A person takes a photo with a DSLR camera. Text: ArtWorksTO Youth Program. Network. Upskill. Get hired. Meet the 2026 participants: media arts.

ArtWorksTO: Youth program

About the program

The ArtWorksTO Youth Program supports Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour (IBPOC) youth media creatives (ages 18–29) who are pursuing careers in the media arts industry. As a workforce development program, it provides opportunities to gain professional experience through paid creative contract work, while also offering industry-specific mentorship, skills training, and access to networks.

What does the program offer?

ArtWorksTO Youth Program provides: 

  • OCAD U led Portfolio Development Workshops for prospective applicants 
  • OCAD U Certificate in Art and Design Professional Skills or two mandatory OCAD U courses 
  • A guaranteed, paid creative contract valued at $5,000 
  • Group and one-on-one mentorship with industry professionals 
  • Networking through masterclasses, workshops and panels 
  • Wrap-around supports 
  • Upon completion of the program, access to the ArtWorksTO Alumni Pathways Program 

eligibility & selection criteria

ArtWorksTO Youth Program receives many strong applications each year. Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance. 

Eligibility Criteria 

  • Be Indigenous, Black, Person of Colour, or a combination of all three 
  • Be between 18 to 29 years of age at the time of the application deadline 
  • Be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or have an application pending for Permanent Resident status or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant) 
  • Be a resident of the City of Toronto (not GTA) 
  • Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) 
  • Have a Media Arts practice (e.g. graphic design, photography, UX/UI design, digital illustration, animation, film, sound art, and interactive or web-based media) 
  • Have intermediate English skills (CLB 6 or above) to participate effectively in all aspects of the program 

Interested applicants who have been in Canada for 7 years or less can apply to ArtWorksTO Youth or Newcomer Program depending on their needs, interests and preferences. 

Selection Criteria 

Applicants will be assessed by a multidisciplinary review panel with collective expertise across Media Arts. Applications are reviewed based on the criteria below: 

  • Meets all eligibility requirements 
  • Program participation aligns with career goals 
  • Creative portfolio submitted showcases a personal artistic voice or statement, quality of execution, as well as demonstrated technical skill in one or more media (e.g., video, film, digital arts, installation, sound art, etc.) 
  • Availability and Commitment for applicant to complete all components of the program 

ArtWorksTO will take into strong consideration of youth artists that are members of the LGTBQ2+ and disability communities in addition to being IBPOC youth. This includes in-person and online activities. 

Applicants must be able to commit to all three major components of the program for approximately 6–7 months. The program includes both online and in‑person activities and is designed to be flexible and accommodating of participants’ schedules. 

Program Timeline

 Applications Open: February 2027 (TBC) 

  • Application Deadline: March 2027 (TBC) 
  • OCAD U Mandatory Course #1: April to early June 2027 
  • OCAD U Mandatory Course #2: July to August 2027 
  • Media Arts Project Development: June to Mid-September 2027 
  • Mentorship: Mid-May to August 2027 
  • Graduation: October 2027 (TBC)

How to apply

Applications are currently closed and expected to open February 2027 (TBC). Please revisit this page for future updates. 

Please make sure you follow us via our IG handle @artworks.TO to get the latest news.

Feel free to review past program guidelines or contact Program Manager, Norma Garcia at norma@torontoarts.org should you have any questions. 

additional resources

Frequently Asked Questions: Program

What is offered through OCAD University as part of the Art and Design Professional Skills Certificate Program included for program participants?

OCAD U‘s School of Continuing Studies, Certificate in Art and Design Professional Skills will provide selected participants with:

  • Another elective course from subject areas such as media production, graphic design, design software training, or studio art
  • Stipend payments per course to assist with costs to facilitate learning, such as hardware, software, childcare, travel, etc.
  • Monthly group check-ins
  • Two (2) mandatory courses – offered through OCAD U’s School of Continuing Studies to earn micro-credential digital badges. OR
  • The above two (2) mandatory courses and three (3) optional elective courses to earn a full Certificate in Art & Design Professional Skills.

Elective course overview:

Is there a cost to ArtWorksTO Youth Program participants for the OCAD U School of Continuing Studies Certificate Program?

There is no cost for participants accepted into the ArtWorksTO program for the OCAD U School of Continuing Studies Certificate in Art and Design Professional Skills. Participants will be provided with a payment of $150 per course to cover any costs to facilitate learning (software, child care, etc.).

OCAD U offers ArtWorksTO program participants a 15% discount on additional Continuing Studies Courses taken after graduating from the ArtWorksTO program!

How long will the certificate course take to complete for ArtWorksTO Youth Program participants?

Each 6 week course has 18 hours of online lectures and tutorials and students can expect to work on assignments for an average of 3 additional hours per week, for a total of 6 hours a week per course.

If needed, participants have a maximum of 12 months to complete their certificates. Students can complete the courses in a flexible timeline, for example students can take more than one course at a time, or take a few weeks off between courses.

What do the paid project contracts involve? How much do selected participants get paid?

