JCL Collective
ABOUT
JCL Collective is an evolving art and technology hub co-created by Jerusa Leão and João Leão. Rooted in experimentation and sensorial culture, the collective weaves together live performance, sound, design, and media art to explore how technology can deepen human connection and collective imagination.
INTENTIONS
As individual artists, we share a desire to rethink how spaces, communities, and networks can be transformed through creative action. Our projects move between the digital and the organic — from public interventions to immersive environments — seeking new ways to engage emotion, awareness, and regeneration.
Projects
- Creative Sensorial Outdoor Coworking (CSOC): An open-air coworking space with sensory kits for creative and tech-based outdoor work.
- MIYL Portal (Make It Your Light / Mile): An AI-powered immersive portal connecting artists, venues, and audiences.
- Heritage in Motion: A multidisciplinary outdoor arts festival celebrating living cultural heritage at Spadina Museum.
- RoofScreen (upcoming): An urban rooftop installation blending video, soundscapes, and architectural storytelling.
- Invisible Friends (upcoming): A workshop empowering artists to create innovative audiovisual content for live performances.
Recent Activity
We are actively involved in the tech and creative scene, building our network and gathering valuable insights. Recent engagement includes attending MUTEK Montreal to research new technologies in art and live performance, as well as participating in events like ProductTank Toronto, Toronto Tech Week, and various meetups on Generative AI.
THE PEOPLE
Jerusa Leão
Artistic Director & Co-Founder
Jerusa is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and cultural strategist whose practice spans VJing, live audiovisual performance, and community-engaged arts. With roots in Brazil and a practice grounded in Toronto, she brings a diasporic sensibility to questions of belonging, public space, and sensory culture. Her work has been presented across festivals, galleries, and unconventional venues, always prioritizing accessibility and collective experience.
João Leão
Technical Director & Co-Founder
João is a musician, producer, and audio engineer currently pursuing a Master's in Music Technology and Digital Media at the University of Toronto. With a background in Production Engineering and over 15 years of professional music experience, his career includes performing at major festivals like Rock in Rio and the Montreal Jazz Festival and recording on over 30 albums. As Technical Director, he combines his deep knowledge of audio technology and project management to bring the collective's ambitious projects to life. He is a recipient of multiple grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and Toronto Arts Council.