Oshawa artist says diverse art scene needs more visibility

Elle de Lyon, a storyteller and program director with R.I.S.E. Edutainment, says Oshawa's arts scene is becoming more diverse but that visible, welcoming spaces are still needed; she has joined the city's community DEI committee and R.I.S.E. is planning festival programming after receiving Ontario Arts Council funding.

Elle de Lyon is an Oshawa-based storyteller, spoken word artist and the program director of R.I.S.E. Edutainment. She says the city is becoming more multicultural, but that existing arts spaces need greater visibility so people can explore and understand different cultures. De Lyon recounts being one of few Black girls in Oshawa as a child and contrasts that with her school experience in Scarborough. In 2026 she joined Oshawa's community diversity, equity and inclusion committee to bring her lived experience to local policy discussions. Key details: - De Lyon directs R.I.S.E. Edutainment, which provides programming and a platform for youth artists of colour. - R.I.S.E. received funding from the Ontario Arts Council last fall for music events and touring and has begun planning for the Convergence Music & Art Festival. - She has described feeling unwelcome in some theatre spaces as a young artist and says that prompted her involvement in community programs. - De Lyon said she wants policies to match the changing landscape and aims to use her role on the DEI committee to inform longer-term decisions. Summary: De Lyon's work highlights a shift toward greater cultural diversity in Oshawa while noting that visibility and welcoming spaces remain limited. Her group's funded activities and her committee role are intended to strengthen opportunities for youth artists and to influence local policy as the city changes.