Search Results

ArtReach is proud to announce the 30 projects that were awarded funding in our 2021 granting round. $300,000 in annual grant funding for youth-led community arts projects is available thanks to our partnership with the Toronto Arts Council- click here for more info! For project descriptions of previously funded groups, check out our website! Adornment Stories Collective- Adornment Stories $10,000 Adornment Stories offers the community a 7-month long program to support the mental health of Black women, femmes and non-binary people and be a platform for their voices. Our programming provides hands on access to multimedia, storytelling training, facilitation and opportunities for youth to be leaders in their community. Our model focuses on recognizing the unique ways gender, race and intersectional identity impacts mental health. It is through storytelling, facilitation training and the arts that we provide a platform for those who have often not been heard in Mental Health Dialogue to have space and share their narratives. Beautiful Minds- V.I.E.W. Vision Idea Exploration Wisdom $10,000 Our project Vision,Idea, Exploration, Wisdom (VIEW) is a program for 18-29 year olds that teaches watercolour painting skills online via Zoom. Participants will learn techniques for creating watercolor landscape paintings and character design. The program will have two, 8-week-long, sessions. Each week will have a theme and include learning a painting skill, a mindfulness tool, reflective journaling and a group discussion. We aim to have 10 youth complete each session. There will also be a community showcase for the artists at the end of each program. The program will be for youth in Scarborough, Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park. Between Them Collected- Between the Lines $5,000 Between the Lines is a wellness-inspired online literary arts immersion program for Toronto’s TIQLBG Black, African, Caribbean communities. Participants from within and throughout the diaspora are welcome to be inspired by Black authors to world-build, share, and create. Similar to a book club, participants are invited to read and engage with reflective discussion, critical thinking, writing and other creative exercises. Inspired by African, Caribbean, and Black writing, we will exchange recipes, music, engage with craft-making and share ideas influenced by the texts. Bilal Baig- Trans Gemmes 3.0 $9,900 Bilal Baig will run Trans Gemmes 3.0, a six-week virtual program focusing on developing skills in writing and performance made by and for trans women and trans femmes of colour. The program centers participants' needs and skill building, nurturing a creative space to build trust, self confidence, leadership and gain clarity of life and artistic purpose. The project will serve trans women and trans femmes of colour who are newcomers and youth under the age of 25. Colectivo Satelital- Cuarenteca Aspiring DJ Incubator $9,900 "Cuarenteca Aspiring DJ Incubator" is an online educational program organized by Colectivo Satelital and led by Cuarenteca's co-founders and resident DJs, ANA LUISA (Ana Luisa Bernardez) and Lil Arepa (Camila Salcedo). Four Toronto-based youth with little to no experience in DJing will participate in a series of workshops related to the craft (basics and techniques, making mixes, organizing online parties, and live streaming). Participants will have the opportunity to put this knowledge into practice by recording a commissioned mix, which will be promoted by Cuarenteca. At the end of the Incubator, participants will perform DJ sets in an online party organized by them and hosted by Cuarenteca. Colr Your Life Initiative- Colr Your Life Initiative $9,535 Colr Your Life is an 8-week screenwriting program for black youth, ages 15-18. Youth will have the opportunity to develop a screenplay from concept to script. The goal is to equip young black screenwriters with the knowledge they need to write an industry-format screenplay. Six participants will have the opportunity to develop an idea throughout the program. In each class, participants will learn about story structure, script formatting, as well as character and plot development. Participants will complete the program with a polished script for their portfolio. Creato- Project Crea $8,581 Project CREA is an art-making, arts entrepreneurship initiative for Toronto-based youth artists who identify as Latinx. The project will run from September to November 2021, with the aim of empowering Latinx youth to develop practical arts entrepreneurial skills by creating a personal project. Through art-making, mentorship, and experiential learning opportunities, youth artists will create in a forward-thinking, community space where Latinx voices and creative expression are being centered. The project will culminate with a Virtual Block Party — an advocacy tool to build on the visibility of Latinx youth artists and creators in Toronto — and the participant’s final showcase. CUE- CUE Grant Cycle 2021 $15,000 This grant would see 100+ youth engaged in developing projects and learning about the grant process, and enable the creation of 15 individual art projects in multiple disciplines by new-generation artists who live and work on the margins. The program is predicated on creating high-access: we conduct group info sessions, online grant writing mentorship sessions, and individual grant-writing support via e-mail, phone and video chat to ensure the anticipated 60+ art project proposals submitted are strong and viable. CUE provides a variety of supports for artists during their production process, and provides professional presentation/exhibition platform for all artists engaged. Ecru (Jimmy Vi + Pam Lau)- Ideas From I $9,900 “Ideas from I” is a virtual concept development program for pan-Asian photographers and filmmakers aged 18-29 across the GTA, with no formal training in their discipline. From this 3 weekend workshop participants will walk away with a fleshed-out concept in the form of a treatment deck ready to be executed. “Ideas from I” will provide mentorship and learning opportunities for emerging artists to safely express themselves. Our aim is to demystify industry knowledge and equip participants with the skills and confidence to communicate their ideas. Empowered Phụ Nữ- Empowering Phụ Nữ PhotoVoice Project $10,000 This pilot project will engage 8 Vietnamese-and-womxn-identifying participants (aged 18-29), over seven bi-weekly sessions in PhotoVoice storytelling to discuss cultural identities, gender, and leadership. The project seeks to equip participants with technical skills in photography, storytelling, and ethics. It will culminate in a co-created reflection product (e.g. zine, podcast, or blog) that will be shared publicly and will be accessible in English and Vietnamese. Some sessions will feature guest speakers, who are community artists and creative leaders. Ganesh Thavarajah- Theatre for All $9,000 Theatre for All is a free new 8-week theatre intensive for youth in Scarborough. Over eight Saturdays, this program will introduce BIPOC youth, especially those who identify as LGBTQ+ or as newcomers, with the fundamental training to pursue careers in theatre. Every class will be divided into three sections led by working BIPOC theatre artists: 3 hours of acting, 2 hours of voice work, and 3 hours of text & writing. The program will culminate with a final showcase where families and community members can see the youth’s potential. INKspire Youth Organization- Write to Discover $9,990 INKspire’s Write to Discover will provide racialized youth across Toronto with the opportunity to improve their literacy skills through a series of online creative writing workshops. We will develop and host a six-part creative writing workshop series for six cohorts, each comprising 8-10 youth between the ages of 15-24. Additionally, participants will receive one-on-one mentorship and support, and the opportunity to have their work published on INKspire’s online platform, for which they will be awarded an honorarium. Ultimately, INKspire strives to strengthen youth’s writing skills through self-reflection and creative expression. Joshua Watkis- WORD IS BOND Presents: Filter Through Skin $10,000 Filter Through Skin is a Spoken Word intensive focused on Storytelling for Black Poets by Black Poets, outside the lens of Black Trauma for profit. The purpose of this project is to assist Black youth poets in reimagining their relationship to their subject matter and deconstructing Blackness as a monolith in literature. The project will serve 25 youth participants ages 16-24 over the course of 16 weeks, through virtual workshops and socially distanced, in person coaching sessions. Kamalayan Konsciousness Kollective- Mulat Midya Project $13,935 Mulat Midya Project is a media training program for Filipino youth in Toronto. “Mulat” means to be aware in Filipino. This project aims to empower youth by developing skills in podcasting focusing on Filipino migration stories and current issues. It will be framed in the context of Philippine history and news both in the diaspora and homeland. This project will train twelve participants in two cohorts through interactive and meaningful workshops. Participants will engage in writing, planning, researching, interviewing, and executing original podcast episodes. We aim to prioritize newcomer and under-resourced Filipinos who otherwise would face barriers accessing this programming. Kaya Joan- Relations with Place $9,726 This workshop series is to provide opportunity to 2SLGBTQ+ youth who identify as Indigenous, Black, folks of colour to explore the vast connections to place, and the ways identity is informed by place, and build community with one another in the process. Through grounding participants in knowledge of T'karonto and Dish with One Spoon Treaty's history, we will journey through the various ways in which personal narratives are rooted in place. Using art as a navigational tool to express ideas, participants will be provided the space and resources to strengthen their relationship and responsibility to place and community. Limitless Designs- Daily Blooms $14,900 Limitless Designs is known for teaching youth about aesthetic arts. Our program is now expanding to include an even more intricate art form, floral