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.
Donor story: Neera Chopra We asked Neera what motivates her to support arts and culture. 1. Tell us about yourself and your relationship to arts and culture. I had the opportunity to live in Europe for over 8 years and have been lucky enough to travel the world; the one thing I found that brought us together regardless of your language or country was the ARTS. When I returned back to Toronto in 2006, I was naturally drawn to supporting Arts and Culture. Happily, there was a bit of a cultural renaissance taking place in Toronto and I was able to contribute my enthusiasm and skills in supporting artists and arts organizations; be it a museum, classical Indian Dance or innovations being brought in by artists from around the world through Luminato. Given what Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) does to create a beautiful intersection of History, Culture and Nature, I was also drawn to the ROM. As soon as I met Claire [Hopkinson], Toronto Arts Council (TAC) and the Foundation’s dynamic CEO at the time, and learned of TAC and the Foundation’s contributions to our city and the artists it serves, I knew I had to put my efforts in supporting these amazing organizations. The two terms I’ve spent as a board member of TAC and the Foundation have been some of the most enjoyable, meaningful and rewarding experiences of my life and I continue to support the Foundation’s efforts. 2. What does philanthropy mean to you? It’s a great question because often philanthropy is equated with financial support. To me, it’s about giving my time and helping Arts organizations like TAC and the Foundation achieve their mandate of supporting diverse and innovative artists who are enriching Toronto through their craft and ideas. I also give back through volunteering and was pleased to receive my 15-year Ontario Volunteer Service Award a few weeks ago. Neera Chopra smiles in front of a lighting display supported by Nanoleaf, along with members from Indigenous Fashion Arts at The Mayor’s Evening for the Arts 2023. 3. What drives you to support arts charities? For me, it’s all about helping institutions preserve our diverse cultural history for future generations and accessibility to arts for all. Our museums and arts organizations are custodians of our heritage and given the diversity of our citizens, they are all interested in seeing a piece of their heritage reflected in our national institutions. We all want to be able to celebrate our cultures, through whichever medium we connect to, while remaining true to Canadian values. I think that’s what’s going to continue to bring us together. The pivotal role TAC and the Foundation played in supporting artists through the pandemic is a testimony to the undisputable positive impact of the arts in our daily lives. It’s no secret that the arts enrich our lives and if I can support in being an ambassador for this valuable cause, I consider it a privilege. 4. What makes Toronto Arts Foundation unique, and why do you support the Foundation in particular? The staff at TAC works really hard to identify and support a myriad of ideas and artists who have made Toronto their home. I have been privileged to have served on the board and saw first hand the excellent work that gets done. The Foundation supplements TAC through creating a platform to raise additional resources. What’s unique about the Foundation is that it can lend a hand when TAC may not have the funds for that excellent idea and its immediate impact. Arts in the Parks is a recent example of the importance of small investment that provides so much joy to all who experience it. The artists get to share their art and the public gets to enjoy it, all in a healthy environment: the outdoors. What a wonderful combination of a win for all! The Mayor’s Arts Lunch is another wonderful event that brings an opportunity to recognize artists that may not find a platform to convey their artform. For me, supporting an award that can provide small victories that may change the course of history in someone’s life is very humbling and compels me to provide on-going support.
Toronto Arts Foundation Thanks its Donors and Sponsors in 2024 Toronto Arts Foundation deeply appreciates its incredible community of donors who make the bold decision to invest philanthropically in the arts because, like us, they believe in art. We celebrate and thank each and every one for their generosity and collaboration and we look forward to continuing our work together in 2025 and beyond. 2024 was a fantastic year for Toronto Arts Foundation and our dedicated supporters. Together, we marked the 50th anniversary of Toronto Arts Council – 50 years of connecting communities to the arts and nurturing the artists and organizations that have shaped our unique, creative city. We welcomed over 1,200 people to a public celebration of art in June, enhanced the Mayor’s Evening for the Arts with an exciting new gala, welcomed over 90,000 adults and children to Arts in the Parks events across the city all summer long, supported over 100 artists through our Neighborhood Arts Network initiatives, and awarded over $100,000 to Toronto artists and arts leaders for their outstanding achievements. As we finish the year, we enter 2025 with renewed vigour and vision to make Toronto a better place for everyone through the arts. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to all of our donors, sponsors, and supporters for being such crucial partners in this vision.
