Kadija de Paula is an artist, writer and arts administrator passionate about the intrinsic value of art and its transformative power. As Senior Manager, Impact & Evaluation at the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, Kadija draws on a wealth of experience from her previous roles as Evaluation Manager and Interim Strategic Programs Manager at TAC/TAF. Her global perspective is informed by her work on Brazil’s National Arts Policy and her facilitation of a network of 27 artist residencies across 14 Latin American countries. In Toronto, she has made significant contributions to the arts through positions at the Ontario Arts Council, Gallery 44 Centre for Contemporary Photography, and XPACE Cultural Centre. Kadija holds an International MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business and a BFA from OCAD University. Her artistic and literary works have been presented in venues and publications worldwide, including the 32nd São Paulo Art Biennial, Q21 MuseumsQuartier Vienna, Kunsthaus Dresden, and Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris.

Raised in Western France in a family where music held primary importance, François began studying choir singing and music theory at the age of six, later expanding his talents to piano and guitar. In 2017, he graduated from a renown engineering master’s program with a specialization in Urban Engineering and launched a career in the technology sector. He immigrated to Toronto two years later in pursuit of new professional opportunities and quickly developed a passion for hands-on work in web application development and end-to-end analytics solutions. Joining the Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, François is excited to bring his technical skills to serve local artists and organizations, building stronger communities, and creating a city that we all love.