design. We are calling it “Limitless Designs x Daily Blooms”. We will be teaching our participants about floral design through Zoom classes. This program will teach youth about making floral arrangements, wrapping flowers, plant care, and more! The morning of each class, a team member will drop off the flowers and supplies needed for the session, at the participants door. This contactless delivery method will ensure that everyone is safe and following Covid-19 guidelines. Melodies & Colour- Melodies and Colour: Virtual Studio Sessions $13,000 "This program brings together 9 youth artists (Visual Artists, Beatmakers/Music Producers and Lyricists/Vocalists) ages 16-29, who navigate mental health, for 8 weekly workshop sessions. The artists will be placed in three multidisciplinary pods to create original collaborative projects: a song with original music, lyrics and a visual piece to accompany the music. Skill building group workshops and conversations will be facilitated to explore methods of expressing ourselves. There will be project mentorship sessions with each artist/pod. The program takes place online and culminates in a public livestream event presenting the collaborations. Each participant will receive an honorarium for their participation." Parvai- Parvai $9,900 Parvai is a 10 week program that aims to equip underserved young South Asian womxn with artistic development support, professional tools and mentorship to help young creatives thrive while exploring and preparing for a career in the arts. Parvai will provide hands-on training in the business aspect of the arts including: effective communication, grant seeking and writing, revenue-generation models, and budgeting. Participants will be connected to mentorship with industry professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide further guidance and support in their artistic practice. It will culminate with a collaborative YouTube channel, social media campaign, and guided journal to support participant’s personal development and track their progress. Pree Rehal- DigiZine Program $9,900 The program includes 5 online zine making workshops for youth who are both 2SLGBTQ+ and racialized (BIPoC - Black, Indigenous and people of colour) to learn how to make their own digital zines. The workshops will be led by 5 community engaged artists, who are also 2SLGBTQ+ and racialized. Participants will get a $50 honorarium for participating in each workshop, a food stipend, access to Canva Pro for the duration of the program, and 25 glossy copies of their final zine! Priority will be given to Disabled, Deaf and HoH applicants. Rainbow's Pride in Scarborough- The Art of Expression $9,900 The Art of Expression is an arts-based project serving multicultural LGBTQ2SA+ youth living with disabilities age 16-29 in Scarborough. The Art of Expression will offer training from community artists to support youth to express themselves using arts-based methods. The goal is to increase a sense of belonging, build the artistic capacities of youth participants and decrease isolation caused by experiences of racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, and ableism. The project builds in youth leadership and community engagement to support youth participants to become their own educators. We aim to reach youth in Scarborough who are also isolated and facing similar challenges. Saawan Theatre- Krantikari Playwrights Unit $9,900 We desire to create a playwrights unit for South Asian youth (ages 13-29) in Toronto. This unit will have five participants and two leads. Our goal is to create a program for South Asian youth by South Asian youth, in which each participant aims to complete the first draft of a play. This program will be for nine weeks and will cover multiple aspects of storytelling. There will also be an interspersed speaker series in which participants are able to have a Q&A with Canadian South Asian theatre creators. Our process will fuse North American and South Asian storytelling methods. Scarborough Youth United- Paint Your Story $9,900 Paint Your Story: Racialized High School Students’ Using Poetry Writing and Mural Making to Explore Mental Health is a three-month arts program that uses poetry writing and mural making to explore mental health for 15 racialized high school students in Scarborough. Led by four racialized high school students as Youth Leads and guided by professional artist facilitators and youth guest speakers, the program will support participants in using visual and written arts to navigate mental health issues. Participants will express their individual experiences through painting and poetry while unifying their artwork to create a mural that captures their collective experience. Scarbrite Collective- Malvern HERStory $9,900 “She’s from Malvern. What’s HER story?” Malvern HERstory is a poetry and mural art skill-building program for self-identifying female youth (ages 14-19) who live in the Malvern community. Over five weekly 1.5-hour online sessions, participants will work with the Scarbrite Collective to co-create a series of poems and images that reflect their own personal and collective experiences in the community. These works will be integrated into a mural design and painted by participants over five 3-hour socially distanced workshop sessions. Youth who attend a minimum of six workshops will be awarded an honorarium and certificate upon completion. SoundStock Academy- SoundStock Academy $9,800 SoundStock Academy (SSA) is an artist development program that provides disadvantaged black youth with the knowledge, tools, and access to resources to enhance their artistry. SSA will begin the program by facilitating a group workshop series that assists artists in discovering who they are, the type of music they want to create, and what their message will be. After completing this self-discovery process, we then proceed to provide participants with individual access to a recording facility, where our team of artists, managers, producers, graphic designers, photographers, and videographers will help participants hone in on their sound and creative identity. Student Art Spaces Canada- Student Art Spaces' 2021 Exhibition Fellowship $8,533 Student Art Spaces’ 2021 Exhibition Fellowship is a program designed around educating a group of 10 racialized, low-income and immigrant/newcomer high school students in Toronto and the GTA in project curation, networking and organizing within the Canadian art scene. The 5 week program will equip youth with the skills they need to network as creatives, to get accepted into art opportunities, and to organize their own projects as established artists. Participants will learn from gallery directors, fine artists, illustrators and community organizers around these three themes which will lead up to the final showcase exhibition, organized by program youth. The Flaunt It Movement- The Flaunt It Movement's Creative Internship Program $9,000 The Flaunt It Movement’s Creative Internship is designed for eight self-identifying young womxn artists who are at the exploration and early stages of their artistic career. It is a highly intensive media arts-focused program (photography, film, graphics) that allows interns to explore literary and performance arts to build their multidisciplinary talents. Each intern will be developing artwork for Flaunt-It’s Magazine production that compiles art by BIWOC artists and organizations while accessing workshops that empower them as social change artists. The youth-led virtual program provides hands-on experiences that demonstrate the power of becoming leading artists, activists and storytellers. The Hour Zero Foundation- Masterpiece $10,000 Masterpiece is a media arts program that will provide underserved Toronto youth with Cinema and Visual Arts courses, to advance education. Masterpiece workshops will be offered in-person for hands-on activities, as well as online, for in-depth courses on creative software applications. They will have access to professional cinema cameras by Blackmagic Design and other manufacturers. Moreover, the program will provide coverage for software application subscriptions. Furthermore, participants will engage in business workshops, that will teach them how to submit their independent projects to distributions such as Amazon Prime Video and create their own website to showcase their work. Toby's Place- Queer Body Equity Through Arts (QBETA) $9,900 The Body Equity program is a free, hands-on multimedia arts series that engages 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 13-29 living in Southwest Scarborough to explore body equity through creative writing and screen printing. Prioritizing QTBIPOC and youth living on the margins, participants will navigate identity, personal development, embodied storytelling, and community building. For eight weeks, youth will expand their knowledge and technical skills in screen printing posters accompanied by creative prose, guided by mentorship from professional artist facilitators. To culminate the series, youth will showcase their art via a community art exhibit held at Toby’s Place and virtual art gallery. Tyler J Sloane- It's All Queer Pride $10,000 It's All Queer Pride is a two-part performance program that invites emerging 2SLGBTQIA+ youth artists to develop skills for solo-act development and career development as solo performers. They will nurture their performance arts-practice for both live and virtual stages. They'll be mentored by a lead facilitator, myself, two mentors (Kit Boulter & TBD BIPOC Mentor), and 14 guest facilitators who are active performers and producers within the Toronto Queer Nightlife and broader arts & culture community. Videatur Collective- Videatur Community Film Project $5,000 The Videatur Community Film Project offers a hands-on learning opportunity for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth in Toronto to learn film production and apply these skills in shooting a web series pilot. The goal is to provide a safe and inclusive environment for folks to learn about the fundamentals of filmmaking, including the basics of lighting a scene, camera operating, audio capture, and safety precautions. This allows youth to feel confident in their skills, and start building their network to help them seek work in the industry.

