Author Archives: Neighbourhood Arts Network
Supporting Our Youth & Pink Ink
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Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is a community development program designed to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgendered youth in Toronto through the active involvement of youth and adult communities. SOY works to create healthy arts, culture and recreational spaces for young people; to provide supportive housing and employment opportunities; and to increase youth access to adult mentoring and support.
Recently, I sat down with with fellow George Brown student, Ryan Singh, who just recently finished up a placement with Supporting Our Youth Toronto. We covered quite a bit of ground regarding SOY’s use of arts programming in its work with LGBTQ+ youth as well as his own growth as a community worker throughout his time with SOY. He points out that SOY has allowed to him to utilize and expand upon his facilitation skills as well as operate within a diverse group environment. Individually, he is also very involved in the performing arts and we spoke about what SOY offers in terms of current programming. From April 7th through July 7th, SOY is offering a writing program called Pink Ink. It is facilitated by local Toronto musician and author, Vivek Shraya. In the past, participants have produced zines, poetry, short stories, essays, and more. More information about this program can be found below.
Pink Ink
Offered to queer, transgender, Two Spirit, and questioning youth (ages 14-29) who are interested in writing. It focuses on editing, performance, publication, and more! This program is also a great opportunity to meet other queer and trans individuals from all over Canada. In the past, participants have produced a variety of items including zines, poetry, short stories, essays, and more.
Ryan summed up his time with SOY as such: “It is great to work in an environment that is not only queer friendly and/or queer accepting, but queer. Everyone involved with SOY really lives the principles and values. It is living and celebrating positive queer values; being positive with positive people.”
To learn more about Supporting Our Youth and their services, visit them online at http://soytoronto.org
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Alex Pollard is the 2011-2012 Neighbourhood Arts Network intern.
Work in Progress
Ten Shades with Domanique Grant
Come out and enjoy an intimate night of good food, great music and success in Toronto… We’d like to celebrate with you!
Your invited to the Ten Shades event on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 inside of Harlem Restaurant (67 Richmond Street East).
Ten Shades is Domanique Grant’s going away celebration/ fundraiser and pre-album listening party, in celebration of the singer-songwriter’s up and coming international ventures to Vancouver and Uganda this summer.
The event will include an interactive live band and listening showcase, featuring unreleased material from Domanique Grants’s forth coming album, music by Dj Ty Hale, a special performance by June Ballentyne and giveaways. Partial proceeds for the event will be donated to The Shanti Uganda Society in support of new equipment for their facility in Luweero Uganda.
Dinner at 7pm; Performances & Live Band at 9pm
Hosted by Pivotal
Live Band: Avery Levin-Gold (Piano); April Lavine (Percussion); James Faulkner (Guitar); Kimi Suzuki (Violin); Tenisha Clarke (Vocals)
To learn more about Domanique Grant, check out her ACE Award finalist video!
Sponsored by:
The Cooperative Housing Federation of Toronto
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http://domaniquegrant.com
http://twitter.com/domaniquegrant
http://facebook.com/DomaniqueGrantMusic
http://youtube.com/domaniquegrant
North York Arts Online Celebrates North York’s Arts and Culture Scene
| TORONTO – Claire Hopkinson, Executive Director of Toronto Arts Foundation (TAF) is pleased to announce the launch of North York Arts Online (www.northyorkarts.org), the premiere website celebrating North York’s vibrant cultural scene. Featuring programming information, a comprehensive calendar of arts events, as well as information on exciting new arts and culture initiatives, North York Arts Online will be the go-to platform capturing the growing arts scene in North York.
