I am Salvadoran-Canadian writer, artsworker and emerging producer based in Tkarón:to/Toronto. I’ve worked in the arts sector for five years of experience in arts & culture, ranging from disciplines like client success, fundraising, producing, marketing and content creation. I have a Graduate Certificate in Arts Administration & Cultural Management from Humber Polytechnic, a BA in Art History from McGill University and I am a Mentee for Communicating the Arts’ 30 UNDER 30 Mentorship Program in 2025. My Mentor is Krisztina Mezős, Head of Marketing & Communication at House of Music Hungary.

My core passion is to create unique communities in the Canadian performing arts sector through innovative performance projects, the sustainability of producers and producing performing arts as well as cultural exchange moving beyond entrenched notions of creative work surrounding identity or contributing to the myth of the model minority. As a generalist in arts management, the impact I hope to create is to demonstrate that an expansive skill set beyond one administrative discipline, like marketing or fundraising, is a great approach to explore what interests me in administrative roles. 

Participating in the 30UNDER30 Mentorship Program allowed me to take stock on what I’ve achieved in my career so far. Art history taught me to be a critical thinker, arts management taught me to never put all your eggs in one basket. Working in the arts sector allowed me to develop my approach to arts management, thinking expansively and in context of whatever creative project I’m in. That is, what is the community, the audience, the funding landscape and the capacity of creative partners that I work with in the performing arts?

I joined the 30UNDER30 Mentorship program as I was looking to get perspective in the arts sector in a context different from my own. That is, what are initiatives or activities happening in other countries that Canada should implement? What are the strengths in the Canadian arts sector when it comes to funding, infrastructure and the overall creative network? The experience has been great on a personal note, with my mentor Krisztina helping me reframe my experience to demonstrate that I have the skills to do great work, and that when the opportunity comes, I will be able to demonstrate that I can do that work sustainably. 

I am benefitting from my mentor as I affirmed that I want to explore fundraising/development further in my skill set, while drawing on experience in marketing and producing and determining how I can incorporate these skills into the creative projects I choose to be a part of. 

I leave this program with the continued mission to work in the arts sector and continue to reflect the radically diverse city I live in, Toronto, in adversity of racialized artists and artsworkers who are politicized for just existing. I leave this program with the aim that identity is valued, diversity is respected and the belief that a career in arts is indeed sustainable.