Toronto Krump and Hip Hop Dance Mentorship Program Funded by ArtReach in 2014, 2015, and 2018, Ryan Dela Cruz and the BUCC N FLVR team are a collective from Toronto who utilize dance to engage intergenerational dialogue and build the learning capacity of youth. Spearheaded by lead facilitator Ryan Dela Cruz, from Summer 2018 to Spring 2020, BUCC N FLVR delivered their Toronto Krump and Hip Hop Dance Mentorship program. The program, serving up to 40 youth participants from the Kennedy-Eglinton Scarborough community, was built around the focus of artist-to-artist development and mental and physical capacity building. They created platforms to feature their artists by booking local and provincial performances, creating high-quality film reels, and executing a final performance to the public. This by-youth, for-youth program was created to be accessible to marginalized youth who face financial barriers to accessing professional dance classes, as well as to provide work opportunities to young dance professionals. Alongside weekly classes led by a diverse group of youth facilitators, the program provided workshops and presentations, further educating and preparing youth artists for future events while building their careers and connections. The program also provided youth participants with a safe, open space to pursue their passion, even if they were facing challenges. As lead facilitator Ryan explains, “Participants who were facing mental health challenges were able to overcome things with help and support of facilitators. There were also some participants who had difficulty sharing their passion with their family, but this program was able to bridge the gap thanks to the program structure and the performative aspects''. The program concluded with a final showcase event at the Fairview Library Theatre with over 200 community members in attendance. Opportunities for Youth However the success of youth participants did not end at the final showcase event. Part of this program's goal was to ensure that participants were ready to take on new, exciting, and more advanced opportunities. Several youth participants are already excelling in their field as they continue to work on their craft and make a positive community impact. As Ryan notes, “I am extremely proud of the successes of our youth participants. Over the years, I have seen these youth grow into young adults, some have taken these skills and transferred them to their new passions in dance, film, business, and education. Some have excelled past our teachers, and have started teaching more than our facilitators for reputable organizations and charities like UNITY Charity, OutsideLookingIN, and for various dance studios from Toronto to Hamilton and Niagara”. Three participants are now full time dance teachers, eight youth were featured on CBCart, lead facilitator Ryan was featured on “Street Voices”, and all participants were involved with supporting Ryan’s resident grant with the Toronto Public Library and the Toronto Arts Council. Meet Ryan Ryan Dela Cruz is a Toronto-based artist, educator, and community changemaker. Since performing in Miss Saigon at the Princess of Wales Theatre at age five, acting and dance have been two of Ryan’s greatest passions. Since then, Ryan has come to represent the Krump scene on a local, national, and international level, teaching, performing, and competing acrs North America, Europe, and Asia. As Program Coordinator for the award-winning dance collective BUCC N FLVR since 2009, Ryan and his team have been able to use art to engage youth by teaching and sharing their passion of dance to students around the world for over a decade. Locally, they’ve taught and collaborated with Kapisanan, UNITY Charity, Manifesto, North York Arts, and VIBE Arts, and continue to work in Toronto’s underserved communities to inspire change and provide youth with the necessary tools to succeed. Follow Ryan @ryebreadbucc and BUCC N FLVR @officialbuccnflvr to stay updated on all their latest programs and projects!

