Sid Naidu is a photojournalist and documentarian in Canada who documents stories across the intersection of culture and change.
Earning a Bachelor of Arts & Contemporary Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University in 2010 and completing a graduate certificate in International Development at Centennial College in 2019, Sid built his independent freelance practice in the creative industries and community development.
Born overseas and moving between different worlds of culture, Sid Naidu's documentary work is influenced by the journey of a first-generation Canadian immigrant raised in the cultural hotbed of Scarborough, Toronto.
Drawing inspiration from street art, cultural movements and global development, he worked and lived across Asia, Australia and the Americas to create bodies of photographic work and to collaborate on development projects.
“Art isn’t supposed to change the world, but it can” - JR
Through the lens of a creator and changemaker, Sid has worked with organizations such as Artscape, Action Against Hunger Canada, the City of Toronto, Toronto Metropolitan University, Centennial College, Complex Networks, Toronto Community Housing, Toronto Public Library, TEDx, and UNICEF.
His journey led him to co-found Scarborough Made, a collective that documents stories of humanity through photography and filmmaking. Over the past two years, he has grown the project as managing director and raised over 200K in funding to provide creative mentorship opportunities for youth and to develop public art installations in underserved communities.
In 2020, Sid founded SNCD Inc. as a creative venture to develop social impact projects that support artists, start-up brands, and socially minded organizations in their purpose-driven work.
For 2026, Sid is leading Change Made Studios & Press, an independent media platform that builds capacity in local communities through solutions journalism and supports non-profits in standing out through media production.
Sid works as a photographer and journalist who has been published in Complex Canada, The Globe & Mail, Photo Ed Magazine & The Narwhal.
LISTED WORKS
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Toronto Arts Council: Animating Toronto Parks (2024)
Toronto Arts Council: Animating Historic Sites (2024)
Toronto Arts Council: Digital Solutions Incubator (2023)
Toronto Arts Council: Animating Toronto Parks (2023)
AMEX Blueprint BIPOC Business Mentorship & Grant (2022)
City of Toronto Cultural Hotspot Signature Project (2022)
Toronto Arts Council: Creative Communities (2022)
Toronto Arts Council: Open Door (2022)
Toronto Arts Council: Artist In Libraries (2022)
ShowLoveTO Cultural Animation Fund (2021)
Toronto Arts Council: Digital Solutions Incubator (2021)
Toronto Arts Council: Animate Toronto’s Streets (2021)
City of Toronto Cultural Hotspot Project (2021)
OCAD University x BigArtTO (2021)
Artscape Launchpad Bursary (2020)
Scarborough New View Content Finalist (2020)
Nuit Blanche TO Crowdfunding Campaign (2019)
Grolsch Global Finalist (2015)
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CBC
Complex Canada
CP24 Live News
BlogTO
Now Magazine
Elle Canada
The Narwhal
The Globe and Mail
Times of India
Toronto Art Newspaper
24 Hour Project
Canada Covid Portrait
Scarborough Mirror
Zuma Press
Photo Ed Magazine
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3730 Kingston Road | TAS Development (2024-2026)
Animating Toronto Parks at Milliken Park (2024)
Scarborough Museum (2024-2025)
Animating Toronto Parks at Malvern Park (2023)
City of Toronto’s Cultural Hotspot (2022)
ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art at Cedarbrae Library (2021-2026)
Big Art TO (2021)
Nuit Blanche Toronto (2019)
I love Docklands, Australia (2016)
We Are Lawrence (2014)
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Artscape Launchpad
Arts Centre Melbourne
Centennial College
City of Toronto
Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC)
Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Community Housing
Toronto District School Board
Toronto Public Library
TEDx
Toronto Arts Council
Toronto Ward Museum
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
White Ribbon Campaign
