A not-for-profit organization is raising money to create statues of Black heroes around Toronto.
The Black Heroes Statue Collection Project fundraiser, by Ògo Tàwa, aims to commemorate the achievements of Black Canadian trailblazers in Toronto, who have made a significant impact on Canadian society.
Their goal is to raise $93,000 and the campaign ends on Friday.
Ògo Tàwa uses art to create positive change in the world, by helping gifted, underrepresented and underemployed artists of African descent apply their talents and enhance their financial security.
The initiative aims to tackle harmful anti-Black racism and as a result, contribute to the betterment of the overall health of Canadians, all the while supporting Black artists that are often excluded from the city’s creative narrative.
“The significance of Black Canadian Trailblazer’s contribution to Canadian society past and present in permanent public art monuments in Toronto have been lost to history for centuries,” Khalidah Bello, CEO and founder of Ògo Tàwa, told Now Toronto.
The proposed statue collection will feature life-sized bronze sculptures created by Black Canadian artists, to “ensure that the City of Toronto’s motto of diversity as a collective strength includes representation of Black people,” according to a news release.
“This will be the first life-sized statue collection of Black Canadian Trailblazers in Toronto. It will also be the first time a Black Canadian artist is able to make a full life sized bronze sculpture in Toronto,” Bello continued.
Ògo Tàwa believes funding the Black Heroes Statue Collection Project is a tangible way to support the Black community.
“This is an opportunity for supporters to leave a legacy for the BIPOC community and allies, that outlive our lifetimes and last 1,000 years. We are able to be inclusive of Black people’s voices, histories and artistic talent in the public art industry with this statue project.”
Learn more about the fundraiser and campaign here.
