$29 ROI on Every Dollar — A Conversation with Michael Vickers of the Brampton Arts Organization
There are conversations that shift how you see a city. This was one of them.
I connected with Michael Vickers through the same process that's been guiding a lot of my relationships lately — showing up, paying attention, and talking to the people who are quietly doing real work in Brampton. Michael is the Executive Director of the Brampton Arts Organization — BAO. And what I walked away with after this conversation wasn't just a deeper appreciation for the arts. It was a clearer picture of what community actually looks like when someone builds it with intention.
Who is Michael Vickers?
Michael Vickers is an artist. That's not background — it's the lens through which everything he does is filtered.
He's spent his career moving between creation and institution — understanding what it takes to build a platform that supports other people's work, not just his own. He came to Brampton five years ago and has been building the Brampton Arts Organization into something this city genuinely needed.
What he's created at BAO is completely free and open to everyone — open studios on the last Wednesday of every month, free art supplies, mentorship, professional development, grant support, and exhibition opportunities. The Brampton Film Showcase, which BAO supports, went from thirty people at the Entrepreneur Centre to eight hundred at the Rose Theatre in four years. That growth is not accidental. It's what happens when you build for the community rather than for yourself.
What you'll hear in this episode
Michael's path as an artist and how it shaped his approach to leading an arts organization
Why arts and culture generate $29 of economic impact for every dollar invested — and what that means for a growing city like Brampton
How BAO is supporting artists at every level, completely free
The CEO mindset for creatives — the emails, the grant applications, the hustle that exists alongside the work itself
What the Brampton Film Showcase's growth says about the appetite this city has for creative community
Why showing up — even when you're not sure you're ready — is the whole thing
As Michael put it — "You can't get what you don't ask for and you don't put yourself forward for."
Why this conversation resonates
As Michael said, a rising tide lifts all boats — and that's not a passive philosophy. It's a decision you make about how you operate and who you build alongside.
Michael is one of those people. He's not building BAO for personal profile. He's building it because when artists in Brampton are elevated, connected, and supported — the whole city benefits. That kind of thinking is rare. And it's exactly the kind of thinking Brampton needs more of right now.
This episode is for the creatives who have been carrying something quietly. For the entrepreneurs who understand that culture and commerce aren't opposites. And for anyone who believes that the best cities are built by people who see the whole picture — not just their corner of it.
Listen now
Enjoyed this episode? Share it with a creative in your life who's been waiting for the right moment.
Connect with Brampton Arts Organization Instagram: @baobrampton Website: bramptonartsorg.ca
Open studios — last Wednesday of every month. Free. Show up.
About the host
Bram Bains is the founder of Maverick Insurance Brokers and host of Insuring Your Success — a podcast for entrepreneurs, community builders, and leaders across Ontario. Based in Brampton. RIBO licensed.
Ready to insure your success? Book a private consultation with Bram. Whether you're protecting a home, a business, or a legacy — we're here for you.