ArtReach Toronto: Building Bridges for Youth Artists

2 November 2011 No Comments

By Adebe DeRango Adem

ArtReach Toronto is a program designed to support arts initiatives that engage youth who have experienced exclusion in under-served areas of Toronto.

A guiding principle for ArtReach Toronto is the idea that funding needs to be accessible to youth directly and it needs to empower youth by placing ownership of projects in their hands. ArtReach Toronto encourages youth to take the lead in defining what art means to them and what they need from the program to achieve their goals.

ArtReach Program Manager Shahina Sayani and ArtReach volunteer May El-Abdallah discuss the array of dynamic opportunities ArtReach provides.

How have you seen ArtReach take effect in Toronto’s youth communities, and in particular, youth communities of colour? How has ArtReach acted as a bridge — metaphorically but also literally — to arts opportunities?

By providing funding to youth, and in particular youth of colour, ArtReach Toronto is able to enrich the cultural and artistic landscape of the city while empowering young people to express themselves and develop their creativity. We are constantly blown away by the calibre of talent that is in youth communities.

We have funded everything from beat-making to dancehall to basket weaving to drag performance. We are bringing that talent to light and allowing it to flourish. Since 2007, over 2400 youth have participated in 91 arts-based projects that ArtReach funded. Over 500 of those youths were in leadership positions gaining invaluable skills and knowledge.

The grant-writing process is complex and onerous. ArtReach provides an avenue that makes it more accessible – providing a much needed boost to young artists that might not yet be in the place to navigate the bigger funders, but can get there with the right support. We get youth there, overwhelmingly. 66% of ArtReach grantees were successful in obtaining grants from arts funders after their ArtReach experience.

What is the relationship between art/creativity and confidence? Why is arts programming important for Toronto’s youth, even if unsure about dedicate their lives to the arts?

A lot of young people have been sent messages that their ideas aren’t worth expressing. It’s a hugely empowering and liberating act to find your voice when you’ve been silenced, whether you express it through a graphic novel or a photograph. Having others be responsive and supportive of your expression is another confidence boost. Through art, young people are creating safe spaces to share experiences and learn from each other. It’s not just limited to the art itself.

ArtReach projects put young people in the driver’s seat. They aren’t just responsible for showing up to workshops or creating a piece of work. They are responsible for everything from project design, to marketing, to budgeting and financial management. They learn to set goals, work collaboratively, and be accountable.

Each year, ArtReach Toronto (in collaboration with Manifesto, Grassroots Youth Collaborative and City of Toronto Cultural Services) organizes a city-wide Youth Arts Pitch Contest for young artists between the ages of 16 and 24. The contest has a legacy for being one of Toronto’s biggest opportunities for young artists to “get discovered,” while encouraging community participation through the arts. What do you love most about the Pitch Contest in general?

The best part of the Pitch Contest is the energy in the room. The audience is hugely receptive to the performances. They become really engaged and invested in the finalists. The finalists are endlessly creative in the ways they pitch ideas. We’ve seen everything from theatre to pitches in the form of lyrics to a live musical performance. ArtReach has also been honoured to host industry heavy-hitters as judges. Canadian legends like Farley Flex and Michie Mee have been there to give the finalists feedback and inspire them to keep going.

In your own words, how does ArtReach Toronto stand out from other arts organizations?

ArtReach provides meaningful leadership roles for youth to participate in arts programming and governance. We don’t just give away money, though that is important! We provide technical support, mentoring and capacity building. Our website hosts a series of toolkits on topics such as grant writing and fundraising (www.artreachtoronto.ca/toolkits).

We also hold at least one workshop per month on the skills needed to carry out successful projects, such as Financial Management and Evaluation. These workshops and toolkits are available to all; not just the youth we fund. Over 1100 youth have participated in our workshops already.

The other unique component of ArtReach as a funding organization is that the Grant Review Team is made up predominantly of youth from the youth arts and nonprofit community. Applicants are presenting to their peers, individuals who get where they’re coming from and the barriers they’ve faced.

To read more about ArtReach Toronto’s initiatives, projects, and funding opportunities, and how you can get involved, visit www.artreachtoronto.ca.