We’re delighted to share that we’ll be working with Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network to help deliver their 2025 ArtWorksTO Newcomer Program.
Neighbourhood Arts Network (NAN), a strategic initiative of Toronto Arts Foundation, connects, supports, and uplifts multidisciplinary artists across Toronto. Through artist-centred mentorship, career training, and professional opportunities and resources, NAN sparks creative growth, fosters belonging, and champions equity in the arts.
Their ArtWorksTO program supports access to meaningful employment in the media arts and creative industries through targeted workforce development for artists and creatives.
We’re excited to be working in partnership with NAN to help deliver a new stream of the ArtWorksTO program this year, which will focus on providing sustainable career pathways for newcomer media artists and arts educators.
Recognizing the challenges newcomers face in accessing meaningful employment, this initiative will offer training, mentorship, and industry connections in the media arts and arts education to help bridge the gap between artistic talent and professional opportunities. The program will equip participants with the necessary skills, credentials, and work experience to establish lasting careers in the creative industry, while also supporting them as small business entrepreneurs through mentorship, financial literacy training, and access to resources that help them build sustainable, independent practices.
Work in Culture will help connect participants with host organizations to collaborate on a media arts or arts education project that supports the organization’s goals.
For example, participants in the media arts stream may contribute to content creation, digital storytelling, or visual communication to help host organizations reach broader and more diverse audiences. Those in the arts education stream may support the development or delivery of inclusive, community-based learning initiatives that reflect a range of cultural perspectives.
We’re really looking forward to this partnership! We’ll be sharing more details when the program launches this summer, but if you’d like to be among the first to hear, sign up for our e-newsletter here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AWTOHosts
The 2025 ArtWorksTO Newcomer Program is sponsored by TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Challenge.