The Bloom Team

Seema (she/her) is a Tkaronto-based cultural leader and bridge-builder who finds deep joy and fulfilment in creating meaningful change for artists and equity-deserving communities. She is the founder of Extra Cardamom.

Whether working with grassroots organisations or large-scale institutions, Seema intentionally and creatively designs experiences and solutions that convene folks from all walks of life to push forward her vision for a more equitable world.

Over the past two decades, Seema has worked in non-profit, private, and public organisations, bolstering the arts and culture sector and growing pipelines of IBPOC staff, communities and talent, while generating social impact for communities at the margins. Seema understands how to accompany organisations toward meaningful change by leading with empathy, creativity, and possibility. 

Most recently, she was the Regional Director General of Ontario at the Department of Canadian Heritage, overseeing a team of 80, and delivering approximately 70M in funding annually to organisations working in anti-racism, arts and culture, heritage and official languages. She was seconded on a one-year assignment to lead a nation-wide consultation that led to the development of the 2019 federal Anti-Racism strategy. 

Previously, as Managing Director of Daniels Spectrum, Regent Park’s cultural hub and  home to 60+ tenant organisations, Seema oversaw all operations of the 60,000 square foot facility, led the event rental business with 200+ clients annually, developed over one dozen programs including an Artist-in-Residency and micro-funding program, and supported a 10M capital campaign.  

Seema cut her teeth in the cultural sector when she worked as Managing Director for Manifesto Community Projects - an award-winning multi-disciplinary arts festival that attracted 50,000 attendees annually. In this role, she also managed a co-working space, led the development of alternative arts education programs, doubled the organisation's operating budget through public grants, and supported the launch of Manifesto’s sister festival, Manifesto Jamaica.  

Other organisations Seema has worked with include Toronto Arts Council, ArtReach Toronto, Luminato, Lord Cultural Resources, the Art Gallery of Ontario, Massey Hall/ Roy Thompson Hall, ESM Management (corporate event-planning), and District 6 Music (artist management).