CHECK OUT THE BUILDING YOUTH ARTS CAREERS REPORT! 💡

The Building Youth Arts Careers project was born out of a simple but urgent question: what does it actually take for racialized and equity-deserving young people (ages 18–35) to build a career in the arts in the GTA and what's getting in the way? Next Generation Arts collaborated with evaluation consultants and research co-leads Blueprint and partner organizations ArtReach and The Blackstone

Foundation Library to find out.

Through surveys and focus groups, we gathered insights and stories from over 200 racialized and equity-deserving young artists and arts workers living and working across the GTA and asked what's working, where the barriers are, and what opportunities could make arts careers more accessible and fair.

The Building Youth Arts Careers Report draws on the experiences of 200+ equity-deserving young artists and arts workers across the GTA to expose the barriers, gaps, and opportunities they face, and the actions funders, leaders, and organizations can take right now.

This report is a tool for discussion, a record for the sector to build from, and a catalyst for the change that artists, arts workers, funders, and organizations can drive together.

Click here to read the full report!

On March 28, 2026, Next Generation Arts held a public event to launch the findings of the Building Youth Arts Careers research!

The afternoon featured:

• A presentation of research findings

  
  

• A panel discussion with youth artists and arts workers on where the barriers lie, and what needs to shift to build more equitable, sustainable pathways in the arts. Moderated by Faith Rajasingham and featuring Jasmine Vanstone, Anjalee Nadarajan, Aswani Siwakoti, and Maria Patricia Abuel

  
  

• Spoken word performance by Samantha Lu

For arts employers, funders, and sector leaders, the event offered grounded insight to help inform future policy, hiring practices, and youth employment initiatives.

For youth artists and arts workers, it was an opportunity to hear from peers, see their experiences reflected in the research, and connect with others navigating the arts ecosystem in the GTA.

📸 Photos by Kat Rizza Photography