2015-2016
Impact REPORT
PROVIDING THE THREAD THAT WEAVES TOGETHER GENERATIONS Photo by: Eugene Twien (taken for the Rustic Mosaic Project)
3250
Children & Youth Served
17775 Total Public Attendance
93
Artists Employed
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Contents Executive Director & Board Chair Statement Mission, Mandate, Vision Programs Rustic Mosaic Project (Cultural Hotspot) Events
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Staff & Board Acknowledgements Treasurer's Report
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Enhancing neighbourhoods by engaging & building community through the arts
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Message from Executive Director and Board Chair There is something special about the arts, whether one is working in the arts, being an artist, creating or consuming art. Art fuels the soul and that is just what we have spent the last year doing. Our work with young people for the past 29 years has been extremely impactful, Inspiring and thought provoking. While our work is often filled with highs, there are also some lows and so we celebrate the highs voraciously and use the lows for further inspiration. As we wrap up an excitingly busy and productive year, we continue to garner a variety of new and valuable opportunities to partner with more diverse groups and individuals toward achieving our targets. We have seen our demand for service increase significantly and the number of youth we serve has increased by over 200%. We have truly had our hands full! This past year, we participated in a variety of projects and initiatives that have helped us to reach out to a greater cross-section of the community, serving more people than ever before in the York south-Weston area. Over the past two years, we have put much time and effort into building our staff and governance teams to ensure we have the skills set necessary for moving the organization forward and for achieving our many goals. We focussed strongly also on developing our new strategic plan that will take us in to the year 2020. With the many developments taking place in the Weston and Mount Dennis areas including the building of a new cultural hub for Weston in 2018, along with the growing demand for our services resulting from our expanded focus on the York SouthWeston area that hosts seven of the City’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs), many new opportunities abound and we want to be prepared for them all.
Our new strategic plan, 2020 Vision is a bold new map for UrbanArts as it charts our goals and objectives from 2016-2020 and lays the groundwork for us to build organization and community capacity, engagement and supports and taking on opportunities that represent a variety of interests and challenges. ‘2020 Vision' includes the expansion of services to the general population, still maintaining a focus on youth, in seven Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs) in the York South-Weston area, a new staffing and program model and 'infrastructure' development to ensure the organization continues to be relevant and vital to those we serve. We have adopted a new mission, vision, mandate and manifesto the organizational. Our tagline has changed from ‘Engaging Youth Through the Arts’ to ‘Providing the Thread that Weaves Together Generations’ to better reflect our new direction, mission and mandate. With the development of our new strategic plan, we are placing a greater focus on connecting more closely with the NIAs and the broader Former City of York boundaries as we want to ensure that we are primed and ready to take advantage of the new opportunities while addressing the challenges that exist within them. Once again, we thank our board, staff, participants, partners, funders and community for working so diligently with us as we continue on our journey
toward meeting the artistic and creative needs of the community and for helping to ensure that we take advantage of the many opportunities along with the challenges that present themselves with resolve. We invite you to continue to work with us as there is so much more art to create and fun to be had! Artfully yours,
Marlene McKintosh Executive Director
Laurie Shawn Borzovoy Chair of the Board
About UrbanArts Mission: UrbanArts is committed to the goal of building inclusive, engaged communities by enriching people's’ lives through the arts, culture and heritage, with programs, services and resources delivered within the former City of York boundaries, with a focus on York South-Weston. UrbanArts is a progressive, not-for-profit Community Arts Council (CAC)/Local Arts Service Organization (LASO) providing opportunities for diverse cultural expression, artistic development, training and employment to members of urban communities with a focus on youth in central west Toronto; UrbanArts focuses on engaging community through the arts; UrbanArts is an incubator for local arts, with a range of programs led by professional artists in visual, digital, culinary and media arts, theatre, dance and music. As the thread to weaves together generations, UrbanArts in the process of transitioning its program and service delivery to include the broader community with a focus on youth.
Vision: Enhancing neighbourhoods by engaging and building community through the arts; beginning with a focus on youth, UrbanArts provides the thread that weaves together generations.
Mandate: UrbanArts is a progressive not-for-profit local arts service organization (LASO) linking the needs of those who create/make art, those who engage the artist as an essential element of their own development, and those who support UrbanArts because it adds value (sense of identity, lifestyle, prosperity) to the neighbourhood.
Manifesto Statement “UrbanArts is committed to accessibility, equity & accountability through our innovative youth arts programs, inclusive space & diverse staff we are working to create an environment where all of our community feels welcome, safe & celebrated.
Providing the thread that weaves together generations.