Paid project contracts will involve completing communications projects (such as short promo videos, posters, flyers, and digital social media campaigns, etc.) for programs and services offered by our project partners, including the City of Toronto, Toronto Arts Foundation, OCAD U and the Remix Project. This work will include completing a contract with 3 major deadlines and deliverables, meeting with clients (either in-person or online,) preparing concepts, completing work and providing revisions. Please note, participants of the program must be available to work in their project contracts during the Summer months (June – August.) On occasions, participants of the program may need to be available during ‘office hours’ 9am – 5pm to meet their clients or work on the projects.

ArtWorksTO participants will be awarded a project contract valued at approximately $5,000 per participant. The contract amount should include all associated costs with completing the projects, including equipment rental, transportation, artists’ fees, etc.

Are contracts inclusive of HST?

Yes, contracts are inclusive of HST, as well as other costs associated with completing the project.

What does Mentorship component of the ArtWorksTO Youth Program offer participants?

The Mentorship component provides participants with support from industry advisors through a mix of group and one-on-one activities designed to share tips from professionals working in the media arts industry. Industry advisors can also provide you with technical advice on your paid contracts.

What are the general program timelines?

February 2Online portal opens for ArtworksTO youth program applicants
March 2Online portal closes for ArtWorksTO youth program applicants
Early April Welcome/Orientation Event 
Early May OCAD U begins their course offerings 
May to September Mentorship component begins 
Early June to end of August Project Development Timeline 
February (following year)Graduation Ceremony 
End of April (following year) All OCAD U courses wrap-up 
Frequently Asked Questions: Application

How do I apply to ArtWorksTO Youth Program? Is there an application form?

Please read this FAQ section and contact the Program Manager (Norma Garcia at norma@torontoarts.org) with any questions you may have. Once you are sure of your eligibility, and fit to participate in the program, please complete the online application form. The form includes a few questions about the applicant’s eligibility,  experience as a media artist and creative portfolio.  

Is ArtWorksTO Youth Program right for me?

ArtWorksTO is designed specifically for IBPOC youth (18-29 years) with experience (self-taught, through community-based or formal training) as a media artist (videographer, graphic designer, digital illustrator, digital photographer, social media communications, UX design, etc.); and young artists with career aspirations in the creative industries as a media-basedartist or entrepreneur. ArtWorksTO will take into strong consideration youth artists that are members of the LGTBQ2+ and disability communitiesin addition to being IBPOC youth.

Are people living outside of Toronto able to apply to ArtWorksTO Youth Program?

To be eligible for ArtWorksTO, participants need to be residents of Toronto. However, if you spend the majority of your time in the city (for work reasons, school, etc.) please make sure you include a note about this in your application submission.

Do I have to attend an OCAD U Portfolio Development Workshop to be eligible to apply for ArtWorksTO Youth Program?

The Portfolio Development workshop offered by OCAD U is not a requirement to apply for ArtWorksTO Youth Program. However, the Portfolio Development Workshop is strongly encouraged for all applicants to help you develop a strong creative portfolio that will be submitted as part of your application.

What is the selection process?

An ArtworksTO Youth Program decision committee of staff and media creatives will review and shortlist applications. Shortlisted ArtWorksTO Youth Program candidates will be invited to a conversation style interview to get to know you, explore your fit with the program and answer any questions that you may have.  Interviews will take place in March 2025. Shortlisted ArtWorksTO Youth Program candidates will be invited to participate in a Request for Proposals (RFP) bid process. RFP bid proposals will be reviewed by the ArtWorksTO Youth Program decision committee and the client you will be working with.

Applicants will be selected based on:

  • Eligibility – applicants must be IBPOC youth (18 -29 yrs) media artists
  • Career aspirations (is ArtWorksTO well suited to your career goals?)
  • Portfolio (Reviewed for creative exploration, technical skills, expression of ideas, context, motivation, written skills, passion)
  • Artistic discipline representation among the group
  • Diversity within the group among our priority populations (ArtWorksTO will take into strong consideration youth artists that are members of the LGTBQ2+ and disability communities in addition to being IBPOC youth.)
  • Skills fit with available contracts
  • Need – will this program make an impact on the applicant’s career goals?
  • Availability – Will the applicant have time to complete all major aspects of the program for about 6 -7 months if not longer. Please note, the program has online and in-person components and is accommodating to the participant’s schedules.

What is a Request for Proposals (RFP) and why is it being used in ArtWorksTO Youth Program to match participants to paid contracts?


A Request for Proposal, or RFP, is a document that a client (ie. business, non-profit, or government agency) creates to outline the requirements for their specific project. The RFP seeks bid proposals from qualified media creatives. Bid proposals are reviewed to select a media creative to complete the client’s project.



Requests for Proposals (RFPs) are widely used in the media arts industry. ArtWorksTO Youth Program offers training to program participants on the RFP bidding process and how to write successful bidding proposals. This training is designed to support participation in the ArtWorksTO Youth Program RFP bidding process, but also to develop skills that could be applied when seeking other paid project contracts.

Equity concerns have been identified related to the entire RFP process. ArtWorksTO Youth Program aims to address these concerns through:

  • Ensuring all selected program participants are matched with a paid project contract through the RFP bidding process.
  • Shortlisting program applicants so that there is a reasonable chance of being awarded a paid project contract through the RFP bidding process.
  • Ensuring content of all bidding proposals remains confidential and remains the intellectual property of the applicant.
  • Providing free training for selected and shortlisted participants on the RFP bidding process and writing effective bidding proposals to build industry standard skills.
  • Working with a diverse panel made up of ArtWorksTO alumni, Advisory members and project partners to review proposals and award contracts.

