Search Results

This article is part of a 4-part guest series on the community arts sector, by Tasneem Dairywala. Tasneem is an award-winning contemporary visual artist and educator. Outside of her personal art practice, Tasneem works as the Executive Director of Art Ignite, and brings inclusive visual arts programming to the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood. Tasneem will be releasing her first children's book, How to Show Love, in Spring/ Summer 2022. To stay up to date on her work, subscribe to her monthly newsletter and follow her on Instagram. Stay tuned for her next post! Building Relationships (2015-2019) I want to use this post to write about my journey as a professional artist and share what I found helpful along the way. I hope the links provided will help you as you begin your career. When I graduated from OCAD in 2015, I had absolutely no idea about how I could use a BFA degree to find work. I had a lot of health issues during my student years, and it took me 6 years to graduate. During this time, I didn’t develop the type of friendships I had hoped for because I was always in between different years. So I began my career clueless, but determined. If you’re reading this post, you know about ArtReach, which makes you already way ahead of where I was upon graduation. I had a Parks, Forestry and Recreation job as an art instructor since high school. One day, there was an information session for employees. I had never spoken to the facilitator before but that day I decided to, and I am so glad! I asked if there were any openings for art instructors. There weren’t, but he pointed me towards someone else he knew who told me about Toronto Arts Council. I was so thrilled at the idea of getting a grant to do projects I designed. So I researched all the grants I was interested in, and then looked up organizations that were funded by them. I joined all of their newsletters, and then sent them all emails introducing myself and requesting meetings. Many of them responded and I finally felt visible and supported. This is the best part about this sector. People genuinely want to help. Through these newsletters, I found out about Cultural Hotspot. I didn’t know what Cultural Hotspot was but I decided to go to their information session. They were focusing on East York that year, and North York the next year. I live and work right at the boundary of East York and North York so I was very lucky and got awarded grants two years in a row. This was my step in the door. This is how I met staff from The Neighbourhood Office, North York Arts and Flemingdon Park Library, where I still facilitate programs. I delivered my first art programs while volunteering at North York Arts and Vibe Arts. This helped me meet amazing mentors who provided me with so much support. A special shout out to Melissa Foster from NYA! As my experience with programs grew, and as I developed more relationships, the amount of grants I got also increased. I didn’t suddenly turn into an amazing grant writer. I had just gotten to know lots of fabulous folks who wanted me to succeed and were willing to spend their time correcting my errorful writing. Allie and Paulina were part of my ‘Go Tasneem!’ team. Thank you to you both! All this time, I was still looking for work and hadn’t realized that I had created a lot of amazing fulfilling work for myself. Owais Lightwala, my only friend in the sector at that time, was the first one to point this out. He encouraged me to register a non-profit organization so I could apply for bigger grants and volunteered to be the Board Chair. With help from him, my husband and a lot of other wonderful supportive people, Art Ignite was born, and it’s been going strong for almost 5 years now. At the time I was registering, a lot of people told me it was not easy to sustain a non-profit and that most failed within 5 years, and I was like, “But I have a vision board!!! It will succeed!” And I was right! Vision boards are awesome. So is being ‘Executive Director’. Although that title comes with doing review engagements. I was not aware of those when I registered. They’re awful. If you decide to register a non-profit, make sure you have at least one board member who understands how they work inside and out. Don’t take this on by yourself! This led to project grants from Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Art Council, Inspirit Foundation, and of course, ArtReach. While registering as a non-profit isn’t necessary to apply to most of these grants, it does open up more opportunities and gives me the freedom to work independently. I had a baby two years after Art Ignite’s incorporation. After that, I was extremely grateful to work under an organization I was in charge of. No other job would have provided me with the flexibility I needed while parenting a newborn. It’s also really wonderful to have created an entity that now supports other artists along with myself. Every opportunity I received is linked to relationships I made in my first year as a professional. I had to take that first step of researching, reaching out and staying visible in order to find work. I hope this post will help you get started on your journey!

