Passing the torch

Passing the Torch

Last year's recap

What is Passing the Torch?

Passing the Torch was created to ensure that the knowledge, systems, and relationships that have carried the Taste of the Caribbean (TOTC) festival for decades are passed on to a new generation of leaders.

It’s a national mentorship and training program designed to prepare emerging Black-Caribbean cultural entrepreneurs to lead, produce, and sustain cultural initiatives in their own communities. This is not a theoretical program. It is grounded in real experience.

Participants will learn directly from those who have built and sustained large-scale cultural events, gaining both the technical and strategic knowledge required to succeed in the field.

Program at a Glance

Cohort: 15 participants selected from across Canada
Eligibility: Afro-Caribbean individuals 18-35 years old
Format: 12 evening sessions 7pm-9pm (10 before the festival + 2 after)
Access to industry mentors (‘Ask me anything’ sessions)
Program Timeline: April – August 2026
Festival Residency: July 6–13, 2026 (Montreal)

Each phase of the program is designed to move participants from learning to application to leadership.

What Participants Will Learn

Concept development, budgeting, and pre-planning
Government grant writing and funding strategies
Building a festival from the ground up
Sponsorship development and partnership management
Media, communications, and public relations
Vendor and volunteer coordination
Booking and managing international artists
Governance, structure, and community engagement
On-site logistics and real-time production
Technical production (sound, lighting, video, staging)
Logistical production and operations coordination
Artist management and industry networking
Artist development
Post-event reporting and accountability

From Learning to Real-World Execution:

The program culminates in a live residency during the Taste of the Caribbean Festival.

Participants must be present in Montreal from July 6–13, 2026

During this time, participants are embedded within the production team and take on real roles in:

Event logistics and coordination
Programming and artist management
Audience experience and on-site execution

This is where the program moves beyond learning — into real responsibility and execution.

Commitment & Participation

Participants are expected to:

Engage in all training sessions between April and August
Be fully present in Montreal from July 6–13, 2026

This ensures continuity from training through execution and reflection.

Why This Matters

Passing the Torch is about more than training. It is about building a pipeline of Black cultural leaders who are equipped to create opportunities, shape narratives, and strengthen cultural ecosystems across Canada.

Each participant leaves not just with knowledge, but with the capacity to build something of their own.