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Brampton Arts Organization

​​​​​​The Brampton Arts Organization is a registered non-profit that champions Brampton’s diverse arts, culture and creative industries and advocates for the #BramptonArtist. We work to build a thriving, confident, valued, and empowered creative scene by offering a range of programs, services and resources. In this, BAO is a key partner in fulfilling the City of Brampton’s strategic vision and Culture Master Plan. Our registered non-profit corporation number is 1540064-3.

Throughout the year, we offer free in-person and virtual programming for all creative disciplines. These programs focus on helping artists build and professionalize their practices. We also create opportunities for artists to show their work through regular calls. In addition to these programs for individual creatives, we offer programs for Brampton-based creative businesses and arts and culture organizations.

Our Vision: A thriving, confident, and valued creative scene and cultural ecology is the heart of our prosperous mosaic city.

Our Mission: To incubate, advance, connect and advocate for Brampton’s arts, culture and creative industries.

Our Values: Passion and Ambition, Diversity and Inclusiveness, Service, Community and Collaboration, Excellence and Innovation, Optimism.

We are focused on providing programs and services in collaboration with inter and cross-sectoral partners in the areas of:

  1. Funding, finance and investment.
  2. Leadership, advocacy and innovation.
  3. Sector development and growth.

BAO is a member of the Alliance of Arts Councils of Ontario (AACO), an institutional member of the Indigenous Curatorial Collective and the CARFAC.​​

2023 Highlights Include:

  • 4,000 local artists participated in one of our 93 events, programs and workshops in 2023.
  • 182 Brampton artists showcased through 11 calls for submission in 2023.
  • Distributed 10,000 Brampton artist postcards at the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair and Art Toronto.
  • BAO Net Promoter score increases to excellent from 46 in 2022 to 56 in 2023.
  • Launched the BAO office space at 8 Nelson with free public access for in-person workshops and events and the new Brampton Artist in Residence Program in collaboration with the Brampton Library.
  • Initiated Ne​wcomer and Youth programming, hosting Youth Art Nights, Newcomer gatherings and a new 'Take Your Kids to Work Day' program for local students.
  • The BAO Ambassador Program continues to grow with Brampton representatives including: Director X, Rupi Kaur, Haviah Mighty, TOBi, Sasha Leigh Henry and others across creative disciplines.

Full BAO 2023 Annual Report (PDF)2022 Annual Report2021 Annual Report​

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BAO Land Acknowledgment

For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples inhabited and cared for this land, and continue to do so today. Brampton Arts Organization is located on the Treaty Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Huron - Wendat; Haudenosaunee. Brampton resides within Treaty 19 and is referred to as the Ajetance Purchase. BAO recognizes the Indigenous peoples whose names were not recorded have travelled through and cared for this territory from time immemorial. We acknowledge and respect that all life comes from the land and that we must also care for this land and all life that inhabits this land.

We recognize the enduring presence of First Nations, Metis, Inuit on Turtle Island and strive to deepen our own understanding of the host Nations on whose territory we reside and we encourage all those that now call Brampton home to learn about the history and respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We are grateful for the opportunity to grow our families on this land and promise to care for the waters, the sky and all beings looking Seven Generations ahead.​​​​​​