This article is part of a 4-part guest series on the community arts sector, by Tasneem Dairywala. Tasneem is an award-winning contemporary visual artist and educator. Outside of her personal art practice, Tasneem works as the Executive Director of Art Ignite, and brings inclusive visual arts programming to the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood. Tasneem will be releasing her first children's book, How to Show Love, in Spring 2022. To stay up to date on her work, subscribe to her monthly newsletter and follow her on Instagram. Stay tuned for her next post! Building a Creative Career An Interview with Tasneem Dairywala Can you tell us a bit about yourself? I am a visual artist and an art educator. I run a non-profit called Art Ignite and we do lots of fun art programs in Flemingdon Park. I’m also on my way to publishing my first children’s book, ‘How to Show Love’ after which, I will be able to change my status from writer to author! What would you say are the most important parts of building a creative career? Continuous learning: By learning, I don’t mean acquiring an expensive degree or only learning about art-specific topics. Learn about whatever makes you curious, because it’s crucial to creative growth. Here are some free or low-cost education platforms that I’ve found very useful: Gale Institute TDSB classes for adults Coursera City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry and Recreation Toronto Public Library Building connections: Post-COVID, it would be wonderful to start attending art events again and building in-person connections. But in the meantime, there are other ways to remain connected: Ask every person you know if they know someone doing the same things as you. I have found this to be the absolute best way to accumulate knowledge and find collaborators and mentors. Join newsletters. Almost all organizations send them out, and they’re full of opportunities. Look at Toronto, Ontario and Canada Art Council’s websites. Search for grants related to the fields you’re interested in, look at who was funded by these grants in the past year, and reach out to them. This is how I came across Art Reach and I have received so many opportunities through them in the form of grants, mentorship and education. Being brave: You’ve already taken the first steps in this journey. Don’t be afraid to move forward. You’re good enough to get grants. You’re good enough to run projects. You’re good enough to do whatever you desire! What are some of the steps you take to apply for grants? Attend grant writing workshops by funders. Include keywords from the grant description and evaluation metrics in my application. Talk to the grant officer before applying. Plan the budget before the project to know what’s achievable. Make sure the support material is high quality. If they’re asking for reference letters, make sure the letter is signed, has a header, the correct date, and answers their questions. If they’re asking for art work, make sure it’s professionally documented. Break up long questions into smaller sections. This helps to ensure that the entire question has been answered and no details have been left out. Ask people to proofread. Most people want to help and will say yes! Start and submit the applications as early as possible to avoid getting stressed. Ask the grant officer for feedback if the application is unsuccessful. Pay someone to write the grant if the application is repeatedly unsuccessful. It’s a great learning experience and worth it, especially if the grant writer works on commission. Are there any grants that are good for emerging artists? ArtReach is a great one if you’re under 30. Cultural Hotspot is also fantastic, but you have to partner with an organization. Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council applications are not too hard, but each program has a different eligibility criteria. Make sure you meet it before starting the application. Inspirit workshop is also great if you have a project idea specific to their mission. Microgrants are good starters, but they pop up randomly. Keep an eye on your newsletters! CUE - they give $1000 microgrants to local new gen artists Check out ArtReach's Grant Deadline Calendar to find grants and keep up with deadlines! Is there anything else you would want to tell an emerging artist? The art world is like a buffet. You want to keep adding projects to your plate even after it’s full. But it’s not sustainable. It’s a long journey so take care of yourself and your mental health. There will always be more opportunities

This article is part of a 4-part guest series on the community arts sector, by Tasneem Dairywala. Tasneem is an award-winning contemporary visual artist and educator. Outside of her personal art practice, Tasneem works as the Executive Director of Art Ignite, and brings inclusive visual arts programming to the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood. Tasneem will be releasing her first children's book, How to Show Love, in Spring 2022. To stay up to date on her work, subscribe to her monthly newsletter and follow her on Instagram. Stay tuned for her next post! Building a Creative Practice By Expecting the Unexpected We’re all born artists, but for most of us, creativity gets buried under the pressure of heavy responsibilities, busy schedules, and rigid social structures. For those of us who are able to make room for our creativity, we still often manage to stifle it through our own expectations. So here are some dos and don’ts to build and sustain a creative practice based on my experiences. DO Do expect your creativity to reward you, to create an additional layer of meaning in every part of your life. A tearful hug from an audience member, a homemade cake from a participant, a balloon of happiness expanding within your heart… These are the unexpected gifts your creativity will sprinkle upon you. DON’T Don’t expect your creativity to reward you with money and fame. These goals are just a reflection of what society considers ‘successful’. If these are your end goals, there are easier ways to get to them. Our creations sew together the torn fragments of the world. What we create is valuable, even if it doesn’t meet the standard definition of success. DO Do expect your creativity to stun and surprise you. Bring down ‘art’ from its pedestal so your creativity can have free reign. Trust in the unknown. Encourage yourself. Your creativity will bloom when you play, experiment and let loose! DON’T Don’t expect your creativity to bring you perfection. We are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world. We can only make imperfect things. Be careful of the narrative you tell yourself. If you start creating to achieve perfection instead of joy, your creativity will go into hiding, quietly withdrawing until the pressure lifts off. DO Do expect your creativity to want excitement and change. Go to shows, take classes, read books. Keep seeking knowledge and building connections. DON’T Don’t expect creativity to always be around. Creativity doesn’t like being alone all the time, and it certainly doesn’t like being bored. Pretty much anything other than sitting at home and stewing about its absence will bring it back to you. And that’s all I’ve got! Creativity is elusive and slippery. Expect too much, and it’ll flee. Let it breathe, and it’ll seep through the cracks of the ordinary in the most wonderful ways. I wish you the best of luck!

