We’re developing a Newcomer Workforce Development program

The program is made possible thanks to support from the TD Ready Challenge

March 28, 2025

Thanks to a three-year, $1 million grant from TD Bank Group (TD) through the TD Ready Challenge, we’re increasing our support to newcomer artists through a new workforce development program. This new initiative will better connect newcomer artists to sustainable career pathways and strengthen their presence in education, media, and other creative industries. This program will be under-pinned by partnerships with industry leaders in workforce development in the arts and education, to ensure that artists gain specialized training, mentorship, and job placements, bridging the gap between artistic talent and professional opportunity.

Toronto Arts Foundation, through our Neighbourhood Arts Network, has been a leader in ensuring the contributions of newcomer artists to our city and country are recognized, celebrated, and protected. Not only do newcomer artists strengthen Canada’s cultural, social, and economic landscape by bringing fresh perspectives, techniques, and traditions that enrich the country’s diverse arts scene, but their work fosters creativity, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression while promoting cultural exchange and understanding. Through collaborations, storytelling, working with traditional or new techniques, newcomer artists play a crucial role in community building and shaping Canada’s evolving identity.

We launched our first dedicated program to support newcomer artists in 2014, which has since evolved to offer recognition, resources, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to help newcomer artists navigate Canada's creative sector. Team members from Neighbourhood Arts Network have spent years forming lasting relationships with these exceptional artists and adjusting our programs based on what newcomer artists tell us they need most. For many – who come to Canada as accomplished artists – the barriers they face to enter Canada’s cultural scene are limiting.

Having to navigate different systems, ways of securing arts funding and needing to form entirely new networks from scratch are just some of the hurdles that newcomer artists face. Added to this, we know from our research that 80% of artists struggle to earn a living wage, with many relying on freelance work to get by. A competitive sector, lack of community-building opportunities, workforce models that fail to support sustainable careers for artists; it’s clear that newcomer artists need even more of a helping hand.

Our new, enhanced program for newcomer artists will follow a workforce development approach. We’ve had the privilege of working on a similar approach through our ArtWorksTO program – offered to youth media artists (18-29) who are Indigenous, Black and People of Colour in partnership with our Neighbourhood Arts Network, the City of Toronto, The Remix Project, and Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCAD U). Through ArtWorksTO, we’re equipping individuals with the training and skills needed to advance in their careers, securing stable employment and increasing earning potential.

The Newcomer Workforce Development Program will function the same way – meeting a growing demand for specialized training, networking, and mentorship to help artists navigate common barriers such as credential recognition, employment obstacles and limited networks. Over three years, annual cohorts of 25 newcomer artists – who are either media artists or education professionals - will gain entrepreneurial skills, paid work experience and access to industry networks. The goal of the program is to promote their economic independence, personal and professional growth, social integration and long-term career success. Details about the program will be rolled out in the coming months.

We’re incredibly grateful to the TD Ready Challenge and TD for helping us realize this expanded program that will benefit not only newcomer artists, but all of Toronto and Canada, with lasting impacts on our creative sector.

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Spotlight: Azadeh Pirazimian, Interdisciplinary Artist

 

www.azadehpirazimian.com

Azadeh Pirazimian (she/her) is an Iranian Canadian interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto whose work explores themes of belonging, betweenness, place, and resilience in diaspora through diverse media. Azadeh's artistic practice merges various disciplines, including drawing, mark-making, photography, video, performance, and sculpture. We’ve gotten to know Azadeh through our newcomer supports offered through our Neighbourhood Arts Network.

Azadeh spoke with us about her inspiring yet complicated journey of transitioning and adapting to her new life in Toronto as a newcomer artist.

She emphasizes that researching relevant programs, organizations, and galleries is key to finding opportunities that align with one's artistic goals in a new country. However, this process often requires navigating complex requirements and unfamiliar procedures. Add to that the challenge of overcoming a language barrier and the task becomes even more daunting. As Azadeh reflects, “Every small detail felt essential, and trying to understand and follow the process often left me feeling lost and exhausted.” She acknowledges that adapting to a new environment can be discouraging—not only for her, but for many newcomers facing similar hurdles, especially those in artistic fields.

Before moving to Canada, Azadeh was an educator in Iran, but the differences between the educational systems in the two countries significantly impacted her approach to lesson planning and curriculum development. She had to adapt her years of experience to align with the expectations of her new environment, which felt like another setback. "It required an enormous amount of time and effort to rebuild everything from scratch," Azadeh shared. She wished there had been a program that could connect her existing expertise with Canada’s education policies and practices. While there were some programs designed to assist newcomers in Canada, there remained a significant gap for those pursuing careers in the arts or arts education.

Azadeh is deeply grateful for the programs offered by our Neighborhood Arts Network, which are specifically tailored to support her new career goals as an artist. “Through these opportunities, I was able to build a solid knowledge base and gather essential resources that laid the foundation for my next steps” she reflects. The support from Neighborhood Arts Network proved invaluable, playing a crucial role in helping her navigate her new path.

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How to Get Involved

We invite arts organizations, employers, and mentors to connect with us and explore various opportunities to participate in and contribute to our new program. Your involvement can help expand the reach and impact of our initiatives, supporting newcomer artists as they build careers and contribute to Canada’s creative landscape.

Here are some ways you can get involved:

• Partner with us to offer workshops, exhibitions, or professional development opportunities for newcomer artists.
• If you’re in the creative industry, consider offering job placements, internships, or commissions for newcomer artists.
• Mentorship - share your expertise and you can help newcomer artists navigate the Canadian arts scene, refine their skills, and pursue their professional goals.
• Donations also support our efforts in providing resources and tools that empower these artists to succeed in their careers.
• Contact Dane Bland, Director, Development & Engagement, Toronto Arts Foundation: dane@torontoarts.org

 

Our Newcomer Workforce Development Program is made possible thanks to