Since 1960, we have participated in investing in the artistic and cultural wealth of our city.
What We Do
We encourage the development of artists and empower their ability to showcase their talents through our Cayle Chernin Fund/Awards, our Mavericks Indie Theatre initiative and our Art Club. Specifically, within our Cayle Fund, we aim to position women in the arts for success and strengthen their ability to create their art. Within our Art Club, we place a special focus on providing opportunities for immigrant and refugee artists that are new to Toronto as well as artists who are black, indigenous and people of colour.
We present 6 awards each year to artists in the community including The Cayle Woman of the Year, The Cayle Media Development Award, The Cayle Media Production Award, The Cayle Theatre Development Award, the Cayle Theatre Production Award and the Mavericks Indie Theatre Award.
We present the " Cayle Chernin Awards Gala " each year at the Heliconian Club in Yorkville where we bring together industry leaders, nominees and winners.
We care deeply about the mental and physical health of artists and are proud to support this objective by sponsoring, Artists In-Depth. AiD is an international community for artists to reflect, evaluate and continuously develop their artistic expression.
We advocate for artists through our, "Thank An Artist" and " You Need An Artist", hire Creatives campaigns.
We celebrate Toronto artists through our "Art Walks" initiative and by offering free publicity for artists, within our," Gotta Love Toronto, A City of Artists" initiative.
We support our community at large through our," Artists Empowering Small Business Entrepreneurs " project, our," Inspired Thanks " mini-concert series," The Artists Good Idea " project and through our sponsorship of United Way Greater Toronto's, Songs of the City Donor thank-you event.
We offer educational opportunities to artists through our long-standing, Professional Development Program and through our, Canadian Conservatory for the Development of Artists. We also offer educational and inspirational conferences for women in the arts through our Cayle Fund.
We mentor artists both through our own resources and in partnership with CSARN (Canadian Senior Artists Resouce Network). Current mentoring is facilitated within our yearly Cayle Awards and our Mavericks projects.
Equity Showcase is a charitable organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Our directors are professional artists or members of the business community. These dedicated members create policy and direction for the organization, raise funds, and help determine our programming.
Executive Members & Staff
Siavash Kazemian
President of the Board & Communications Liaison
Genna du Plessis
Board Director, Chair of the Cayle Chernin Awards Committee & Secretary
Akash Brijpaul
Board Director & Treasurer
Alan Mohammed
Executive & Artistic Director
Janis Hobson
Finance Manager
Kevin McCormick
Advisor
Amy Caudy
Board Director
Patricia Thaine
Board Director & Grant Researcher
GOVERNANCE
The Cayle Chernin Memorial Fund is administered by Equity Showcase Theatre. EST is one of Canada’s longest running not for profit arts organization, founded in 1960 by Charmion King. Gordon Pinsent is the Honorary Chair. EST through its board of Directors and Artistic Director offer financial management, administration and visioning to the CCMF and issue charitable receipts to corporate and business sponsors and private donors. Cayle Chernin believed in the mandate of EST and was an outstanding member of the EST Board of Directors from 2008 to 2011.
The CCMF is a Committee of the Board of Equity Showcase Theatre. Its various initiatives are governed by its own committee of directors, which includes:
Dwight McFee: Founder CCMF & CCAs
Lisa Baylin: Co-Chair CCMF
Genna Du Plessis: Co-Chair
Kevin McCormick: Director of Finances and Corporate/Patron Donations
David Gale: Director of Communications
Jeff Saunders: Director of Events
Alexa Carol: Director of Education and Secretary
Collette Micks, Susanna Fournier, Fenulla Jiwani, Melissa D’Agostino, Audrey Dwyer, Jani Lauzon, Andrea Scott:
Past Recipients