Filter Through Skin Created by the renowned poet Joshua Watkis out of a desire to share his faith in the power of storytelling, Filter Through Skin is a program that focuses on the oral tradition of spoken word poetry, written arts, and performance art for Black youth aged 14-24 in the Rexdale, Weston Road, and Dixie Road communities. The project centered on providing participants with opportunities to develop their artistic voice, with a focus on expanding the current narratives around Black identities, and helping them to break out of the focus on Black pain that permeates the arts. Watkis explains that "in doing so, they may relieve themselves of the burdensome expectations of communicating Blackness solely through the explanation of trauma and oppression". The program was crafted to assist Black youth artists in genre-bending styles of poetry and sharpen their use of advanced literary devices while they "unearth a cultural movement towards honest Black Art". Mission and Values Watkis shares that his vision for the project is "to meet the dire need for nuanced, non-monolithic Black art". To do this, he works to create spaces that are completely Black-led, supported, and focused in order to create an environment where participants could develop their own definitions of what a Black storyteller can achieve and create. Watkis goes on to describe an issue in the arts that Word is Bond aims to address: that "Black artists are rarely rewarded for their ability to speak on their lives outside the lens of racism. And while race is a factor in every facet of life, it is just that, a factor. They need a space where the creation of that work can be encouraged and then shared with confidence". He further explains that through the project, "participants were challenged to develop work that was nuanced and true to their personal nature, rather than creating work that was filtered through a lens that needed to translate the Black experience to non-Black people". The Program Originally set to be run in person but modified to a virtual program to reflect the realities created by the pandemic, the 2020 ArtReach-funded program was led by Watkis himself, an incredible artist sitting on nearly a decade of performance and mentorship experience. The program introduced youth to advanced uses of literary devices as well as performance techniques, and culminated in participants performing in a final showcase at the 2020 Roots Lounge Open Mic and Poetry Slam run by Up From the Roots. When referencing the ways participants benefited from the program outside of their artistic skill-building, Watkis shares that "The participants of Filter Through Skin became a close community, developing both communal and interpersonal relationships. They became a community of artists sharing events and opportunities, but also became friends outside of art". Meet Joshua Watkis In 2013, Watkis began competing in National Youth Poetry Slams (YouthCan Slam) and by 2014 competed in the national adult scene twice (Canadian Individual Poetry Slam & Canadian Festival of Spoken Word). He notes that seeing the difference in competition and attitudes made him want to create and sustain spaces that were specifically catered to youth. To do this, he joined the BAM! Youth Slam Board of Directors in 2015 as a way to serve youth poets and connect them to larger artistic opportunities. Since then he has worked with several community arts organizations (in and out of schools) such as Urban Arts & Just BGraphic, served on ArtReach's Grant Review Team from 2017-2020, and currently runs two branches of the Poetry Saved Our Lives program with the Toronto Public Library. These are in addition to workshops and mentorship Watkis provides of his own volition to youth interested in pursuing the arts as a career path. For more information on on-going and upcoming programming and arts mentorship opportunities from Josh, follow his work at @thisisscribe on Instagram and his website www.thisisscribe.com.