Lost in Rotation Funded by ArtReach in 2019, Lost in Rotation was a weekly program that allowed up-and-coming DJs and producers of all experience levels to learn and create amongst peers and mentors. Led by the incomparable Berma, this inclusive program was open to all styles of learning and allowed youth to work in a safe space, giving participants the time and opportunity to create something they could be proud of. Berma created the program after noticing a, “lack of opportunity for accessible, organized workshops when it comes to these art forms”. He encountered many young people who wanted to learn how to DJ or produce music but had a lack of access to equipment, mentorship, or spaces that allowed them to create their art freely. Berma also noticed that other programs focused on one certain musical genre, which could limit some participants who are trying to expand their musical knowledge. Lost in Rotation aimed to fix these issues by providing free training, equipment and a safe space while being a multi-genre collaboration program that explored new sounds and techniques, creating an exciting exchange of musical curation. Lost in Rotation was designed to serve youth in Parkdale, and offered workshops that focused on DJing, sound engineering and music production. These free sessions included support from community-based mentors, facilitators, and volunteers, giving youth an understanding of representation and upward-mobility in the arts sector. The end goal was to have each artist curate a set, composed of 5-7 songs that they created during the workshop sessions. This resulted in participants having a complete EP by the program’s end, as well as having the tools needed to become their own music producers, DJs, and sound engineers. Community Impact When discussing the importance of a program like Lost in Rotation, Berma explains that “Music and the music industry continues to be oversaturated with people sitting in an ivory tower making decisions for people on the ground that they could only hope to empathize with. It is important to equip young artists with the knowledge to become self-sufficient and independent in a generation where independence is synonymous with survival”. An each-one-teach-one approach was emphasized throughout the program, which allowed participants to peer-support each other in attaining new skills and reaching their goals. This modality led to youth having a free-flowing space where they could rely on each other and build trusting relationships with no hierarchy in place. Berma’s mission for Lost in Rotation was “for everyone to feel like they are able to comprehend concepts taught by others and feel confident in guiding others to do the same”. This opened up opportunities for youth to not only learn for themselves, but be able to share and teach their new skills to others. As Berma explains “This honest and communicative task shows youths’ ability to not only be a leader in how they critique each other, but in how they receive criticism. This allows abilities to grow based on constructive feedback” The program culminated with an online showcase where participants could share the musical works they created. After successfully running the program Berma said he was “most proud of just being able to open the door for so many people to showcase their work”. He adds that “Lost in Rotation got all of us through some tough times, especially the cold and lonely winter nights, but it felt nice to be together and create a soundtrack to the cold and loneliness” Meet Berma As a poet and artist educator in Toronto, Berma has been running community-based workshops for over half a decade and has worked with organizations such as RISE, Unity Charity, Sketch, and more. He started his career with poetry, which led him to be featured on international stages as well as local forums like CP24, REBEL, and the AGO. Berma continued to craft himself as a versatile artist by learning how to DJ through the Lost is Found collective, which changed his outlook on life and the arts, providing the necessary inspiration to express himself artistically. Over the last three years, he has been teaching personal one-on-one workshops as a DJ and has gained experience by performing at 40+ parties annually, the biggest highlight being able to play in New York City during Pride Week celebrations. Berma has created a lane for himself to curate sounds and atmospheres by hosting and featuring at events all across Toronto. Whether it be snapping to his words, or toe-tapping to the music, Berma is one of the City’s most inspiring up-and-coming leaders in the community arts sector. Follow @_berma on Instagram to stay up to date on his latest projects!