What should I include in my portfolio?


Short bio: (300 words maximum) What’s your story?



Your creative portfolio: Your portfolio is a collection of work that represents your creative and technical experiences and accomplishments and is a visual representation of who you are. You need to demonstrate that you are a visual communicator and that you are well-equipped to succeed in the ArtworksTO program. This can include experimentation in both traditional and digital media or any combination. Your portfolio should include:

Tips:

  • Artist statement: (300 words maximum) Your artist statement should explain your specific interests and passions as well as who or what inspires and influences the work you make. This is your opportunity to introduce yourself as an artist and provide context so we can better understand your work.
  • Examples of your creative process: Include examples/pdf/images/drafts of your sketchbook, process and concept development skills as part of your portfolio submission. You can document your creative process as:
The process work you provide, should link to several of the finished pieces included in your portfolio. These can range from:
    • a storyboard
    • creative journal
    • concept/idea book 
    • digital document.
    • Experimentation
    • photos of development
    • Drawings
    • Mark-making
    • Writing
    • research and inspirations
 
  • Finished Work: Include up to 5 examples of your original finalized work that demonstrates creativity, technical skills, range and expression of ideas.
  • Descriptions: For each finished piece, include in 50 words or less, the process/making method/media/concept and purpose of each submission. Please include the details of the collaborators and clients you worked with if applicable.
  • Works can be presented in a series – we recommend limiting 3-5 works for a series
  • Works can be video – we recommend a highlight reel (1-2 mins), understanding that reviewers may skim through longer videos 
  • Include links to your professional website and/or social media pages.  
  • To see an example of a creative portfolio, please click this link: PORTFOLIO EXAMPLE
  • If you have any questions about how to put together your creative portfolio for submission, please email norma@torontoarts.org  

Meet the 2026 cohort

Abe Villegas

Abe Villegas is a Costa Rican-Canadian communications focused creative based in Toronto. Specializing in digital strategy and creative storytelling. With an academic foundation in advertising and media communications, and his continued education, Abe approaches creative projects through a lens of impact and authenticity. Rather than being defined by a single medium, Abe views creative skills like photography and graphic design as essential tools within a broader communications toolkit. This perspective allows him to bridge the gap between high-level strategy and high-energy content execution. He strives to blend digital strategy with storytelling and creativity to build purposeful brand identities and drive meaningful impact.

Alyssa Vidal

Alyssa Vidal is a Filipina-Canadian creative that specializes in photography and videography. Born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Canada, growing up between cultures shaped her perspective.

Her work draws on a lifelong love for the arts. She taught herself guitar, plays piano by ear, creates mixed media art, and trains in hip hop dance. Photography and videography became the space where these influences meet. Movement, rhythm, and emotion guide how she frames images and tells stories.

Alyssa has collaborated with Change Made, Luminato Festival, Media Pass, and Tarragon Theatre. Her work has been published in PhotoED Magazine and Front Row, and screened at the Scarborough Worldwide Film Festival.

At the heart of her practice is a desire to help people feel seen. She builds connection through visual storytelling and invites audiences to notice the ordinary moments that carry extraordinary meaning.

Anthony Bailey

Anthony “Tone” Bailey is a visual artist and photographer from Brampton, Ontario. A multi-disciplined creative, his photography favours multi-exposure styled portraits while the illustrative work represent slice of life stories with sustainable futurism themes. His most recent project, (There Is) No Utopia, featured artists across the GTA illustrated as community members thriving in a futurist society where nature and technology are intertwined intentionally. Both mediums feature bright, gradual color schemes, inspired by airbrushed album cover art from the 1970s.

Utilizing his digital editing, Tone worked as picture editor on documentary and narrative films in 2025. Appearing onscreen as well, he competed with family on LEGOMasters Season 5 and as an actor in the ReelAsian award-winning short, Same Time Next Year? Currently, Tone is in pre-production for developing his own work and photographing live music events.

Charlie Yip

Charlie Yip is a Creator and Producer from Hong Kong, based in Canada. She explores multi-species communities, urban histories, and Asian culture and philosophy through curatorial projects, mixed media, photography, and moving image. She uses media to keep the stories of multi-species communities alive.

Dani Sadun

Dani Sadun is an Ecuadorian artist based in Toronto, working in animation and illustration with a deep passion for capturing emotional moments through movement. 

She currently works as Creative Director at Mirage Media and is part of the graphic team at the Revue Cinema, where she designs film posters for the city’s oldest-running theatre. Her practice blends narrative-driven visuals with a multidisciplinary approach, spanning animation, illustration, and design.

Her animated short Frida in the Sky (2023), created as her thesis at Toronto Metropolitan University’s film program, was selected as a semi-finalist for the Student Academy Awards and screened at over 20 film festivals across Canada and internationally.

Currently, she is developing a new animated short set in a dystopian, deserted Toronto, following Gigi and her dog companion Beto as they search for a way to reclaim humanity from the machine.