The website is the first public iteration of North York Arts (NYA), a new arts organization initiated to serve the North York area in response to the release of a study of the region’s arts community conducted by TAF in May 2011. The creation of the hub was catalyzed by a generous initial financial gift from Minto Group Inc. and work began in earnest in August 2011 with the appointment of Lila Karim as Managing Director of the organization. “We are excited to launch the first phase of North York Arts Online to the Toronto arts community” said Ms. Karim. “North York Arts Online will evolve into a one-stop arts and culture information portal to support North York artists, arts groups and promote the vibrant arts activity within the region.” “We are delighted to have this major opportunity to design and incubate a new arts organization and arts hub” said Claire Hopkinson. We sincerely thank Councillor John Filion for all his help to date, as well our founding project sponsor, Minto Group Inc. Bringing more opportunity for artistic expression and participation throughout the entire city of Toronto is a key goal of Toronto Arts Foundation. A project such as North York Arts is an integral component of Creative City: Block by Block, our vision for transforming how the arts are accessed and enjoyed in Toronto.” North York Arts presents an exciting opportunity for artists and arts organizations to build meaningful and lasting partnerships with their local community. It will play a vital role in Toronto’s arts ecology, helping to connect the large population of North York to the artistic activity all around them, as well as to the arts activity found throughout the rest of the city. The creation of North York Arts is a testament to strong political leadership, as well as a commitment to expanding and strengthening the cultural landscape of Toronto. North York Arts celebrates a new model of organizational sustainability, with strong ties to its community and the private sector for its support. Toronto Arts Foundation works to make a real and lasting impact, looking to build a more creative city, one block at a time. |
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| About Toronto Arts Foundation
A non-profit charitable organization, Toronto Arts Foundation has the exclusive focus and unique strengths to design effective programs which unite art making and city building. TAF leverages the knowledge and experience of its sister organization Toronto Arts Council to spearhead initiatives to strengthen arts accessibility. It seeks to achieve increased social and economic benefits from the arts for our city, increased citizen participation in the arts, increased recognition of Toronto’s artistic excellence and increased financial investment in the arts. Toronto Arts Foundation is powered by a vision, Creative City: Block by Block – a commitment to connect every Toronto neighbourhood to the transformative power of artistic activity. For more information on TAF please visit www.torontoartsfoundation.org |
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| About North York Arts
North York Arts, an incubation project of Toronto Arts Foundation, is designed to address the needs and interests of artists, arts organizations and residents of North York. , North York Arts is working in collaboration with North York City Councillors, local artists and organizations, the City’s Culture Division and TAF’s Neighbourhood Arts Network to foster arts programming and engagement in North York. North York Arts will offer marketing and promotion services, networking and community development workshops, programming, and administrative support to the North York arts community. For more information please visit www.northyorkarts.org |
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Street Art Funding in Toronto
UPDATE: Please note that StreetARToronto has announced a second deadline of May 23! More info is available on the NAN news page: http://www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org/news/start-toronto-funding-deadline-extended
An info session about the StreetARToronto grant program and a discussion on innovation and community engagement in public art. April 19 from 4pm-6pm at Art Starts.
Directions: Yorkdale Mall is located at the Yorkdale Subway Station. Art Starts’ Yorkdale Community Arts Centre is located in the Lower Level of the Yorkdale Mall. Access the Lower Level via the elevators beside the Home Outfitters escalator. Exit into what looks like an underground parking garage, go through a set of double doors and voila!
Wondering what’s happening with Toronto’s new graffiti management plan and the Graffiti Transformation Project? Do you want to learn more about funding available from the new StreeetARToronto (StART) grant program? Are you interested in shaping the future of city-supported community murals and street art in Toronto?
The Neighbourhood Arts Network, Art Starts, and Whippersnapper Gallery invite artists, cultural workers, and interested community members to join us on April 19th for an information session about StreetARToronto funding, followed by a discussion on innovation and community engagement in public art.
Special guests will include StreetARToronto manager Lilie Zendel , Joshua Barndt (Whippersnapper), Katherine Earl (Art Starts), Sean Martindale, and more.
This is a FREE event, but space is limited. Please RSVP to skye@torontoarts.org before April 16th. Questions? Please contact skye@torontoarts.org, or call 416 392 6802 x212
For exact directions, please contact Art Starts at 416-656-9994
Presented by: Neighbourhood Arts Network, Art Starts, and Whippersnapper Gallery
Free Info Sessions for St. James Town Artists
FREE INFO SESSION FOR ARTISTS IN ST. JAMES TOWN
Meet other artists from St. Jamestown, learn how to create an artist profile, and join a city-wide arts network for free.
Attend one of these three information session and learn how to promote your work, and share how being creative has an impact on your life. RSVP by visiting the community matters office or email margo@torontoartscouncil.org
2012 Small Business Arts Forum
The 2012 Small Business Arts Forum is coming up on Tuesday April 24! This year’s topic is Financing Growth in the Arts. Check out the program or visit toronto.ca/artsforum to learn more.
Take Part in Culture Days at the Toronto Public Library
The Toronto Public Library (TPL), the Neighbourhood Arts Network (NAN) and Culture Days are pleased to continue Culture Days @ The Library for a second year. This exciting partnership was created to help artists and arts groups share their creative work with the public. Now in its third year, Culture Days is a pan-Canadian celebration of arts and culture. For more information, visit www.culturedays.ca.
Kir Stefan the Serb Choir; Photo by Christian Badanjak
CALL FOR ARTISTS: CULTURE DAYS @ THE LIBRARY
The Toronto Public Library is offering free venues to Toronto-based artists and cultural groups wishing to be part of Culture Days on September 28-29, 2012. This partnership enables artists to take their practice out of their private studios into the accessible spaces of library branches so that the public can discover and engage with their work. Past participants describe Culture Days @ the Library as a great opportunity to connect with new audiences and to build strong community relationships. From Etobicoke to Scarborough, North York and downtown, some 40 TPL branches spanning the city will provide venues at no cost.