Are you a young artist or entrepreneur preparing to file your taxes? Did you receive CERB/ CRB/ EI in 2020 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 about deadlines, correspondence, and web access. We’ll also cover income reporting and expense tracking for freelancers, HST, and an in-depth look at the 2020 tax year (such as new rules and credits, CERB/ CRB/ EI implications, and artist grants) before moving into a Q&A session. SESSION DETAILS: Date: Tuesday, February 23rd; 6:00-8:00pm Location: Zoom (a link will be provided upon registration) Register: Here! Facilitator: Tova Epp, Artbooks Partners: this workshop is presented by ArtReach, SKETCH Working Arts, and CUE Notes: This workshop is intended for youth 13-29 This session will be closed captioned, and will not be recorded Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements no later than 72 hours before the start of this session 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 About the Facilitator: Tova is a tax preparer/actor/certified animals-in-disaster rescuer. She’s been working at Artbooks for over 10 years doing the taxes of many incredible artists. Tova graduated with a BFA-Distinction from Concordia University. When she’s not at Artbooks she can be seen at one of her many other jobs around the city (gig economy for life), or auditioning for yet another commercial.

If you’re planning on applying for the upcoming deadline and think you could use some extra support, check out our offerings below! GRANT WRITING (FOR THE ARTREACH GRANT) WORKSHOP On Wednesday, January 13th, 2021, ArtReach is offering a free Grant Writing workshop specific to the 2021 ArtReach grant on Zoom! This interactive session will explore the basics of preparing a grant application for ArtReach’s upcoming 2021 deadline. It will break down the main components of our application, including the proposal, work plan and budget; and will provide tips for creating a clear and concise application. Learn more and RSVP here! 1-ON-1 SUPPORTS Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ArtReach will not be hosting in-person grant writing clinics this year. Instead, you can sign up for 1-1 meetings with our team! These meetings are an opportunity for applicants to ArtReach's 2021 granting round to meet one-on-one with ArtReach's Program Manager to receive feedback on your application draft, get support with planning your project, or request tips for strengthening your writing. Sign up here! ABOUT THE GRANT ArtReach is distributing $300,000 in grants to youth arts projects in Toronto! This funding is available thanks to ArtReach’s partnership with the Toronto Arts Council. Learn more about this partnership here. ArtReach funds projects that meet all of the following criteria... Projects that serve youth 13-29 who have experienced exclusion from active participation in high-quality arts opportunities Projects run in the City of Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York Community-based projects (no personal artist projects) Ongoing workshop series' (no drop-ins or one-time events) Projects run by individual artists under 30 or groups/ organizations/ collectives run by youth under 30 (no adult artists or adult-lead organizations) HOW TO APPLY Click here to review our program guidelines to confirm your eligibility, determine your funding stream, understand allowable expenses, and more. Once you're ready to apply, head to artreach.org/grants to start the application process! OTHER SUPPORTS Want to know more about how to write an amazing grant application? Check out our Grant Writing 101 Toolkit, Videos (Good Habits, Top Tips, The Basics), or our Grant Writing and Resource Page! Have questions or concerns? First time applying for a grant? Accessibility needs? Want to set up a time to talk with our program manager? Email grants@artreach.org!

ArtReach wishes you and yours a happy, safe, and healthy holiday season, and all the best in the new year. Please note that our office will be closed as of 5:00pm on Friday, December 18th, 2020, and will reopen on Monday, January 4th, 2021. Staff will not be responding to emails or social media messages during this closure. TODAY is the Last Day to Get Your Donation Matched! Can you imagine getting through the pandemic without creating or consuming art? When we need it the most, art is there for us. We turn to the arts when we need help, and now the arts need your help. Because of the pandemic, charities, non-profits, grassroots groups, and artists are facing tremendous financial loss, with programming and events cancelled, private and public funds diverted into emergency responses, and many individuals unable to donate to and spend on the arts as they used to. Although times are unpredictable, giving back isn’t cancelled, and is needed now more than ever. Giving to ArtReach is an investment in the arts and the young people that make them matter. Since 2006, we’ve given $4 million to artists and community arts projects across Toronto. We ask you now to make a donation in support of ArtReach. We welcome contributions of any amount- every dollar helps. Today is the last day to have your donation to ArtReach matched! Donations made until 11:59pm tonight will be matched by the generous donors on our Advisory Committee. Head to artreach.org/donate to give now! Meet Gilad Cohen: a three-time ArtReach grant recipient, former member of our Grant Review Team, and current member of our Advisory Committee, Gilad is one of the generous donors contributing matching funds for our 2020 fundraising campaign! 2021 Granting Program We're distributing $300,000 in grant funding to youth arts projects in Toronto! Applications will be accepted until February 1st, 2021 at 11:59pm. This funding is available thanks to ArtReach’s partnership with the Toronto Arts Council. Click here to review our program guidelines to confirm your eligibility, determine your funding stream, understand allowable expenses, and more. Once you're ready to apply, head to our grants webpage to start the application process! Sign-ups for our January 13th Grant Writing for the ArtReach Grant Workshop, and our 1-on-1 meetings with a Program Manager, open soon! Head to artreach.org/grants on January 1st to sign up!