Erica Dionora

Erica Dionora is a writer and illustrator based in Toronto with a background in Publishing from Centennial College. She has experience working in editorial and design for books and magazine publishing. Passionate about storytelling, Erica enjoys experimenting with various creative mediums to convey narratives that explore the complexities of the human experience. Her writings have been included in several publications such as Ricepaper Magazine, Tiny Seed Journal, and the Magdaragat: An Anthology of Filipino-Canadian Writing. As a visual artist, she often pulls inspiration from nature as well as mundane objects encountered in day-to-day life. Currently, Erica continues to expand her artistic practice as she works on several collaborative projects that merge her love for visual arts and poetry.

Francisca Rojas

I am Francisca Rojas, a queer, neurodivergent, Chilean-Canadian documentary filmmaker based in Toronto, Ontario. Inspired by the topics I learned about in my undergraduate degree in History and Latin American Studies, my documentary work focuses on the depiction of collective and historical traumas in my community. From a desire to see myself and my communities represented, I take an autoethnographic and testimonial approach to unearth deep-rooted emotions and discussions. In my work, I strive to portray community-based, decentralized healing that collectivizes and politicizes mental health struggles.

My film “Semillas” (2023) has been shown at local film festivals such as the Latin American Film Festival, AbyaYala Latin American Film Festival, and the Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival.

Guilherme Morilha Ribeiro

Gui Morilha is a Brazilian cinematographer and filmmaker based in Toronto, Canada, working across fiction films, music videos, commercials, and documentaries. Since graduating in Film and TV in 2018, his work has centered on bringing underrepresented stories to light, with projects featured on CBC and screened at international festivals.

Blending a naturalistic aesthetic with bold, contemporary storytelling, Gui’s cinematography is rooted in presence and emotional authenticity. Influenced by both Latin American sensibilities and the Canadian film landscape, he creates visually compelling work that aims to foster empathy, deepen understanding, and leave a lasting impression.

Jem Montague

Jem Montague, known as JemTheCarpenter, is a multidisciplinary artist and licensed carpenter based in Toronto’s Little Jamaica. Her practice blends scenic carpentry, visual effects, set design, and self-performance to create concept-driven photography and film that explore identity, experimentation, and the surreal. Through experimental editing, practical builds, and special effects makeup, she transforms ideas into immersive visual worlds that bridge technical craftsmanship and creative storytelling.

Rooted in hands-on skill building, Jem has developed her craft through a combination of self-directed learning and professional experience across diverse production environments, allowing her to move fluidly between technical execution and artistic direction. Beyond her personal practice, she manages Studio M Community Arts Hub in Little Jamaica, where she fosters collaboration across disciplines, supports emerging artists, and leads initiatives focused on uplifting and revitalizing the local community.

Whether behind the camera or on the tools, Jem approaches every project as an opportunity to build connection, expand imagination, and bring unconventional visions to life. She is deeply committed to accessible arts education, mentorship, and creating inclusive spaces where experimentation is encouraged and diverse voices are celebrated.

Juanita Arango

Juanita Arango is a Latinx-Colombian queer multidisciplinary artist based in Tkarón:to, working across design, illustration, and visual arts. Their practice spans installation, textile work, and printmaking, grounded in research on identity, diaspora, and resistance. Through both physical and digital media, they explore how personal and collective histories shape visual culture and community narratives.

Alongside their artistic practice, Juanita is the Co-Founder of Cre8wave, a creative studio producing community-based media work for Latinx, feminist, and 2SLGBTQ+ organizations and businesses. As a designer, they have collaborated with clients across Tkarón:to and Abya Yala (Latin America), developing branding, visual identities, and communication strategies that translate ideas into impactful and culturally resonant visuals.

Their work has been recognized with the Daniels Faculty Undergraduate Studio Art Award for their thesis work Mi Hamaca es Tu Hamaca (2025) and featured in the JAYU Festival of the Arts with El Sur es Nuestro Norte (2023). Juanita holds a BA in Visual Studies and Psychology from the University of Toronto, which informs their research-driven approach to art and design. View their work at juanitaarango.com or @juanita_verse on Instagram.

Lucy Ngo

María de los Ángeles

María de los Ángeles is a Mexican artist and illustrator based in Toronto. Her work explores themes of identity, culture, and resilience through familiar imagery, bold colours, and intrinsic detail. Working across both digital and traditional media, she often merges the two to create grounded compositions that reflect personal and collective experiences.

She is deeply invested in creative community-building and values collaboration as an essential part of her practice. Her approach is research-driven, drawing on symbolism and visual references to develop thoughtful and intentional imagery. She is particularly interested in balancing visual richness with clarity, producing work that is both engaging and grounded in meaning.

María de los Ángeles’ work has been exhibited across North America, including GradEx 110th (2025), I speak as you sway the foliage (2024), Project Crea Showcase at HQ Gallery (2024), and La Obra es de Quien la Planta (A Plant’s Oeuvre) (2024). She was recently a mentee at Mur/All Collective’s program and facilitated a workshop at Xpace Cultural Centre.

