‘Siya Research Project’ to enhance support for LGBTQ Filipino youth in the arts

‘Siya Research Project’ to enhance support for LGBTQ Filipino youth in the arts

Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture

By Leny Rose Simbre

TORONTO — Kapisanan Centre for Arts & Culture, a dynamic youth-driven charitable organization in Toronto, is embarking on a significant endeavor to bolster its support for Filipino-Canadian youth, especially those within the queer and trans community. Renowned for providing a nurturing space for youth to express creativity and explore identity through arts and culture, Kapisanan introduces the “Siya Research Project.”

Generously funded by the Philippine Studies Group at the York Centre for Asian Research, the Siya Research Project is dedicated to unveiling the distinctive needs, interests, and engagement patterns of queer and trans-Filipino/a/x youth in the arts.

As part of this groundbreaking initiative, Kapisanan has initiated an anonymous survey designed for Filipino/a/x youth aged 19-24 who have participated in arts programming in Toronto. The focus is specifically on individuals within the queer and trans-Filipinx community. Spearheaded by Maria Beltran, a devoted researcher from Kapisanan, the Siya Research Project aims to explore the nuanced factors influencing the participation of Filipino/a/x youth in arts and cultural programming across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The goal is to develop community programming at Kapisanan that is not only more inclusive but also guided by data-driven insights. Beltran emphasizes the pivotal role of this research in refining arts programming to cater more effectively to the community.

This project is under the supervision of Dr. Marissa Largo, an award-winning curator, educator, artist, and researcher of Asian diasporic visual culture, and an assistant professor of Creative Technologies in the School of Art, Media, Performance & Design at York University.

Kapisanan encourages eligible participants to contribute their valuable insights, as their perspectives will play a pivotal role in shaping inclusive arts programming for the queer and trans-Filipino/a/x youth community in Toronto.  Participants seeking additional information or clarification can contact Marie Sotto, Project Coordinator (marie@kapisanancentre.com)  or the Principal Investigator, Maria Beltran (research@kapisanancentre.com), or visit their Instagram post: www.instagram.com/p/C05RpYFNjzK