Varna Media Management Varna Media Management is an organization founded by Dane Smith that specializes in project management, sports consulting, advertising, branding, and community programming. Their mission is to better facilitate relationships, while establishing long-term partnerships with clients and companies in support of the brand. Through their four key focus areas: social development, anti-violence, recreational sports, and community outreach, they offer programs and services that aim to empower and inspire youth. Dane describes Varna Media Management as a channel to “raise awareness and foster innovation around educational, and recreational opportunities”. The foundation sponsors specialized projects and events by collaborating with donors, business leaders, celebrities, athletes, and nonprofit organizations. TheIAM Project 2.OH In 2020, Varna Media Management received funding from ArtReach to run TheIAM Project 2.OH, a program building on their 2017 ArtReach-funded project, and a unique learning opportunity for youth creators from Lawrence Heights and St. James Town. The project provided underserved youth from these neighbourhoods with a hands-on learning environment to introduce participants to filmmaking. Topics covered included the basics of filmmaking, video editing, camera work, lighting, and editing. When the pandemic hit, Dane quickly adapted the project, transforming it into a hybrid virtual and socially-distanced small group program. Dane’s commitment to the project was clear, as he spent his summer travelling between neighbourhoods in Lawrence Heights, St. James Town, Cabbagetown, and Whitby to offer his program in ways most accessible and safe for his participants. Despite the challenges presented by COVID-19, Dane successfully ran 40 sessions and reached 35 youth, and unwaveringly maintained his dedication to “fostering youth’s creative needs and providing them with the skills and knowledge to continue expressing themselves after the project”. Community Dane Smith was raised in the Lawrence Heights neighbourhood in Toronto, where many youth in the community are unable to participate in extracurricular activities due to a lack of financial resources. Following graduation, Smith was inspired to do something positive for his community and others who had been through situations similar to his, so he began to work in youth programming. Dane’s community involvement spanned into the St. James Town Community, which he warmly notes “welcomed him with open arms” at the age of 15. When speaking on the youth in the community, Dane explains, “youth embody creativity and a willingness to learn, I want to provide an opportunity for them to express themselves, and to learn future career skills.” Because of this, Dane chooses to offer Varna Media Managements projects and programs to youth at no cost, giving them the opportunity to pursue their passions, and learn new skills. Meet Dane Smith Dane Smith is a passionate filmmaker and businessman. He openly speaks of facing many hardships in his life, but states that he “never viewed those times as negative…it strengthened me and made me the optimistic, strong willed person I am today.” Dane’s motivation and work ethic earned him a scholarship, where he learned the skills he uses today as a professional filmmaker and video editor. Outside of his arts and entrepreneurship career, Dane is also a professional basketball player and has been featured in numerous commercials for major brands such as Nike, Axe Canada, WeTheNorth, and the Toronto Raptors, and also participated in the NBA’s first-ever international campaign for NBA All-Star Weekend in Toronto and the 2016 Celebrity Game for team East. Learn more about Dane and Varna Media Management on his website https://www.danesmith.ca/ or on Instagram here:https://www.instagram.com/whoisdanesmith/

ArtReach is distributing $300,000 in grants to youth arts projects in Toronto! This funding is available thanks to ArtReach’s partnership with the Toronto Arts Council. Learn more about this partnership here. ArtReach funds projects that meet all of the following criteria... Projects that serve youth 13-29 who have experienced exclusion from active participation in high-quality arts opportunities Projects run in the City of Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York Community-based projects (no personal artist projects) Ongoing workshop series' (no drop-ins or one-time events) Projects run by individual artists under 30 or groups/ organizations/ collectives run by youth under 30 (no adult artists or adult-lead organizations) HOW TO APPLY: Click here to review our program guidelines to confirm your eligibility, determine your funding stream, see who can apply, understand allowable expenses, and more. Once you're ready to apply, head to our grants page to start the application process! 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! COVID-19 IMPLICATIONS: Due to potential public health restrictions, social distancing rules, and venue closures, online programs are eligible for ArtReach funding If your program is to be run in-person, you must follow all public health guidelines as outlined by Toronto Public Health related to the COVID-19 pandemic. We also encourage you to consider contingency planning in the event of unforeseen implementations of stricter guidelines (EG. moving back a phase, enforced lock down, etc.) Budget expenses related to COVID-19 precautions are allowable and encouraged (EG. hand sanitizer, masks for staff and participants, cleaning supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE), etc.) SUPPORTS: Want to know more about how to write an amazing grant application? Check out our Grant Writing 101 Toolkit, Videos (Good Habits, Top Tips, The Basics), or our Grant Writing and Resource Page! If you’re planning on applying for the upcoming deadline and think you could use some extra support, we’re hosting a Grant Writing for the ArtReach Grant Workshop on Wednesday, January 13th, 2021, and are offering lots of 1-1 supports through Zoom throughout the month of January. Sign-up for this workshop will go live on artreach.org/grants January 1st, 2021! Have questions or concerns? First time applying for a grant? Accessibility needs? Want to set up time to talk with our program manager? Email grants@artreach.org!

Can you imagine getting through the pandemic without creating or consuming art? Without music and podcasts? Books, magazines, and poetry? Films, TV shows, and online videos? Visual arts, crafting, painting, drawing, design, and photography? Video games? Culinary arts? Yoga and dance? Fashion and aesthetics? When we need it the most, art is there for us. It comforts us, entertains us, and connects us. It provides a light in the darkness, soothes us when we’re in turmoil, and reminds us of the beauty of being human. Amidst the heaviness and uncertainty we’ve experienced in the last year, artists continue to create and share their work. They give us something to hope for when it feels like there is little to look forward to, and inspire us when we’re in need of creative motivation. Artists have been uniting us in this shared experience and giving us a sense of community when social distancing prevents in-person connection. We turn to the arts when we need help, and now the arts need your help. Because of the pandemic, charities, non-profits, grassroots groups, and artists are facing tremendous financial loss, with programming and events cancelled, private and public funds diverted into emergency responses, and many individuals unable to donate to and spend on the arts as they used to. Although times are unpredictable, giving back isn’t cancelled, and is needed now more than ever. Giving to ArtReach is an investment in the arts and the young people that make them matter. Since 2006, we’ve given $4 million to artists and community arts projects across Toronto. We ask you now to make a donation in support of ArtReach. We welcome contributions of any amount- every dollar helps. And from now until Friday, December 18th, donations will be matched by ArtReach’s Advisory Committee up to $2,000. Head to artreach.org/donate to give now! Over the next month, ArtReach will be sharing videos from the amazing Advisory Committee members providing funds for this year's matching campaign, as well as profiles on some of the incredible grantees and creators we've had the privilege of working with this year. See these Monday & Wednesday afternoons on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Meet Paulina O'Kieffe: ArtReach's former Director and a current member of our Advisory Committee, Paulina is one of the generous donors contributing matching funds for our 2020 fundraising campaign! Meet 2020 ArtReach Grantee, Beerus (@ayrahtaerb): When the summer’s lockdowns interrupted his plan of running an indoor Kung Fu intensive, Beerus reimagined his project and offered participating youth socially-distanced meet-ups in local parks for 1-on-1 and small group training sessions. As a musician, Beerus kept us going by releasing an impressive 14 tracks and 5 music videos this year, along with countless online performances!