María José Fisher

María José Fisher (she/her) is a Toronto-based designer and illustrator with a keen eye for branding, design guidelines, marketing and creative campaigns. Born and raised in northern Mexico, her curiosity and creativity from a young age shaped the way she interacts with the world. The great support of her family during her early years allowed her to explore various disciplines. From film, animation to multimedia art; María José’s journey through the arts ignited a passion for graphic design, where she is able to merge all of her artistic expressions. Her work contains a contemporary approach to graphic arts as a discipline and as a space to express emotions through art and how it interacts with humanity. With five years of experience in marketing as a lead designer, María José has followed and applied unique design projects in different countries across the Western Hemisphere and Europe. Her work has reached clients in cities like Mexico City, Monterrey, Tijuana, San Diego, Amsterdam, Belgium, Hamburg and Madrid. María José continues to expand her love for design by merging the physical and digital world through an array of different perspectives, techniques, and applications. All while staying true to being human.

Mio Miyake Muyoboke

Mio Muyoboke is born and raised Toronto multimedia artist who focuses on making queer autobiographical art about their life in fantasy settings. They mix reality with fiction as a way to work through topics such as capitalism, depression, and self identity to reach out to the viewer for connection. They believe it is a responsibility to create what they want to see in the world. Character-driven, narrative, symbolic art, created through illustration, comics, 2d&3d, and storyboards. Previously, Mio has worked with Workman Arts, Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), Youthline, The 519 and The Remix Project. Mio uses different mediums to experiment with storytelling pushing their own capabilities in style in telling a story about themselves and the people around them.

Muzi Li

Muzi Li is a music journalist and communications professional working at the intersection of artist development, storytelling, and cultural strategy. Her practice centers on supporting artists as they define their voice, deepen their creative identity, and build sustainable paths forward, while contributing to collaborative, community-engaged art initiatives

She is the founder of HIPHOPE, a media platform dedicated to hip-hop and contemporary creative culture, and the co-founder of Xibei Memento, a music marketing and consulting agency that supports artists in building from their artistic identity. Through her work with artists and creative teams, Muzi works across different cultural and creative contexts, connecting long-term vision with practical execution while making space for artistic integrity, cultural dialogue, and meaningful growth.

Nejmia Amedie

Nejmia Amedie is an Ethiopian-Canadian illustrator, digital artist, and architecture graduate from the University of Toronto, where her interest in spatial thinking and the built environment runs alongside a parallel creative practice.

Her work is driven by self-expression, exploration, and the imagination of alternate possibilities. Through digital illustration and mixed media, she dwells in the complexities of womanhood, growing up in the digital age, and the internal effects of the political, treating art as a space to argue, interrogate, and reimagine the world. She identifies primarily as an experimenter, and her wide range of interests spanning women’s studies, African studies, diaspora, architecture, urbanism and digital culture means that her artistic practice is always expanding in multiple directions.

Rachel Wong

Rachel Wong is a proud BIPOC and queer multidisciplinary graphic designer, as well as a passionate design educator, with experience across both corporate and non-profit sectors. Rachel’s expertise is primarily in brand identity, storytelling, and marketing campaigns, with experience spanning a wide range of design disciplines from digital to print and beyond.

She earned her Bachelor of Design (BDes with Specialized Honours) from the York University/Sheridan College Joint Program in Design in 2021. As a second-generation immigrant of Chinese heritage, Rachel’s design philosophy is deeply shaped by her upbringing, balancing two cultures within an individual experience growing up in the diverse suburbs of Scarborough, Ontario. Her work reflects the richness and complexity of this intersected identity, celebrating diversity while also recognizing the challenges that come with navigating between different cultural worlds. Above all, Rachel is driven by a desire for connection, using design to foster empathy and understanding, and to create meaningful, human-centered experiences. Rachel’s overarching mission is to tell impactful culturally-driven stories while using design as her vessel.

Connect with Rachel at her website (rachelwong.design) or on her LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelwongdesign/).

Samarika Dhiman

Samarika Dhiman is a queer South Asian filmmaker specializing in directing and cinematography. Her character-driven storytelling explores themes of identity and belonging through deeply personal and authentic narratives. She has directed a PSA for the Inside Out Film Festival and worked as director of photography on Family Values and There’s No Place Like Home. Samarika has also documented public art installations with STEPS Public Art and became the first participant in a videographer internship at CBC, where she further developed her documentary filmmaking and cinematography skills. A finalist at the Regent Park Film Festival, she pitched her documentary project What’s in my Lunchbox. Passionate about filmmaking from a young age, Samarika is committed to bringing underrepresented stories to the screen through thoughtful, detail-oriented work that captures small, honest moments reflecting larger shared experiences.

Sammi Ho

Sammi Ho is a Toronto-based community-centered storyteller, narrative strategist, and emerging director/producer working at the intersection of documentary, media, and cultural programming. Her practice explores story as a form of becoming—creating media-driven cultural time capsules that document identity, care, leadership, and community voice.

Grounded in her lived experience as a queer Chinese woman from Hong Kong, Sammi approaches her work through an equity-driven, intersectional lens. She centers BIPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities through interview-based storytelling and narrative-led creative direction, producing work that highlights lived experience, creative leadership, and collective memory.

Her recent work includes directing a multi-part documentary video series developed through trauma-informed stakeholder interviews, where she led story development and narrative structure to translate multi-perspective voices into cohesive, accessible narratives.