Toronto-based individual artists, small and medium-sized professional arts as well as volunteer-run cultural organizations, collectives or groups that wish to organize their events at a TPL branch are invited to submit to the simple application by April 30, 2012. Activities in all artistic disciplines are encouraged as well as those that appeal to families and to audiences of diverse ages. To be considered for a space, the arts activity must be free and interactive.
TPL staff will make their selections from among the applications and contact activity organizers for further information. Decisions will be based on the suitability of the activity for the branch’s venue space and the interactive nature of the activity. This program cannot provide any financial assistance for supplies or equipment; however, participants do receive administrative, marketing and promotional support for their activity via the joint efforts of Culture Days, TPL and NAN.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
A simple application form is now on-line. Applications will be accepted from now until April 30, 2012.
Applicants will be matched with the appropriate library branches based on the suitability and interactive nature of the activity. Those applicants who meet the criteria will be contacted by Toronto Public Library Branch Heads in the latter part of May to discuss in detail their activity and may be required to submit further information related to space requirements, equipment, etc.
NOTIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION
Branches will send out confirmation notifications by May 30, 2011.
The following branches have committed to hosting Culture Days activities. The majority of activities will be scheduled on Saturday, September 29, with a limited number scheduled on Friday, September 28. For location and other details about each branch, go to http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/hours-locations/index.jsp
PARTICIPATING BRANCHES
| Agincourt | Evelyn Gregory | Mount Pleasant |
| Albert Campbell | Gerrard/Ashdale | North York Central Childrens’ Dept |
| Amesbury Park | Guildwood | Northern District |
| Annette Street | High Park | Pape/Danforth |
| Beaches | Humberwood | Parliament Street |
| Bendale | Jane/Sheppard | Queen/Saulter |
| Brentwood | Kennedy/Eglinton | Riverdale |
| Bridlewood | Leaside | S. Walter Stewart |
| Centennial | Lillian H. Smith | Sanderson |
| College/Shaw | Main Street | Spadina Road |
| Don Mills | Malvern | Taylor Memorial |
| Downsview | Maryvale | Weston |
| Dufferin/St. Clair | McGregor Park | York Woods |
| Eglinton Square | Morningside |
ABOUT CULTURE DAYS
Culture Days is a collaborative, Canada-wide volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. Launched in 2010, the annual Culture Days event takes place in more than 800 Canadian cities and towns during the last weekend of September, generating an extraordinary amount of enthusiasm in the process. This year’s Culture Days weekend will take place on September 28, 29 and 30, 2012. Once again, the event will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes”—and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community. To learn more, please visit www.culturedays.ca
Culture Days in Ontario is supported by the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Ontario in recognition of Celebrate the Artist Weekend.
ABOUT TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Toronto Public Library is the world’s busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 98 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. As cornerstones of their neighbourhoods, our libraries connect people to each other and to their community, inspiring the spirit of exploration, the joy of reading and the pursuit of knowledge for people of all ages and backgrounds. To learn more, please visit www.torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
ABOUT NEIGHBOURHOOD ARTS NETWORK
Neighbourhood Arts Network is the place where arts and community engagement meet. NAN helps artists and community organizations do what they do best: enrich Toronto and transform it into a more vibrant, beautiful, and liveable city. We catalyze new relationships and conversations, collect research and share information. We envision a Toronto where all residents are empowered to discover and shape the cultural life of their communities. Neighbourhood Arts Network is a project of the Toronto Arts Foundation. To learn more, please visit www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org
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Culture Days contact:
Aubrey Reeves, Culture Days Ontario Manager
(416) 646-7469 aubreyreeves@culturedays.ca
Toronto Public Library contact:
Anne Marie Aikins – Manager, Community Relations
Toronto Public Library Communications, Programming and Customer Engagement
(416) 393-7212 aaikins@torontopubliclibrary.ca
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For more information about Culture Days, please visit www.on.culturedays.ca
2012 Refocus Fashion Show
On Sunday, May 13th, We.Will.Now is hosting the 2012 Refocus Fashion Show. The event has been put together by a team of dynamic and creative youth in order to showcase symbols throughout the city of Toronto that spotlight social issues and causes that they are passionate about. Through a diverse lens, this event and its participants will ‘refocus’ public attention onto the things that really matter.
The free event will feature a unique, one-of-a-kind fashion show, entertainment, networking, and light refreshments.
Check out this video and see what the Refocus team has been up to:
For more information on this event, and We.Will.Now, visit them online here.
If you would like to purchase tickets for the 2012 Refocus Fashion Show, click here!