Led by wellness artist and community worker, Ammarah Syed (@ammarican), Resistance in Healing: Caring for Yourself is A Radical Act is a three-part self and community care workshop series focusing on care for folks on the margins. Through these sessions, participants will learn embodied self care art practices, develop their mindfulness skills, and gain an understanding of a framework for trauma from an institutional oppression perspective. This series is presented in partnership between SKETCH and ArtReach. Session Summaries: Thursday, December 3rd, 6pm: Psycho Ed (Trauma, Autonomy, and Boundaries) Thursday, December 10th, 6pm: Mindfulness (The Mind) Thursday, December 17th, 6pm: Somatics (The Body) Please note that as sessions will build on the knowledge and understanding from previous sessions, so we are encouraging participants to sign up for the entire series. Please only register if you are able to attend all three workshops. The deadline to apply is Sunday, November 22nd at 11:59pm, and successful applicants will be notified Thursday, November 26th. Email lydia@sketch.ca for information, and click here to fill out the registration form!

Are you a young Black artist or youth organizer? Have you been thinking about applying for funding for your projects but are unsure where to start? In this session, we will explore the basics of preparing a grant application specifically for Black artists. We will breakdown the main components of an application including the proposal, work plan and budget, which you will be able to use to implement your project. Facilitators will share tips on identifying funding resources, building relationships with funders, and writing compelling artist statements that specifically focus on articulating the Black experience through art. This workshop is for youth 13-29 years old, and the information presented in this session will be most helpful to first time/ newer grant writers. Date: Wednesday, December 9th; 6:00-8:00pm Facilitator: Paulina O’Kieffe and Adom Acheampong Platform: Zoom Register: Here This workshop is in collaboration with Nia Centre for the Arts. Questions? Email info@artreach.org

About the Session ArtReach is partnering with TakingITGlobal to deliver a #RisingYouth Info Session! In this session, we’ll explore how your identity and experiences could be connected to your passions and where you care about making a difference. We’ll use different tools to discuss how actionable the issues you have identified are, and how they could be turned into viable projects. We will also discuss how to mitigate risks if things don't go as planned in your project. The session will also include a walk through of the grant application and an introduction to the grantee hub. About Taking IT Global TakingITGlobal is one of the world's leading networks of young people learning about, engaging with, and working towards tackling global challenges. Their vision is for youth everywhere to be actively engaged and connected in shaping a more inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable world. About the #RisingYouth Grant TakingITGlobal is looking for young people who are inspired with ideas and ready to take action through their #RisingYouth youth-led community service grants. The grant’s objectives are to: Empower young people aged 15-30 to imagine ideas that can support their local community Help put these ideas to action through grants of $250, $750, or $1,500 Provide ongoing project support to make sure projects are thriving and successful Amplify the stories of youth across the country doing awesome things in their community Click here to see examples of their funded projects. Info Session Details Date: Thursday, November 26th, 2020 Time: 6:00-7:30pm Sign up: Here Note: Registration is limited, so sign up now!

Youth Ignite Art Ignite develops the visual arts skills of low income, racialized, or newcomer youth aged 15-19 living in the Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park communities through programs led by professional youth artists Tasneem Dairywala, Akshata Naik and Shehrbano Akhtar. Their 2019 ArtReach-funded project, Youth Ignite, uses visual arts-based tools and one-on-one demonstrations to build participants' skills in various drawing and paint media. The program is designed to mentor youth participants, so they can develop and implement their own workshops post-program. Founder and Executive Director Tasneem Dairywala, a local artist from Thorncliffe Park and a two-time ArtReach grantee, explains that they chose to focus on the Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park communities “due to the increase in newcomers who have few opportunities for artistic growth”. She further explains that Art Ignite “aims to transform community spaces into creative hubs, where residents can unleash their imaginations, connect with their community, gain valuable skills, and become leaders of change”. Programs Youth Ignite aims to develop creative knowledge and range for self-expression by educating youth on various art mediums. Through these workshops, participants also developed interpersonal skills, and confidence which will extend beyond the program and into their professional careers and further education. Since 2017, Art Ignite has engaged over 500 residents, held over 200 workshop sessions, and hosted 10 exhibitions. Past workshops have focused on watercolours, glass painting, acrylic painting, and clay art. For this iteration of their project, they began in-person programming in Fall 2019 at the Flemingdon Health Centre. However when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in Spring 2020, they creatively shifted to a virtual space. Their new virtual programs covered topics from art and self-care workshops, and included two public YouTube series’ for youth participants to access. The series’ included Journaling Ideas with Jothi Saldanha, and Character Design and Cartooning Tutorials with Huzaifa Mohammed Bhai. Mission and Values Art Ignite’s values of openness, harmony, wonder, connectedness, and growth ensure that the Youth Ignite program will positively affect youth. Tasneem shares, “The main feedback I got from participants [of Youth Ignite] was that they finally felt like they had space to just have fun with art while exploring a lot of different materials and meeting new people”. True to their values, Art Ignite is proud to offer workshops that are accessible to a diverse community, and are free of any socio-economic barriers. They raise public awareness and understanding of youth stereotyping by showcasing youth talent through exhibitions, which bring together residents, community partners, and other like-minded groups to recognize the vast talents of the youth in their community. Meet Tasneem Tasneem Dairywala, Art Ignite’s Founder and Executive Director, is an award-winning contemporary visual artist and educator. She holds a BFA from OCAD University and has nearly ten years of experience in arts programming. She is a firm believer that art has the power to overcome the ethnocultural boundaries that divide us, which led to her creating Art Ignite. Tasneem grew up in Flemingdon Park and has a decade of experience working in that community. Sharing art with her community “inspires her own artwork, and helps her fulfill her goal of making her neighbourhood a friendlier and warmer space”. Art Ignite continues to offer virtual programs to create safe spaces for individuals to form social bonds and build artists skills. Follow @artignite to stay updated on their latest workshops and programs.