Drawing on her background in strategy, psychology, and community engagement, Sammi brings a distinct approach to media-making—treating story as both a creative and relational practice, and as a tool for preserving voice, exploring identity, and amplifying perspectives often underrepresented in mainstream media.

Shebonti Khandaker

Shebonti Khandaker is a Bangladeshi writer, photographer and and filmmaker based in Toronto. Her art is informed by her upbringing in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and explores issues of spectatorship, gender, and embodiment. It is equally shaped by her academic research in Cognitive Science and Semiotics, at the intersection of technology, identity, and media theory. Through her multidisciplinary practice, she is passionate about challenging conventional subject-viewer relationships and creating intimate, affective experiences.

Tiffany Hu

Tiffany Hu is 3/4 illustrator and 1/4 designer. A lover of all things narrative, her work focuses on illustrating heartfelt and whimsical stories. Her main goal as an artist is to create work that engages viewers—she loves quirky formats, popup/interactive elements, and experimenting with media. She is based in Tkaronto.

Tziara Reyes-Herrera

Tziara Reyes-Herrera is a queer Latinx writer, director, and videographer based in Toronto. Their practice is shaped by personal relationships, lived experience, and their immediate environment, resulting in stories that feel intimate, grounded, and emotionally honest. Tziara is drawn to character-driven storytelling, often exploring identity, connection, and the quieter moments that reveal something deeper. Their work is rooted in a people-focused approach, bringing a strong visual style and a hands-on process to image-making, combining a personal perspective with an openness to experimentation in form and storytelling.

Yujie Wang

Yujie Wang is a photographer, multimedia artist, and art director based in Toronto. Working with
photography as her primary medium, she specializes in editorial photography, capturing both
portraiture and still life.

Rooted in East Asian aesthetics and deeply inspired by nature, her images often capture moments of
stillness and subtle emotion. Embracing soft light, quiet compositions, and atmospheric storytelling,
Yujie approaches photography as a form of visual poetry—where absence speaks as much as
presence, and the unsaid carries weight.

Her recent practice extends into installation and sculpture, exploring themes of liminality, memory,
and emotional distance. Moving between mediums, she continues to expand her visual language through interactive and spatial forms. Explore more of Yujie’s work on Instagram: @yu.jie.wang and say hi 🙂

Meet some of our talented artworksto youth program alum!

More About ArtWorksTO

Program History

Workforce Development for Young Creatives

Canada has a burgeoning creative sector; in 2010 it represented three percent of Canada’s GDP and 3.7 percent of the national workforce (Canadian Arts Coalition, 2019). However, young people with creative skills face barriers and are under and unemployed in this sector. Young people have developed skills, talent, and interest in the creative industries through engagement in community-based arts programs and self-directed learning. ArtworksTO will equip youth industry networks, advance skills, provide access to education, and professional work experience opportunities to support access to meaningful employment in creative industries.    

2015-2020

The City of Toronto, in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network, developed and implemented the ArtWorksTO Project between 2015 and 2020 as part the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy in 2014, Action 1D: “The City of Toronto will invest in youth artists and arts groups to develop youth sensitive and appropriate communication materials (posters, videos, songs, stories, etc.) that will promote key city programs that serve youth needs (at all levels of vulnerability) ….” 

2019

External consultants reviewed and made recommendations for formalizing and expanding the ArtWorksTO program. A preliminary finding of the report conveyed that ArtWorksTO provides meaningful work experience for youth, connects clients to a difficult-to-access talent pool, connects youth to services, and gives youth a voice in contributing to or creating City communications materials (e.g. brochures, videos, flyers, etc.).      

2020

Toronto Arts Foundation was awarded $1,035,470 in funding from Future Skills Centre to deliver the ArtWorksTO project over two years in partnership with the City of Toronto, the Remix Project, and the Ontario College of Art and Design University.

The expanded ArtWorksTO model is a workforce development program designed to enhance access to employment and entrepreneurship in the media arts and creative industries for young artists who are Indigenous, Black and People of Colour (IBPOC) and/or 2SLGBTQ+. 

ArtWorksTO offers its participants:

  • Alumni Pathways (in development) 
  • Employment and wellness support through The City’s Toronto Youth Partnerships and Employment (TYPE) program
  • A $4,000 paid contract to complete a media arts project
  • Industry advice and connections with media arts professionals, coordinated by The Remix Project
  • Certificate in Art and Design Professional Skills from OCAD U School of Continuing Studies (only for Next Stream applicants, see FAQ)
  • Additional professional development opportunities
Project Partners

Toronto Arts Foundation is a registered charity that sparks creative connections, spotlights artistic excellence, and supports vibrant cultural growth throughout our diverse city, through private sector investment. To learn more or to make a donation, visit torontoartsfoundation.org.  

TAF/NAN responsible for case management with participants and the overall coordination and administration of the project including contract management, outreach, communications, data collection, report writing and industry engagement. 

Neighbourhood Arts Network is a Toronto-wide network of more than 2,400 members, including artists, arts organizations, cultural workers, and community agencies offering accessible arts programming, awards, and partnership opportunities. TAF/NAN is responsible for the overall coordination and administration of the project including financial management, outreach, participant support, managing internships, communications, data collection, report writing, and industry engagement.

