East End Arts 2018 Annual Report

from East End Arts 2018 Annual Report

MESSAGE FROM EAST END ARTS

In 2013, East End Arts emerged as a new Local Arts Service Organization to serve the communities of east Toronto. We began our journey as a small one-person organization with a handful of programs, under the adept guidance of Toronto Arts Foundation. Today, East End Arts offers double the amount of arts programming, has a new beautiful home at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse, and has become its own stand-alone organization separate from Toronto Arts Foundation. The past five years have been full of ups and downs, however, 2018 was without a doubt our most exciting year yet.

This past year, we strengthened and enhanced our programs through the revitalization of past programs and the creation of new ones. ArtMEETS, our popular weekly art-making workshops, continued at our new home, St. Matthew’s Clubhouse, allowing us to substantially grow the number of participants and artists that we worked with. Similarly, we introduced new exciting programs like East York Days, a pilot concert series at East York Civic Centre, Girls Mural Camp, a three-week mural-making program for young girls, and IndigenousNOW, an evening of Indigenous storytelling and performance. What’s even better is that we’ve embedded stronger evaluation into all of our programs for our participants, artists and facilitators, helping us to ensure that we are providing the best programming to our east end communities.

In addition to enhancing programming, we’ve also given voice to the arts in east Toronto through the participation in city planning consultations, partnerships with private developers, and the creation of a new community hub. Specifically, our involvement with stakeholder and local advisory committees with The Coxwell Danforth Garage and the former Lever Soap Factory lands (East Harbour) allowed us to advocate for artist space in our communities, while partnerships with local developers has resulted in meanwhile leasing agreements that create opportunities for artists and their work. Finally, our new home at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse has allowed us to offer a vibrant, inclusive and fully accessible new arts hub in east Toronto for artists and community members to use at deeply discounted rates.

During 2018, the Clubhouse was a welcome venue to groups like Sing for Joy, Project Kids and Cameras, Draft Readings, Riverdale Historical Society, Labyrinth Ontario, Children’s Peace Theatre, AGA Arts and countless others.

2018 also saw a continued focus on supporting local artists by helping them become better entrepreneurs. In particular, through our professional development series Net(work) and Creative Facilitation Camp, we helped artists build crucial business skills to help them succeed and diversify their revenue streams. What’s more, we’ve expanded our focus to include young artists too, specifically to help nourish their artistic interests and help them realize the potential of building a meaningful career in the arts. Our new Youth Arts Council provides ten youth members ages 16-25 with monthly opportunities to engage in the arts, and build leadership skills through exclusive arts workshops and experiences across the city.

Since the very beginning, East End Arts has been focused on eliminating barriers, tackling difficult topics, and creating opportunities for everyday people to become creators and storytellers through the arts. 2013 to 2018 has been a journey of artistic development and discovery for us, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of dedicated staff, board members, volunteers and community partners. We share our achievements with you, and want to thank you for your hard work, commitment and participation in shaping East End Arts into what it is today!

Please join us as we look back on some of our favourite moments from 2018!

**Shana Hillman Executive Director, East End Arts**

**Robin Sokoloski Board President, East End Arts**

VISION: East End Arts’ vision is to unite, inspire and enhance the communities of east Toronto with the transformative power of the arts.

MISSION: East End Arts’ mission is to cultivate an arts community in the east end of Toronto that helps to increase arts engagement opportunities, and support local artists and in the community.

NET(WORK):

**"Thanks for setting up the event in a great space! I made many good connections with people! Thanks East End Arts!" - Workshop participant.**

In 2018 we strengthened our focus on professional development opportunities for artists with the introduction of Net(work), a series of events designed to offer hybrid, networking and professional development opportunities to artists, and arts & cultural workers. The 2018 Net(work) event was hosted by Jason Maghanoy, and participants were coached on in-person networking techniques and best practices, including how to best communicate who you are, what you do, and why it’s important. Net(work) 2018 was a big success - 100% of participants noted in the post-event survey that what they learned was useful to them and their arts practices!

