrimination as an educator within Canada’s public education system. I began to experience mental health challenges and was diagnosed with depression in 2023. It was during this time that I became passionate about advocating for and designing third spaces that are safe and affirming for Black, Indigenous, Women of Colour. In March of 2024, I founded Black Women and Art and curated my first event ‘Black Canadian Women and Art: A Celebration’. Being in community with women that looked like me and also had the same lived experiences as me were integral to my healing, mental health, and wellness journey.

Shanyah Mark - Imagination Fund Proposal

Black Canadian Women and Art: A Celebration was a 3-hour free event that I curated for Black Women interested in pursuing creative entrepreneurship during International Women’s Month 2024. The event featured a creators panel discussion, a floral arrangement workshop, refreshments and an opportunity for Black Women to network.I began selling tickets 2 weeks before the event. 100% of the tickets sold out within 24 hours.$4,000 of grant funding were invested into BIPOC vendors and businesses working the event.Our social media following and engagement increased by 42% within 8 weeks of curating the event demonstrating a desire and growing market for Black, Indigenous, Women and Colour to have affinity spaces whether digital or physical to be in community with one another.

Shanyah Mark - Imagination Fund Proposal

By Women Artists

By Women Artists /Untitled board

Build your own visual library

Shanyah Mark - Imagination Fund Proposal

By Women Artists

By Women Artists /Untitled board