City of Toronto is home to more than 2.9 million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture, and innovation, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents, and businesses. For more information visit toronto.ca

City of Toronto supported project management, including: refining priorities, goals and deliverables; facilitation of continuous improvement through monitoring and evaluation; risk mitigation framework implementation, and establishing workplans and milestones and Financial contributions to the program. In-kind contributions, to provide employment-focused support through the Toronto Youth Partnerships & Employment Program (TYPE)

OCAD University is Canada’s oldest and largest university for art and design. Founded in 1876, the university is dedicated to art, design and digital media education, practice and research, and knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines. ocadu.ca

OCAD U offers and delivers customized skills education programming and provides advisory support on the program model and implementation. 

The Remix Project is a multidisciplinary arts training organization, devoted to strengthening the creative community by supporting the next generation of industry leaders. Focused on each student’s personal and professional development, the charity was created to help level the playing field for talented youth who face barriers in pursuing careers in arts & entertainment. For more information, www.theremixproject.com

The Remix Project coordinates industry networking and professional development activities through “master classes” with industry professionals and one-on-one industry advisor, matches of ArtWorksTO participants and Remix alumni.

Meet the Alumni

2025

Andreina Calderon
Disciplines: Documentary Filmmaking, Documentary Photography, Street Photography

Amina Hemed
Disciplines: Photography, Videography

Angela Hoang
Disciplines: Illustration, Visual Art

Caitlin Arizala
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Social Media Strategy, Photography, Data Visualization

Christopher López
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Branding, Advertising, Social Media Design

Enef
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration, Storytelling

Habiba Hisham
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Communications, Illustration, Photography, Comics, Animation

Herman Justino
Disciplines: Creative Technology, Data Visualization, UX Design, Visual Storytelling, Interactive Media

Jamlec David
Disciplines: Scriptwriting, Directing, Visual Storytelling

Jason Manzi
Disciplines: Filmmaking, Directing, Cinematography, Production Design, Editing

Justin Co
Disciplines: Illustration, Animation, 3D Animation, 3D Modelling, Concept Art

Micah Domingo
Disciplines: Motion Design, Visual Art, Digital Storytelling

Robbie J Harper
Disciplines: Photography, Visual Storytelling

Rubiat Fusigboye
Disciplines: Digital Design, Creative Technology, Creative Coding, Projection Mapping, Interactive Media

Samuel Oh
Disciplines: Design, Photography, Fine Arts, Time-Based Media, Textiles

Sayani Sarkar
Disciplines: Photography, Storytelling

Sigrid Yu
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Video Installation, Contemporary Jewelry, Social Media Marketing

Slina Frich
Disciplines: Illustration, Animation, Digital Media Art

Stephanie Hanson
Disciplines: Production Design, Creative Direction, Graphic Design

2024

Akeida Alexander
Disciplines: Public Relations, Communications, Social Media, Singer, Visual Artist
Instagram | LinkedIn

Alissa de Rivera
Disciplines: Illustration
Portfolio | LinkedIn

Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto
Disciplines: Videography, Writing
Instagram | LinkedIn

Ayat Salih
Disciplines: Videography, Visual Art, Writing
Portfolio | LinkedIn

Darinka Ramos
Disciplines: Graphic Design
Instagram | LinkedIn

Gladys Lou
Disciplines: Videography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Isatu Barrie
Disciplines: Photography, Videography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Isabelle Leonardo-Cruz
Disciplines: Videography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Jamera Dacosta
Disciplines: Illustration, Graphic Design
Instagram | LinkedIn

Jerome Duah-Kessie
Disciplines: Illustration, Graphic Design
Instagram | LinkedIn

Joy Adeyemi
Disciplines: Photography
Instagram

Laira Macapagal
Disciplines: UX Design, Website Design, 3D Rendering
Instagram | LinkedIn

Lavane Kelly
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Poetry, Writing
Instagram | LinkedIn

Leyah Mirza
Disciplines: Public Relations, Communications, Social Media
Instagram | LinkedIn

Mars Kaid
Disciplines: Videography
Instagram

Maryna Ohanesian
Disciplines: Videography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Midyan Samson
Disciplines: Videography
Instagram

Myuri Srikugan
Disciplines: Videography, Editing
Instagram | LinkedIn

Naansi Abdi
Disciplines: Graphic Design
Instagram | LinkedIn

Raquel Keshane-Watetch
Disciplines: Illustration
Instagram | LinkedIn

Rebecca Lacroix
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration
Instagram | LinkedIn

Sage Bankasingh
Disciplines: Videography, Editing
LinkedIn

Sin Tung Steffi Ng
Disciplines: Public Relations, Writing, Graphic Design
Instagram

Vincy Lim
Disciplines: Illustration, Animation
Instagram | LinkedIn

Yve Lu Trinh
Disciplines: UX Design, Website Design, 3D Rendering, Software Engineering
Instagram | LinkedIn

2023

Blue Merve Betul Karakus
Disciplines: Illustration, Photography, Animation
LinkedIn

Braxton Wignall
Disciplines: Photography

Chinelo Yasin
Disciplines: Photography, DJ, Videography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Doug Rodas
Disciplines: Illustration
Instagram | LinkedIn