ArtReach is hosting an upcoming series with three brand new workshops! This three-part online series will teach young community leaders, aged 13-29, the skills and best practices needed to plan and deliver impactful digital programming. Learn more and register below! Are you trying to figure out the best platform to run your online program? Unsure how to keep participants engaged during your workshop? Date: Wednesday, November 11th; 6:00-8:00pm Facilitator: Jess De Vittoris and Lydia Hernandez Partner: Social Planning Toronto & City of Toronto Neighbourhood Grants Program Register: Here In this session, we will walk through the pros and cons of popular online platforms Zoom, Google Meet, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to help you determine which is the best fit for your program. Facilitators will discuss a variety of options for presenting information, and share digital tips and tools you can use to keep your participants engaged. We’ll also explore best practices for running online sessions, how to “create a vibe”, and the staff roles needed to ensure a smooth delivery. Unsure how to program plan during the pandemic? Wondering if your existing in-person program can translate to an online format? Date: Wednesday, November 18th; 6:00-8:00pm Facilitator: Patrick De Belen Register: Here The pandemic has required us to re-imagine the way we deliver programming, leaving many community artists unsure how to move forward with their projects. In this session, we will discuss how to design successful community programs in the era of social distancing. We’ll explore how to make your program accessible for participants, best practices for risk management, and how and if your existing in-person program can be translated to a virtual space. Wondering how to make your digital communications stand out? Unsure how to develop an online outreach strategy that will bring in participants? Date: Wednesday, November 25th; 6:00-8:00pm Facilitator: Teneshia T. Samuel Partner: Black Women in Motion Register: Here When anyone can go “anywhere” online, it’s a struggle to know how to stand out from the crowd. In this session, participants will build skills in communications, branding, marketing, outreach, and creative design by learning how to develop a digital outreach and communications strategy. We will also explore how to build your outreach network by connecting with individuals and organizations who can help you promote your program, and what to do when your outreach strategy isn’t bringing in participants.

Masterpiece Taysean Wilson-Nolan received funding from ArtReach in 2020 in order to run Masterpiece, a non-profit project that helps youth 13-18 develop the skills needed to create content through media arts. The participants study media artistry and develop their skills through hands-on activities. Participants have the opportunity to work with professional equipment and industry-level software by Adobe to create graphic designs, learn web design, and produce videos. Finally, the participants are taught how to make a secure website to showcase their content on a professional and personalized platform. Masterpiece Goal and Mission Taysean’s goal with Masterpiece is to help youth find better means of making a living as they prepare for adulthood. Taysean adds that, “in the GTA, especially in North Etobicoke, there aren’t any other known web design and graphic design programs that are free to youth”. Taysean believes that if youth are given the tools to be successful, they will more likely be encouraged to pursue higher education and Masterpiece will demonstrate how students can use education to their advantage. Taysean has stated that the vision for the masterpiece project is to “construct a culture that lies upon the principles of love, respect and faith. We believe that having a good foundation can uplift the community by teaching them both hard-skills and soft-skills which will in turn enable them to excel in our society”. Adjusting to a virtual environment Like most creatives this year, Taysean, along with the project’s organizational partner, the Rexdale Women’s Centre, had to modify the Masterpiece from an in-person workshop series to digital classes due to the pandemic. Instead of a summer-long series, Masterpiece was run as a four-week online intensive in July 2020. Taysean used social media and other networking platforms in order to successfully advertise his program, bringing in nearly fifteen students. Participants who were able to finish the program earned a Media-arts Certificate of Achievement. While some students faced difficulties attending classes, Taysean ensured participants were able to complete projects and successfully graduate from the program. Using funds previously allocated to now unnecessary expenses like space, refreshments, and transportation, participants were given their own licences to Adobe software to continue applying what they learned and build their digital arts skills after the program ended. About Taysean Wilson-Nolan Taysean Wilson-Nolan has always taken an active role in his community as a motivational speaker, volunteer tutor, and public figure in his hometown Rexdale, Toronto, Ontario. He attended Rexdale's Pro-Tech Media Centre where he learned graphic design and film production skills. This led to him starting his own media production company, Hour Zero, and writing his first book, “Hear The Cries Of My Heart” which was picked up by publishers and distributed in 2019. Taysean initially used his production skills to help youth athletes in the GTA make highlight videos in order to gain exposure to universities who are actively recruiting athletes. These videos opened up the opportunity for many students to receive athletic and academic scholarships from universities upon graduation. Taysean continues to inspire and educate youth around GTA through the “Masterpiece” project while also starting an inspirational podcast. You can stay updated on Taysean’s work through his website and learn more about Masterpiece here.