Meet the Founder
“In the summer of 2022, I attended The Sound of Music performed by Brott Music. It was a sold-out show, filled with energy and excitement. Yet when the house lights came up at intermission, I looked around and saw only four other Black and Brown faces in the audience.”
Cherie Warner-Richard | Founder
I couldn’t help but ask: why wasn’t this beautiful experience reaching more people who looked like me?
The answer was simple but heartbreaking — many hadn’t heard about the performance, and even if they had, the cost of admission put it out of reach. I knew then that this was a gap we could bridge. I made a promise to myself: next year, I wouldn’t come alone.
In 2023, for Jesus Christ Superstar, not five — but 22 of us — shared in the magic of the performance together.
That small act of bringing people together became the spark for the Culture Matters Foundation — built on the belief that art and culture belong to everyone. By creating opportunities for access and representation, we’re opening doors, building community, and making sure no one is left standing outside the light.
Mission/ Vision
Culture Matters Foundation (CMF) is committed to celebrating, preserving, and amplifying the voices, stories, and creative contributions of Afro-Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities.
Through inclusive, high-impact cultural programming, CMF creates transformative opportunities for youth, artists, and equity-deserving communities to access the arts, express their identities, and engage in meaningful cultural dialogue.
We believe that access to artistic expression and cultural representation is not a luxury – it is a right. Our mission is to remove barriers, nurture talent, and build spaces where creativity fuels empowerment, pride, and possibility.
Mission Statement: To educate, entertain and expand the cultural palette of all Hamiltonians through the use of fashion and the performing arts, as we promote cultural diversity in the city of Hamilton.
Vision Statement: To create an environment where Black people feel confident in sharing their culture, where people of all backgrounds, cultures and walks of life can come together to celebrate their unique identities.
I am writing on behalf of my two beautiful kids, Timmy 9 years old and Tammy 12 years old. We want to share our heartfelt gratitude to Culture Matters Foundation, who made it possible for Timmy and Tammy, to attend the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. It was their very first time witnessing a live theatre performance, and the production was definitely a highlight of their Summer.
The memories created that evening will stay with them forever. From the moment the curtains rose, they were captivated by the mesmerizing dancing, powerful singing, and the overall energy of the show. As a mom, seeing my kids so engaged and the excitement in their eyes was truly heartwarming and a joy for me to witness.
I can’t thank Culture Matters Foundation enough for making this opportunity available to us free of charge. This experience has broadened their horizons and ignited a newfound passion for the arts in my children. We are genuinely looking forward to more enchanting moments like this in the future.
To Culture Matters Foundation: Your generosity and support have opened up a world of creativity and imagination for my family, and we can’t wait to explore it further.
To the Brott Music Festival: What a remarkable show that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Thank you for making this journey into the world of live theatre so incredibly inviting and unforgettable!
Jesus Christ Superstar the musical was amazing and I enjoyed every moment of it. The talent performers did a fantastic job at retelling the story. The orchestra was captivatingly beautiful, I could tell that the instrumentalists love their job as I saw them getting into the groove of the upbeat music. My mother and I were very excited to get an invitation, and we were certainly not disappointed with what we saw. I can’t wait to see more fun, upcoming projects. Bravo!
I just wanted to thank CMF for this wonderful and memorable opportunity they extended to my children. Your foundation is making a positive impact in the lives of our youth.