Che Kothari

Che Kothari, also known as Chetan Kothari, is a multifaceted artist and cultural leader based in Toronto, Canada. He is a photographer, director, producer, organizer, manager, and instigator.1 Kothari is the owner and former Executive Director of Manifesto Community Projects Inc. / Hightop Studio, an award-winning non-profit organization he co-founded in 2007.134

Kothari's career began in photography, where he captured portraits of notable musicians such as Damian & Ziggy Marley, Nas, Erykah Badu, and Ice Cube.1 However, he expanded his focus to community development and youth empowerment through arts and culture.

Key achievements and roles of Che Kothari include:

1. Co-founding and leading Manifesto Community Projects, which organizes a multi-day annual festival showcasing local youth culture.1
2. Co-founding a sister organization of Manifesto in Kingston, Jamaica, contributing to the Reggae Revival movement.1
3. Co-founding the BeautifulCity.ca Movement, which led to a billboard fee in Toronto raising approximately $18 million annually for youth arts initiatives.1
4. Managing artists through his company, Gifted Management, working with talents like Ms. Lauryn Hill and Machel Montano.1
5. Receiving recognition such as the Mayor's Cultural Leadership Award and The Toronto Community Foundation's Vital People award.1

In 2024, the Toronto Arts Foundation established the Che Kothari Artist and Instigator Award, a $10,000 prize celebrating young BIPOC artists making positive change through cultural leadership.2