Speakers U program Funded previously by ArtReach in 2018, Speakers U is a program designed to support young black males aged 13-29 living in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore who are interested in learning the art of oration. Through this program, participants use several art forms, such as writing, spoken word, poetry and monologues, to create their own personal artistic story. Speakers U offers developmental opportunities through workshops that cover topics such as anti-racism, activism, media etiquette, freestyle rapping, self-care, financial literacy, and more. These workshops ensure that youth are gaining new skills relevant to their artistic, personal, and professional development. Support is provided by several Speaker's U alumni who were brought on to facilitate, evaluate, and mentor participants while providing public speaking guidance and personal development tips. This aspect of the program consists of vocally recording youth after each workshop and giving them feedback so they can track their growth and utilize the skills learned in the workshops. Many guest speakers, such as CFL legend Damon Allen, were also brought in to help participants develop their allegorical stories. Community Impact Speakers U was created due to the need for high quality, engaging community arts programming in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore area and the ongoing racial issues that impact black youth. As explained in their application, “racial profiling is at an all-time high and this affects black men psychologically. Our program is designed to address this problem, by giving young black males a voice to address racial profiling by police, and also empower them to develop their own sense of agency and personal power”. They add that, “effects of racial profiling include post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of anxiety and stress-related disorders. Perceptions of race-related threats often lead to an inability to access available community resources, and we are here to change that”. Speakers U gives the space for participants to discuss current issues with an honest and critical lens, and these discussions led to youth being able to express, process and release deep seated experiences of discrimination through their art. COVID considerations Due to pandemic-related restrictions, Speakers U had to adapt and run their program fully online. Despite the challenges that come with running virtual programs, they were able to execute a very successful program. Speakers U saw this move to a virtual program as an opportunity for growth and development, as they are now able to utilize an online space in addition to any onsite training for future projects. When discussing the transition to a virtual space, they explain that “Modules were adjusted to accommodate the online world, and some workshops (such as the Eye Contact and Facial Expressions) actually benefited from being online due to constantly being on video. Such techniques became an asset for communicating through the online world”. Speakers U was able to develop through the pandemic and received extremely positive feedback from youth participants who were happy to still be able to participate online and not lose out on any aspects of the program. Meet Speakers U Since their inception in 2012, Speakers U have fostered the success of their students through personal development workshops and public speaking training. They pride themselves in training and equipping program participants with the connections, resources, and coaching needed to launch businesses, movements, and initiatives. Their work has also reached several overseas communities through grassroots teams who have championed the program in America, Jamaica, Pakistan, and South Africa. This iteration of Speakers U was led by Camille Gordon and Lance Constantine. Camille Gordon, originally Speakers U photographer and videographer, took over the role of Program Coordinator and Administrator, bringing her extensive artistic and program experience to the position, while founder, Lance Constantine continued to be a Program Coordinator and Facilitator. Learn more about Speakers U here and make sure to follow Speakers U on Instagram to stay up to date on all their latest programs and resources!

Learn the basics of grant writing and how to apply for ArtReach's 2022 grant! This interactive session will explore the basics of preparing a grant application for ArtReach’s upcoming 2022 granting program deadline. It will break down the main components of our application, including the proposal, workplan and budget; and will provide tips for creating a clear and concise application. The workshop will run from 6:00-8:00pm, and will include time for Q&A's. ArtReach's 2022 grant is now open, deadline to apply is February 1st, 2022. Learn more at artreach.org/grants DETAILS: Date: Wednesday, January 12th; 6:00-8:00pm Location: Zoom Register: Here! Notes: This workshop is for Toronto youth aged 13-29 who are planning to apply to ArtReach's 2022 grant. Closed Captions will be provided Spaces are limited, so register early! If you register and are no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket or email info@artreach.org Accessibility: Please email info@artreach.org if you have any accessibility needs for this session no later than 5 days before the workshop

