Diane Gistal is a cultural producer and independent curator of Haitian-French descent, recognized for her dedication to promoting Afro-descendant and African artistic creation. As the founder and director of Nigra Iuventa, she works to amplify the practices of visual artists from these communities. With expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as extensive experience in cultural project management, Diane is a committed leader in Quebec’s cultural sector.Her career has led her to collaborate with prestigious institutions such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Phi Foundation, the Goethe-Institut, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, Le Livart, and the UNESCO Chair DCMET. Her curatorial practice—at the crossroads of visual arts, literature, and the humanities—delves into the literary, visual, and cinematic representations of the Black Atlantic.

James Oscar is a writer, art critic, and exhibition curator whose work lies at the intersection of experimental critique and anthropological inquiry. As a researcher at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, his work has focused on cultural policy. His academic journey has been deeply influenced by his mentorship under Martinican philosopher Édouard Glissant and his collaboration with Ato Sekyi-Otu on the works of Frantz Fanon. <span>With 25 years of experience in contemporary art, Oscar has worked at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and served as Curator-in-Residence at Fonderie Darling (2022-2023). He currently leads the Musée des Arts Libres des Amériques et du Monde (MALAM), home to a significant collection of Caribbean art. His recent exhibitions include "Illuminations" (2024), "Le Langage Secret de l'Univers" (2023), and "Music for the World of Tomorrow".<br></span>

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As a civic researcher, he has engaged in dialogues with figures such as Cornel West and has contributed to major institutions, including Radio-Canada, the Canadian Museums Association, and the Canadian Centre for Architecture. As the founder of Montréal en Action, he spearheaded North America's first public consultation on systemic racism.

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His research explores artistic practices through the lens of critical anthropology across the Americas. His publication, "Imperial Amphitheatres", was launched at the Venice Biennale.

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Boubacar Djiba, is among Africa’s music industry’s prolific change agents with over 15 years’ of experience in the music industry in Senegal. He is an entrepreneur who evolves in the creative industry, technology, and communication sector. He is a consultant, music producer, designer and sound engineer passionate about the change and development of Africa through his youth. Connected in the global creative industry, he discovers and develops talents through his label Vazy Music.

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In Jan 2024, Boubacar launched the first instant AI mastering platform in Africa, Senmixmaster after years of research. Senmixmaster is the first AI technological start-up evolving in cultural and creative industries in Senegal, more precisely in music and audio content. Senmixmaster uses AI and reinforcement learning, its engine works like a real engineer, making original decisions as the mastering progresses by tweaking the music to remove technical errors while applying necessary enhancements or anything preventing a great music listening experience.

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Eager to build a strong creative ecosystem, Boubacar is a sure bet for the development of the creative industries in Africa with the use of technology.

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