Jambo! I’m Sharon Zarita Adhiambo.
I prefer going by Zarita. I produce, curate, lead, strategize, consult, advocate for community arts and culture projects in Toronto (Canada) and Nairobi (Kenya), with a global-minded ambition to be an arts and culture policymaker, ambassador or diplomat someday so if that’s your world let’s talk!
Recent Event
Crafting outdoors while celebrating Swahili culture and community! Audiences learnt how to make their own bracelets or added one to a collection if they were a pro.
Swahili is a language spoken by East and Central Afrikan countries and this festival showcased our vibrancy through art, food and community. There was room for everyone, friends and family!
Craft Social Toronto - Beadmaking
Swahili Summer Festival
Saturday, July 11
Pam McConnell Aquatic Centre
640 Dundas St. E - Toronto
Why Arts & Culture?
Natural Calling and Life Purpose
I was introduced to the arts naturally by seeing Mama and aunties sew household items and make outfits at home. In high school I was the friend who sent handmade notes and had a cards collection stocked for the entire term’s use. By 23 I set up a craft business after graduating from Journalism School in Kenya.
At 25, I moved continents to pursue postgraduate studies in Arts Management. That training affirmed and shaped a career in the arts and now I contribute to making the creative economy relevant and sustainable.
Essential Holistic Human Ingredient
Arts and culture contribute to holistic growth, nourishment of people individually and the societies they live in. Our communities come alive when art happens amidst them, you feel refreshed after a concert, watching a film, or creating something with your hands. The creative economy is an asset of every country. How can I not be at the core of brewing this ingredient and ensuring its longevity in human life?
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9 Years of Arts Production
Kenya, East Afrika, Canada, USA - Texas
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Founded 3 Arts Organizations
For artists in Kenya and Canada
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Community Arts Impact
Thousands engaged creatively annually
Art Hats Worn Everyday
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Working with art institutions in Toronto to establish, support and grow structure, design workflow systems, managing projects and supporting organizational development.
View Resume -
Working with artists and art organizations to develop best practices and effective management skills for projects or institutions. Offering transferable creative management skills to corporates and non-art institutions or professionals for projects.
Book Consultation -
Stewarding art organizations dedicated to professional and artistic growth: Sekoya East Africa (Kenya) established in 2020 and Boma Afrikan Artists Association (Toronto, Canada) established in 2025.
View Organizations -
Designing arts and culture projects guided by community building, social integration, cultural celebration and self development. Stewarding an Arts Exchange experience between Kenya and Canada.
View Projects -
Using crafts (the joy of my creative well) to enable people to discover new artistic skills, connect socially and integrate in their communities and build a curiosity with art.
Ongoing Project: Craft Social Toronto -
Making, collecting and selling handmade pieces often produced with an Afro-touch of goodness. Connecting international traders with local artists in Kenya to source unique Kenyan-made crafted goods.
Order Today -
Amplifying the work of artists, art organizations and the creative economy through commentaries, blogs, videos.
Reference flowers:
"Zarita is highly reliable, has shown great organizational skills, can easily connect with a wide audience; acts in a very professional manner, and goes beyond set expectations. Her communication skills (especially her writing skills) are perfect and she has a gift of finding the right words depending on circumstances."
Isorine Marc, Executive and Artistic Director - Jamii Esplanade (Toronto)
" Zarita has built a tremendous career in Toronto as a newcomer artist that is community-centered and very collaborative. She is vocal on advocacy for newcomers and has a determination to uplift others on her way up, especially using the arts."
Nadeen Abu Shabaan, Project Manager - Singing our Stories
Let’s Work Together!
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Let’s Work Together! *
I enjoy connecting with people for new projects or building relationships for future projects. Send a message and I’ll be in touch soon!
