Posted by Jorge LeClair in 
ArtReach Toronto is an innovative youth focused and youth driven program with a mandate to support arts initiatives that engage youth who have experienced exclusion in under-served areas of Toronto.
With strong financial support from all three levels of government, funding organizations and donors, ArtReach has committed to spending $1.2 million over 3 years to support projects that encourage creative expression through quality arts opportunities for youth. ArtReach also provides free youth capacity building workshops on fundraising, leadership and non-profit organization administration.
Much like the Youth Challenge Fund, ArtReach embraces a growing social change philosophy that youth should be involved in the design, funding decisions and evaluations of youth programs. In other words, youth must be a vital part in creating solutions to the issues of youth oppression, disengagement, crime and negative influences.
The idea for ArtReach Toronto was created out of 2004 Intergovernmental Roundtable of Art Funders and Foundations (IRAFF) from the recognition youth in the Greater Toronto Area are increasingly find it difficult to access to relevant cultural arts programs. ArtReach Toronto believes that arts programs have high youth appeal and that quality arts experiences/programs can serve as a powerful engagement method; ultimately improving Toronto’s communities, include the city’s priority neighbourhoods.
ArtReach provides grants to non-profit organizations, individual artists or groups of artists for arts initiatives that provide meaningful youth arts opportunities and engage youth aged 13-29 from Toronto’s Priority Neighbourhoods. Youth must be part of every aspect of the project – design, implementation, management and evaluation. ArtReach also tries to fund arts projects that may not supported elsewhere.
Non-profit organizations are eligible to receive $75 000 over 3 years while individual artists or groups of artists are eligible for $10 000 in funding.
Example programs that ArtReach Toronto has funded include:
Centre for Spanish Speaking Peoples: The Sequel – The program will provide 10 Latino youth with an opportunity to build skills in the art of filmmaking. These youth will have an opportunity to tell their story through the films they develop and screen in the Jane and Finch community. Amount: $24,330
Beyond the Lyrics Youth Resource Centre Inc: Living Through HERstory - a collaborative project that will support young women from Crescent Town to build skills in traditional dance forms, as well as the cultural art form of basket weaving, to develop mouts (Harari baskets) and hats. This inter-generational project also aims to engage young women in discussions around their experiences with respect to identity and familial disconnect. Amount: $17,550
As a Grant Writer, I have worked with and mentored youth driven projects, I would be happy to answer any questions you may have or assist with you a grant proposal. I can be contacted at jorge@jorgeleclair.ca