ArtReach grants support community-based arts programming led by young artists and youth-led groups/ organizations/ collectives aged 13-29. These programs must engage youth from equity-deserving populations in Toronto who face systemic barriers to accessing high-quality arts opportunities. WHAT WE FUND The programs we fund must… Be coordinated and delivered by individual artists 13-29 or groups/ organizations/ collectives where leadership positions and decision-making responsibilities are held by young people 13-29 from equity-deserving communities Be offered to youth participants aged 13-29 from equity-deserving communities who face systemic barriers to accessing high-quality arts opportunities Be a program and not a project (see the FAQs in our Program Guidelines for more info) Be delivered in Toronto, by a Toronto-based applicant, for participants in Toronto (this includes only the City of Toronto, Scarborough, North York, and Etobicoke, not the GTA) Be free for participants to participate in Be first and foremost focused on the arts and artistic skill-building. Other benefits/ focuses must be secondary to a focus on the arts Be registration-based and serve the same group of participants throughout its duration We do not fund… Drop-in style programming Events, festivals, etc. Personal projects Art therapy programs Programs whose primary activities are religious or political TAC ACCESSIBILITY GRANT Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for an additional TAC grant to cover accessibility-related expenses. A TAC Accessibility grant will provide up to an additional $5,000 per project towards accessibility costs for artists incurred during the project. These funds may go towards supporting any participating artists, which includes the team leading the project and project participants. Click here to learn more! SUPPORTS If you’re planning on applying for the upcoming deadline and think you could use some support, we’re hosting Grant Writing for the 2022 ArtReach Grant Workshops on Wednesday, December 8th, 2021 and Wednesday, January 12th, 2022. We’re also offering 1-1 meetings through Zoom throughout the application period. Sign-ups for these resources are available at artreach.org/grants. Have questions or concerns? First time applying for a grant? Accessibility needs? Want to talk with our program manager? Email grants@artreach.org! HOW TO APPLY Head to artreach.org/grants to read our Program Guidelines and FAQs, confirm your eligibility, and access the application package!

It’s ArtReach’s 15th birthday! Give $15 for our 15th to help us raise $1,500! 🎉🎂🎁 ArtReach was created fifteen years ago to support young artists and youth-led organizations in Toronto. We do this through the distribution of funding for community-based arts programming, the delivery of capacity and skill-building workshops, and the provision of resources and mentorship. Our services are provided at no cost to the artists, community leaders, and organizations who access them. Over the last 15 years, ArtReach has had the privilege of... Distributing over $4 million in grants to nearly 400 programs across Toronto. These programs have served 13,500 youth participants from equity-deserving groups who face barriers to accessing high-quality arts opportunities. They’ve also provided employment opportunities to thousands of young leaders, and have reached nearly one million community member Delivering nearly 170 free capacity and skill-building sessions on 65+ topics through our Grassroots Organizing And Leadership (GOAL) Workshop Series. These trainings cover a variety of topics relevant to those working in the community arts sector, and have been attended by over 4,500 young people across Toronto Providing resources and mentorship to thousands of youth artists and changemakers. This includes a curated digital library of sector-related resources and toolkits, our online grant deadline calendar, Post-It Newsletter, and mentorship support. Relevant opportunities are also shared through our extensive network of 10,000+ social media followers and mailing list members While only meant to be a three-year pilot project, ArtReach is now celebrating our 15th year of working with Toronto’s young leaders, and we couldn’t have done it without the generosity and commitment of supporters like you. We ask you now to give $15 to help us raise $1,500- head to artreach.org/donate to contribute! Thank you for a decade and a half of love, The ArtReach Team