Isabela Rocha
Disciplines: UX Design, Website Design, 3D Rendering
Instagram

Jaidah-Leigh Wyatt
Disciplines: Videography, Writing
Instagram | LinkedIn

Leah Flanagan
Disciplines: Digital Animation, Mixed Media
Instagram | LinkedIn

Rachel Galang
Disciplines: Graphic Design
Instagram

Saretta Khan
Disciplines: Illustration, Graphic Design
Instagram

Tyler J Sloane
Disciplines: Photography, Videography
LinkedIn

2022

Alicia Reid
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking, Photography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Ananna Rafa
Disciplines: UX Design, Website Design, 3D Rendering, Photography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Anna Lin
Disciplines: Graphic Design
Instagram

Atalia Charles
Disciplines: Photography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Bei Qi (Becky) Wu
Disciplines: Illustration, 2D Design
Instagram | LinkedIn

Carlos Noblot
Disciplines: Public Relations, Writing, Filmmaking
LinkedIn

Chantaya Veira
Disciplines: Public Relations
Instagram | LinkedIn

Charissa Olano
Disciplines: Illustration, Graphic Design
Instagram | LinkedIn

Danica Ricamara
Disciplines: Videography, Acting
Instagram | LinkedIn

Denae Ennis
Disciplines: Videography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Eileen Xue
Disciplines: Videography, UX Development
Website: eileenxue.com | LinkedIn

Ellen Ahn
Disciplines: Videography, Film
Website: ellenyuna.com | LinkedIn

Gloria Elogo
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Filmmaking, Photography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Harmeet Rehal
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Education
Instagram | LinkedIn

Jasmine Swimmer
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Photography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Jessica Campbell
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration, Muralist
Instagram | LinkedIn

Juan Laverde
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking
Instagram | LinkedIn

Leo Dean
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration
Instagram

Miranda Kinkead
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Storytelling
Instagram | LinkedIn

Paolo Manalo
Disciplines: Videography, Graphic Design
Instagram | LinkedIn

Prajj Rajawat
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking
Instagram | Website: prajjrajj.com

Radha Mestoewa
Disciplines: Graphic Design

Roda Medhat
Disciplines: Photography, Filmmaking
Instagram | Website: rodamedhat.com

Sahar Askary Hemmat
Disciplines: Videography
Instagram | Website: saharaskary.com

Samay Arcentales
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking
Instagram | LinkedIn

Selina McCallum
Disciplines: Public Relations, Photography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Serene Chan
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Social Media Communications
Instagram | Website: sereneillustrations.com

Sin Tung Steffi Ng
Disciplines: Public Relations, Writing, Graphic Design
Instagram

Srutika Sabu
Disciplines: Illustration, Storytelling
Instagram | LinkedIn

Theia Ramsammy
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Storytelling

TJ Banate
Disciplines: Public Relations, Collaging
Instagram | LinkedIn

Winston Boreland
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Photography
Instagram | Website: outkastintoronto.tiiny.site

Zephyr McKenna
Disciplines: Illustration, 3D Modelling
Instagram | LinkedIn

2021

Aprille (April) Deus
Disciplines: Photography, Videography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Ayan Bashir
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration
Instagram | LinkedIn

Brian Jiang
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration
Instagram

Carmina Miana
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Storytelling
Instagram | LinkedIn

Chawntay Barrett
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration, Visual Art
Instagram | LinkedIn

Ezra Li
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking
Instagram | Website: Etsy Shop

Janie Hao
Disciplines: Illustration
Instagram | LinkedIn

Lianne Ranopa
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Business Administration, Marketing
Instagram | LinkedIn

Lily Huang
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration
Instagram | LinkedIn

Lucy Reddy
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking
Instagram | LinkedIn

Mike Regis
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking
Instagram | LinkedIn

Monica (Moe) Pramanick
Disciplines: Illustration, Graphic Design
Instagram | Website: moepramanick.com

Mujda Hakime
Disciplines: Graphic Design, UI/UX Design
Instagram | LinkedIn

Nathalia Allen
Disciplines: Public Relations, Photography, Visual Storytelling
Instagram | Website: amillionminds.ca

Niya Abdullahi
Disciplines: Videography, Tech
Instagram | LinkedIn

Paul-Daniel Torres
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking, Poetry
Instagram

Pree Rehal
Disciplines: Graphic Design
Instagram | Website: prehal.com

Pranavi Suthagar
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Business
Instagram | LinkedIn

River-Jordan Allick
Disciplines: Videography, Writing
Instagram | LinkedIn

Sariena (Serina) Luy
Disciplines: Videography, Photography
Instagram | LinkedIn

Selin Ayman
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Illustration
Instagram | LinkedIn

Serville (Serv) Poblete
Disciplines: Videography, Filmmaking
Instagram | LinkedIn

Tricia Strachan
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Editing, Writing
Website: triciastrachan.com | LinkedIn

Vipooshan Gangatharan
Disciplines: Videography, Social Media
Instagram | LinkedIn

Warda (Muna) Youssouf
Disciplines: Videography, Writing
Instagram | LinkedIn

Whyishnave Suthagar
Disciplines: Graphic Design, Installation
Instagram | LinkedIn

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