EAST YORK DAYS:

**"[I enjoyed] that this was in my neighbourhood! That its local and supports local artists and the local hospital!" - Concert attendee.**

2018 also saw the introduction of East York Days, a pilot outdoor concert series at East York Civic Centre, which provided high quality, free and accessible music in the square! The pilot concerts took place on June 20 and July 18, and featured live music from east end musicians, an artisan marketplace curated by The Nooks, arts activations, craft stations and activities for families, and a variety of some of Toronto’s favourite food trucks. This event was presented in collaboration with City of Toronto Councillor Mary Fragedakis (former Ward 29), and the City of Toronto’s City Hall Live program. Proceeds from food truck vendor fees were donated directly to Michael Garron Hospital’s capital campaign, while we also collected non-perishable food items for the Bethany Food Bank.

WEEKEND OF WORDS:

"[IndigenousNOW is] an unapologetic reclamation of place, courageous acts of self-love, and a knowing which, transcends chronological age told by us, for us and through our Okara’shón:’a; our Stories. – Host/Curator Mahlikah Awe:ri

Entering its third year in 2018, the Weekend of Words engaged audiences in a diverse celebration of language and the literary arts in the east Toronto community. Weekend of Words kicked off with our headline event, IndigenousNOW. Hosted and curated by drum-talk poet, rapologist Mahlikah Awe:ri Enml’ga’t Saqama’sgw (The Woman Who Walks In The Light), IndigenousNOW featured the works of talented, emerging Indigenous slam poets and writers, celebrating and showcasing their hearts, words, and voices.

The weekend also featured Writing our Stories, a zine-making workshop facilitated by Trinidadian-Canadian writer, playwright, filmmaker, and community-engaged artist Fiona Raye Clarke. The workshop culminated the creation of a collaborative zine, titled Screams. Following the workshop was a fun evening of storytelling, conversation, and new connections, all during our Writer’s Mix & Mingle, featuring a reading by Sofia Mostaghimi.

Weekend of Words closed with a celebratory afternoon during the What’s Your Story, East Toronto?, presented in partnership with the Ontario Book Publishers’ Organization and the Toronto Arts Council. Hosted by Toronto Poet Laureate Anne Michaels, the event featured the works of established, award-winning authors Lesley Krueger and Elizabeth Gillan Muir, and emerging east Toronto writers Emily Gillespie and Nicole Saltz, and music by Black Suit Devil.

East End Arts thanks all of the writers, artists, and community members who made the Weekend of Words a success! East End Arts would also like to thank the Department of Canadian Heritage for their generous support.

ArtMEETS:

"I really loved how community-based this was, people helping each other to learn and produce the work. I loved getting out and doing something creative with my partner without having to spend a fortune (babysitter, transport, activity, etc.)." - Program participant.

Our weekly art-making workshops at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse saw great success in 2018! We worked with 16 local artists and 180 community members through eight multidisciplinary art workshops during the summer. From watercolour painting to screen printing to the technique of encaustic photo transfer, each workshop in 2018 offered a unique opportunity to learn a new art skill, have fun, meet new community members, and find new and creative ways for self expression. A big thank you to our community sponsor, Above Ground Art Supplies.

GIRLS MURAL CAMP

"The camp was a highly rewarding opportunity to connect with a group of girls and empower them through the art making process. I was inspired watching the girls establish a positive group dynamic, build confidence, and show such strong initiative and investment." - Program co-facilitator, Bareket Kezwer.

This free three-week summer program, led by muralists Monica Wickeler and Bareket Kezwer, was for individuals who self-identify as young women, girls, and/or females between the ages of 13-18. During August of 2018, nine incredible young girls transformed the field house at Oakcrest Parkette into a beautiful work of art. In addition to learning design, paint, and stencil techniques, the girls also developed self-confidence, critical thinking and problem solving skills. With the help of Monica and Bareket, we helped these young artists realize the potential of building a meaningful career in a field predominately made up of male artists.

DONORS & SPONSORS for the 2018 fiscal year:

GOVERNMENT FUNDERS:

IN-KIND DONORS:

CORPORATE DONORS:

INDIVIDUAL DONORS:

Adom Acheampong, Jen Althoff-Burrows, Chelsea Cameron-Fikis, David Carey, Sue Edworthy, Sylvia Fantin, Melanie Fernandez, Carol Fine, Melissa Foster, Leslie Francombe, Chris Kay Fraser, Phyllis Gordon, Jessica Harris, Shana Hillman, Sarah Jordan, Armen Karapetyan, Michelle Knight, Elisabeth Kohn, Juhyung Lee, Susana Molinolo, Chris Reed, Debra Robins, Maureen Scott Harris, Kim Simon, Mika Tremblay, Lucy White and Anonymous donor