Funded in 2019 and 2020, Project 40 Collective’s project, Diasporasian Futures was a radical artist incubator that aimed to create artistic opportunities for the pan-Asian arts community in the GTA. Diasporasian Futures 2 Their 2020 funded project, DF 2 (Diasporasian Futures 2), offered two streams for artists: The Artmaking stream covered projects in photography, painting, performance arts, and more, where participants gained valuable experience through key aspects of residency and arts education such as collaboration, studio practice and exhibitions. The Spacemaking stream developed community responses and projects that included public surveys and creative responses while going through intensive sessions on structure building, funding methods, and practicing principles of equity, care, and critical reflection. Diasporasian Futures 2 was designed to allow youth to immediately apply their learned skills to programming projects by using a variety of learning methods and practical ways of enhancing their skills. Participants were able to work with two program managers, a graphic designer, and youth staff members in order to properly build their program experience and create their final projects. The incubator culminated in an exhibition featuring the work of participants, and allowed them to apply their learning and creative explorations tangibly toward a showcase event. Community Impact Project 40 Collective believes in equipping and building up people with “abundance, joy, and tender strength” through their community arts programs. When discussing how they build their programs, P40 explains, “We build programs that draw on experiences we’ve had as a collective, to share knowledge, skills and networks openly with other folk who are interested in working as art-makers or space-makers. We hope to protect and nurture the dreams of our communities”. Disaporasian Futures 2 was created from the need for more opportunities for the Pan-Asian community to work together, building solidarity in their art practices and community arts organizing while gaining professional training regardless of socio-economic status. This project was offered to applicants who did not go to school for the arts or arts management in order to remove barriers people may have faced in the past, and allow them to explore creative possibilities, build skills, and nurture relationships despite their experience level. The one-on-one sessions created long-lasting relationships with participants, many who later reached out to guest facilitators to continue meaningful conversations and pursue new ideas. When referencing the strength of the incubator, Project 40 Collective explains “It was a great space for people to experiment with ideas, test pilot programming, explore new forms, and even eliminate options. Many participants took the time to evaluate options in a safe and supportive program space” COVID considerations Due to COVID restrictions, Project 40 Collective had to make the call to go digital. When discussing this decision, P40 explains, “This changed the structure of our program drastically in that the energy of our sessions were now adapting to digital screen spaces. Artists had to adjust their use of the studio and there was limited public engagement”. The Collective used many shared digital spaces, such as Element and Jitsi, to connect with participants and decreased the lengths of sessions to accommodate the different ways people experience time in digital space. Final presentations took advantage of the digital incubator by using Instagram Live to do community surveys and Instagram posts to share and present work, making their efforts accessible to the social media world. The final evaluation session provided great feedback and honest commentary from participants on the difficulties of navigating digital sessions. P40 felt “proud that participants enjoyed themselves and glad that we created a space where they could build relationships with us and yield great conversations”. Participants were able to complete their final Artmaker projects and present them online, showcasing their skills and talents. Meet Project 40 Collective Project 40 Collective is a pan-Asian, interdisciplinary artist collective incubating and producing interdisciplinary collaborative projects by emerging Asian-Canadian creatives. They feature artists working in mediums such as literature, visual arts, fashion, music, film, and performance art. Founders Jasmine Gui and Abby Ho began by wanting to collaborate on art together, which grew into a thriving ecosystem of makers and creators who learn and unlearn, organize and disrupt, and live creatively together. Project 40 Collective has published magazines, curated live performances, produced collaborative projects, organized communal-social gatherings and launched low-cost creative workshops. They’ve also explored the crafts community and developed community partnerships with other art collectives, further expanding their reach. While a highly successful and much needed collective, as of Summer 2021, The Project 40 Collective has officially wrapped, and will not be providing further programming or Loose Leaf Magazine issues. We can’t thank them enough for their years of incredible work and the meaningful impact they’ve had on Toronto’s community arts sector, and wish them all the best on their future endeavours.

CUE has officially launched their 2021 grant cycle, providing funding for new-generation artists living and working on the margins. You can apply for a $1,000 grant to produce an art project in any discipline! Apply HERE by November 11th, 2021 (11:59 pm) and contact CUE by email at cuesubmissions@gmail.com to set up an email, phone or video chat to discuss your project proposal! Grant Guidelines CUE’s grants are for artists who: Are new generation artist (29 years old or under) living and working on the margins Work in any artistic discipline Have a solid idea for an art project that can be completed in 4 months, and can be exhibited or presented to the public in some way Demonstrate experience in their medium Have a track record of finishing projects and following through on goals Have not received funding from The Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, or Canada Council for the Arts, or other substantial arts funding. Have connected with CUE before submitting an application to receive a phone, e-mail or video call consultation to support them in developing their project proposal Groups of artists working collaboratively may apply, however, one artist must be responsible for acting as the project lead and being accountable for funds Artists may not receive more than 2 CUE grants. Artists who have been supported by CUE and have not submitted documentation, verbal or written reports, or have not been in contact with CUE are not eligible to apply. More grant information at: https://www.cueartprojects.ca/grants Info Sessions Attend one of the info sessions for more information about CUE and their grant cycle. Info Sessions are led by CUE Program Coordinators who will be available to answer any questions you may have. GRANT-WRITING INFO SESSION 01: Wednesday, October 20th @ 7-8pm on Instagram Live with @cueartprojects! GRANT-WRITING INFO SESSION 02: Monday, November 1st @ 6-7pm on Zoom. (RSVP link TBD) About CUE CUE is a radical arts initiative dedicated to supporting new generation artists who live and work on the margins. CUE has designed an accessible funding program offering not only financial support for art projects, but also consultation in preparing project proposals, support throughout the production process, and opportunities for public exhibition. Founded in 2008, to date CUE has provided over $500,000 to support the creation of projects in multiple disciplines. Learn more about CUE on their website , and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay up to date on their grant cycle!

