MSW

Hire me!

Photographer / Teacher / Grant Writer / Social Media / Project Manager

I am an artist and arts administrator with 8+ years of experience in art institutions and community art spaces and 10+ years experience in traditional and experimental photo practices.

I’m a goal-oriented, patient and calm individual with a knack for finding creative solutions to complex problems. I love collaborating with others to create something from nothing.

My experience in traditional and alternative film processes have given me expertise with the ability to quickly adapt and think on my feet. I love using different creative processes and sharing those techniques with others. 

  • Headshots and event photography at a competitive rate
  • Film scanning: hi-res 35mm, 120mm and slide film scanning. Sharp, clean and fast results. Bulk options available.
  • Poster design: original, clear designs for your event. Deliverables include posters sized for socials and print.

Interested in learning eco-processing, alternative photo processes, or traditional B&W practices? I have 10+ yrs experience in analog photography and traditional B&W darkrooms and my current research is in eco-processing (using organic materials to develop film), experimental photography and film techniques.

Proven experience with: traditional darkroom printing, 35mm and medium format cameras, film processing, eco-processing, lumen printing, cyanotype, phytogram, making emulsion, JK Optical printer, DIY digital to analog film transfer, film decay techniques, & C-41 film processing.

As a meticulous editor and strong grant writer, I have secured over $450k for art organizations, over $60k for my art practice, and secured grants for artist clients. I’m familiar with the funding structures of Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, British Columbia Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council. I have successfully written grants for Individual Visual/Media Art Projects and Travel Grants, and organizational streams including Sector Innovation and Development, Arts Across Canada and Touring grants. 

Writing samples available upon request.

For artists and organizations! Experience in building a social presence from scratch through my art collective and my own practice. I have 3+ years running socials for CFMDC, a media arts distribution centre.

The Bucket Collective

Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC)

TikTok

Planned and delivered 80+ events from workshops, screenings, artist talks or participatory events, with over 100 artists/curators. My skills were built from co-founding two grassroots collectives and in my role as a Program Manager at an arts organization.

Select Projects:

Open Bucket (2025) with The Bucket Collective

  • Planned and delivered 3 public events with visiting artists and programmers Scott Miller Berry, Faraz Anoushahpour, Karel Doing and Sharlene Bamboat.
  • Oversaw logistics, created a tech schedule, tracked budgets, conceptualized and created a marketing campaign, poster design and outreach.
  • Built relationships with community organizations and venues such as The Cinematheque, What Lab, Pale Fire and SFU School for Contemporary Arts. 

The Breadth Of (2021) with Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC)

  • Planning, coordination and execution of a month-long symposium of 25 virtual events with 8 curators, featuring 85 artists and 15 community partners.
  • Managed artist deliverables, stewarded relationships with partners and curators, production management, oversaw event logistics and scheduling, created communications plans and social media strategy, supported the creation of an online platform to host events. 
  • Managed contractors and junior team members, planned cross-departmental programming and technical needs, managed and tracked budgets.

Makeshift: Homemade, Handmade and Remade Productions (2023), Art History and Visual Art Graduate Symposium at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

  • Developed and coordinated a thematic 2-day symposium with 6 presenters and an exhibition at the University of British Columbia featuring 10 artists.
  • Coordinated shipping of art works and exhibition installation with works varying from video projection to sculptural installations.

Behind the Curtain (2019), Xpace Cultural Centre & Images Festival, Toronto, ON

  • Behind the Curtain visual and media art exhibition interrogates the overt and covert censorship that 2SLGBTQIA+ artists face at institutions, organizations and on social media. 
  • Including works by Wren Tian Morris, B.G-Osborne, Maddie Alexander, Dana Buzzee and writings by Adrienne Huard and Faith Alexandra Marie.
  • Presented in partnership with Images Festival and Xpace Cultural Centre.

I would love to support your projects and help them come to fruition! 

Get in touch with me: msearswilliams@gmail.com