TD Bank Group Champions Arts In The Parks Toronto Arts Foundation and TD Bank Group are working together to break down financial, geographic, language and access barriers to the arts by offering Torontonians a culturally diverse range of free, family-friendly arts experiences in parks across Toronto through Arts in the Parks. The Ready Commitment, TD’s global corporate citizenship platform, supports change, nurtures progress and contributes to making the world a better, more inclusive place. Through Connected Communities, TD aspires to help people participate and be included in their community, making Arts in the Parks an important partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation. Arts in the Parks not only breaks down barriers to arts participation, but it connects artists to audiences and participants across the city, and fosters community inclusion by deeply engaging youth, seniors, newcomers and families through community partnerships, outreach and the volunteer program. “Through The Ready Commitment, our corporate citizenship platform, we are investing in opportunities that bring people together through arts and culture,” said Andrea Barrack, Global Head, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. “Connecting the arts to green spaces through Arts in the Parks is a great way to build vibrant and inclusive communities. We are proud to support the work of Toronto Arts Foundation and look forward to watching this program grow.” This is the first year that TD has partnered with Toronto Arts Foundation through the Arts in the Parks program. Launched in 2015, Arts in the Parks now takes place in 55 parks each year, increasing its number of activities from 249 in year one to 344 in year two, while quadrupling the number of participants from 35,000 to 155,000. Events take place in parks right across Toronto, from Etobicoke to Scarborough and North York to the downtown core. For more information on Arts in the Parks, visit the website here.
Sponsor Story: RBC Foundation The RBC Newcomer Artist Spotlight Program is designed to connect and inspire newcomer artists who are Toronto’s new generation of cultural leaders and innovators. This innovative program builds on the potential of newcomer artists and removes the barriers they face when it comes to arts access. “RBC believes that the arts encourages a culture of creativity and innovation, and helps foster diversity and inclusion in our communities,” said Rebecca Louzado, Director, Community and Cultural Marketing, RBC. “We are so proud to have been able to partner with the Toronto Arts Foundation and provide newcomers with the funding to pursue their artistic endeavours while building their lives in Canada.” The RBC Newcomer Artist Spotlight features three components: the RBC Arts Access Fund, the Mentorship Program and the RBC Let’s Talk Art workshop series. The RBC Arts Access Fund consists of micro awards of up to $1,500 for newcomer artists looking to jump-start their community-engaged arts projects. These awards will be tied to actual project needs, ranging from art supplies to space rental for an event. Neighbourhood Arts Network & RBC Support Newcomer Artists in Canada With the generous support of RBC Foundation, our Neighbourhood Arts Network continues to offer innovative programming and award opportunities for newcomer artists in Toronto. On Thursday May 24th, 2018, our Neighbourhood Arts Network (NAN) wrapped up its third session of a free 3-part workshop program called ‘Let’s Talk Art.’ Supported by RBC Foundation, this workshop series offers professional development opportunities for newcomer artists where they can create new connections, increase their artistic capacity and learn how to navigate the arts sector in Toronto. At this final session, newcomer and emerging artists got an exclusive look at the RBC Art Collection. Established in the early 1900s, the RBC Art Collection currently includes an impressive selection of more than 5000 works by Canadian artists. Led by Corrie Jackson, RBC Senior Curator, and two guest curators Alyssa Fearon and Tak Pham, the tour offered insight into how and why purchases are made, and introduced participants to a powerhouse that is making active and significant investments in the arts. This is the fourth year that Toronto Arts Foundation has partnered with RBC Foundation through their Emerging Artist Program to support newcomer artists. Launched in 2015, the RBC Newcomer Artist Spotlight program features three components, all of which are meant to connect and inspire Toronto’s next generation of cultural leaders and innovators: the RBC Arts Access Fund, the RBC Artist Mentorship Award, and the Let’s Talk Art workshop series. RBC Foundation is a leader in encouraging new and exciting art through its continued commitment to supporting emerging and newcomer artists. With arts supporters like RBC Foundation, we’re making Toronto an even more vibrant and creative city.For more information on the RBC Newcomer Artist Spotlight program visit Our Programs.