Are you a young artist or entrepreneur preparing to file your taxes? Did you receive CERB/ CRB/ EI during the pandemic and are unsure how this impacts filing? Want to better understand how to track and report on your artist grant? In this session, hosted by Tova Epp of Artbooks, we’ll cover a brief introduction to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and the tax filer's relationship with it, including deadlines, correspondence, and web access. We’ll also cover income reporting and expense tracking for freelancers, HST, CERB/ CRB/ EI implications, and artist grants before moving into a Q&A session SESSION DETAILS: Date: Wednesday, November 10th; 6:00-8:00pm Location: Zoom (a link will be provided upon registration) Register: Here! Facilitator: Tova Epp Partners: This workshop is presented by ArtReach, Artbooks, and artsUNITE Notes: This workshop is intended for youth 13-29 ASL interpretation will be available, as well as closed captioning. This session will be recorded and made available to registered participants Spaces are limited, so register early! If you register and are no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket or email info@artreach.org *Please email info@artreach.org if you have any accessibility needs for this session no later than 48 hours before the start of the workshop*

Have an idea for a great community program? Don’t know how to translate your idea into an actual program structure? Want to learn what goes into developing a program that will really serve the community? Facilitated by Patrick De Belen, this virtual workshop will equip participants with the tools to design a strong community program. Participants will be guided through thinking about program structure, purpose, outreach, and being able to evaluate the impact their program will have on the community. We’ll also explore best practices for risk management and making sure your program is accessible whether it’s in-person or online SESSION DETAILS: Date: Wednesday, October 6th; 6:00-8:00pm Location: Zoom (a link will be provided upon registration) Facilitator: Patrick De Belen Partners: This workshop is presented by ArtReach, Arts Unite, and Artscape Daniels Launchpad Notes: ASL interpretation will be available, as well as closed captioning. This session will be recorded and made available to registered participants This workshop is intended for youth 13-29 Spaces are limited, so register early! If you register and are no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket or email info@artreach.org *Please email info@artreach.org if you have any accessibility needs for this session no later than 48 hours before the start of the workshop*

It’s All Queer Pride Funded in 2020, It's All Queer Pride is a two-part performance program that seeks to equip LGBTQIAP+ participants with the skills for act-development and career development as solo performers. The project's goal was to enable participants to discover, develop, and launch themselves as artists, which was made possible by support and mentorship from experienced facilitators. Participants were led by lead facilitator and program creator, Tyler J Sloane, alongside 12 guest facilitators, all active performers within the Toronto LGBTQIA+ community. Guest facilitators offered both mentorship based on a skill-set they specialize in (burlesque, drag,consent culture, production, make-up, costuming, wigs, and the weaving skill needed to build performances), as well as the history and knowledge of how it presently sits within the Toronto queer community. On top of tangible artistic skill-building, participants were also able to develop the skills essential to marketing themselves as artists, such as building their performance arts practice, honing their craftsmanship, and establishing their place within the community. Impact It’s All Queer Pride offered two different workshop streams: It’s ALL A DRAG saw participants with little to no performance experience learn to develop themselves as performers (creating their alter ego, identity, and act), while the second stream, It’s All Essentials, gave more experienced participants a chance to continue their journey and take the next step in their career development. Having two workshop streams ensured that interested youth, regardless of experience level, were given the opportunity to participate. When referencing the importance of a project like this for the community, Ty notes that, “in my facilitation and mentorship of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, I consistently hear that [community members] are seeking an opportunity where they can engage in exploring their identity through either gender or performance, but feel barriers from existing venues, access to artist mentors, and financial costs”. In that, Ty aimed to create a safe, free, accesible, transformative justice and Indigenous-informed space within the program where marginalized youth could connect and gain valuable skills that support them to further engage in the Queer and performance communities COVID Considerations Due to COVID restrictions, the program was adapted from an in-person series to a virtual one, which understandably came with its fair share of challenges. Despite this, Ty made sure that the program ran smoothly, and most importantly, that participants were still able to gain valuable artistic and professional skills and take part in a final showcase to highlight their learnings. The two final showcases saw over 125 community members in virtual attendance to support participants and watch a fantastic show. When reflecting on working through such difficult times, Ty mentioned that, “through the pandemic, energy and mental health was an overarching challenge” but through approaching everything with compassion and mindful accommodations, the program was still able to run successfully. Meet Ty Tyler J Sloane is a Two-Spirit, Non-Binary, Anishinaabe/ Chinese/ Greek/ Irish, multidisciplinary artist, curator, producer, and facilitator that aims to emphasize marginalized voices that intersect: race, fluid sexualities, trans, non-binary and fluid gender expressions, non-monogamous relationships, and class. They perform as both Tyler J Sloane and under their Burlesque stage name, Tygr Willy, and have both curated and performed in countless shows within the 2SLGBTQIA+ arts scene. In addition to performance arts, Ty has also successfully explored various disciplines including photography, visual arts, poetry, theatre, acting, writing, and directing. Ty has worked with various community arts organizations, including SKETCH, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Pride Toronto, Paprika Festival, and Cahoots Theatre Company, among others, and is currently the Education Coordinator at Elevate Equity. Follow @tylerjsloane on Instagram to stay up to date on all their latest programs and showcases!

Are you a Black artist, collective, or member of an organization that's Black-led, Black-focused, and Black-serving? Want to apply to the Toronto Arts Council's new Black Arts Grant Program but are unsure of the process? Facilitated by Toronto Arts Council's (TAC) Outreach & Access Program Manager, Timaj Garad, this virtual workshop will explore the basics of preparing a grant application specifically for TAC’s Black Arts Grant Program, including both the Annual Operating Stream and the Projects Stream. We will break down the main components of the application, including the proposal, work plan, budget, and supplementary material; and will provide valuable information about the program in order to create a clear and concise application. SESSION DETAILS: Date: Wednesday, September 8th; 6:00-8:00pm Location: Zoom (a link will be provided upon registration) Register: Here! Facilitator: Timaj Garad, TAC Partners: This workshop is presented by ArtReach and Toronto Arts Council Notes: ASL interpretation will be available, as well as closed captioning This session will be recorded and made available to registered participants Spaces are limited, so register early! If you register and are no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket or email info@artreach.org

I.D.E.A Program Funded by ArtReach previously in 2016, Beautiful Minds’ 2019 program, I.D.E.A (Inspire, Design, Explore, Apply), is an arts-based workshop series for youth 13-29 that focuses on developing painting skills and using creative writing as a means for youth artists to describe their visual pieces. Through their time in the project, participants were able to learn and develop a variety of creative and life skills, including collaboration, collective decision making, creative concept development, time management, and project management. The program concluded with an online reveal party for the project’s digital zine (check it out here!), which incorporated both the painting and creative writing skills that they had been working on throughout the program. Beautiful Minds wanted to make this project accessible for youth and explained, “The reason we chose painting is because it may be easier for people to express themselves through art vs. verbally. Participants could choose to write their explanations of their pieces in their mother tongue, emphasizing the importance of their multiple identities. Art can be used as a medium to overcome language barriers, which is important, as we serve a lot of newcomer and refugee youth”. Community Impact Beautiful Minds built the I.D.E.A project to serve Scarborough youth, specifically those from Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park. They chose to serve these particular communities because, “There is a lack of free art programs, youth spaces, and mental health support. Through living and working there, we noticed that these communities have a high population of youth, and that this program would provide a safe space for youth to access”. While this iteration of I.D.E.A. originally aimed to offer three rounds of in-person programming, after a successful first run in Flemingdon Park, COVID restrictions forced the team to move programming online. The goal here was to be able to continue to provide a safe space for youth to explore art, while still meeting and talking with other people, and participants shared that the program was a “great way to beat the sense of isolation” that came with the ongoing lockdowns. While arts-based programming was the primary focus of the project, I.D.E.A. evolved to incorporate a much-needed self-care feature to the program, further supporting the mental health of participants. Activities included yoga, mindfulness tools, coping strategies, and open discussions on mental health. This made for a creative, safe space where youth felt comfortable to not only share their art, but also their mental health struggles. Beautiful Minds additionally supported participants’ well-being outside of the program by connecting them to helpful resources and employment opportunities. Meet Beautiful Minds In operation for over five years, Beautiful Minds was founded by Nicole D’Souza, a Scarborough-based social worker, yoga instructor, and community leader. Beautiful Minds uses contemporary forms of self-care, such as art, mindfulness, yoga and physical activities to engage youth in wellness, and the goal of their programming “is to have youth build on various skills that they learn throughout the program and hopefully continue using these skills in their life as a healthy way to express themselves”. The typical age range of 13 to 29 for their programs is intentionally wide because “having older youth allows for a mentorship piece for the younger participants”, further empowering both emerging and experienced participants. Since their inception, Beautiful Minds has run a variety of programming and events focused on supporting youth artists, and are currently running V.I.E.W (Vision, Idea, Exploration, Wisdom), a free eight-week introductory course to watercolour painting. Follow @beautfilminds.to on Instagram to learn more about their incredible work and to stay up-to-date on their latest offerings!