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Our Programs We are continuing to work with our community partners to ramp up programs & services in five additional Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs). Along with Weston and Mount Dennis, our expanded service area now includes Rustic, Rockcliffe-Smythe, Beechborough-Greenbrook, Keelesdale-Eglinton West and Weston-Pelham Park, serving a population of approximately 100,000 residents.
• Dancers’ Boot Camp • Young Men of Honour (Arts) Leadership Development Program • It’s a Girl Thing! Young Women’s (Arts) Leadership Development Program • ASAP – After School Arts Program (dance, spoken word, visual arts, fashion design, film, photography, etc.) • Garden Project
• Beats.Mind.Movement music production program • Beats.Mind.Movement Mobile • Mural Arts mural program • SummerArts • Culinary Arts • Snack ‘N Chat • ProTech – Digital & Media Arts (Photography, Graphic Design, T-Shirt Design and Print, Social Media,
Employment Workshops) • MCT Intergenerational Theatre Program • Spoken Word • Unison Art Beat Program • Yoga (Restorative)
Using art as a vehicle, our leadership development programs build leadership skills, improving self-confidence and equipping participants with the tools necessary for life success. The IGT and YMH programs elevate the leadership potential of young men and women through a series of through creative arts workshops on personal growth, community Impact, life skills, and healthy living. UrbanArts provides the resources, community supports and mentorship fundamental to advancing the academic, vocational, artistic and personal success of young girls by creating a safe space for sharing and learning, exploration and expression.
It’s A Girl Thing! (IGT)
Young Men of Honour (YMH)
IGT was active in 10 schools reaching over 115 young women directly with daily programming building leadership skills, improving self-confidence and equipping participants with the tools necessary for life success. The HeART conference that serves as the culmination point for the year hosted 230 young women in 2016
Over the last year of the program the YMH program has enjoyed strong success with roll out in 9 schools as well as the largest conference attendance of 110 boys in 2016.
Beats.Mind.Movement (BMM) (Music Program)
BMM served 84 (74 registered and 10 drop-in) youth from the York South-Weston Area and engaged them in learning skills in the field of music production, engineering and performing. Participants got to take part in a series of live performances where they either performed or were part of the team putting on the event utilizing the skills that they learned in the program. The program culminated with an exciting showcase held at the Rivoli.
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Rustic Mosaic Project Cultural Hotspot 2016 saw the rollout of the City of Toronto’s Cultural HotSpot Project in North York. UrbanArts was selected as one of the signature projects focussing on the Rustic neighbourhood.
“
All the time people tell you that art is so hard to get into and you’re never going to get a job if you want to study anything in the arts. But UrbanArts helped me see that it doesn’t matter if people don’t believe in you. If art makes you happy, make art” - Italia Santoyo, participant
The Rustic Mosaic Project featured 30 (14-29 yrs) participants from the Rustic Neighbourhood engaged in art workshops including, photography (black and white and digital fundamentals), digital image manipulation using the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of software, screenprinting, mural design and vinyl mural installation. The program ran for 7 months (April to Oct) and
engaged partners 3M, Gallery 44, AIP Media, Toronto Community Housing, City of Toronto Parks and Recreation and a host of community groups. Three large murals were created by the youth with the guidance of artist Zeesy Powers and were installed on three exterior walls of the Falstaff Community Centre.
The mural Launch was held Oct 1st 2016 with over 120 community members gathering to mark the mural’s completion and recognize the partners and youth who made it all possible.
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Our Events CultureShock "I came to UrbanArts EVERY single day because I had nowhere to go. When I joined the music program, I told myself that this is what I want to do. I want to tell stories� - J-Soul (Jeffrey Edwards)
Community Arts Festival
CultureShock essentially transforms, invigorates and revitalizes the area each year with local talent, musicians and the professional headliners UrbanArts brings in. The 2016 edition of our annual community arts festival was a special event given that one of UrbanArts very own artists headlined the Festival. CultureShock took place over the course of 3 days starting with strong media exposure for our headliner and former participant turned staff member, (Jeffrey Edwards pka J-Soul) who has recently signed a record deal with Cash Money Records/Universal (UMG).
Winter Expo A December evening filled with warm performances in spoken word, dance, & music, Winter Expo showcased the best of UA talent!
Art Leadership Conferences Attracting over 340 students enrolled in our IGT and YMH Leadership programs, Humber College was the host to our annual HeART and BOSS (Build on Self Success) Conferences.
Community Clean-Up & BBQ Our annual cleanup is a great way for local residents to support our community by cleaning and planting the seeds for our Garden project.
The weekend included an official launch party, street parade, dance battle, beat-making competition, youth talent show and interactive maker lab workshops.
Our Staff + Board Marlene McKintosh, Executive Director Lensa Simesso Denga, Operations Manager Shah Mohamed, Programs Manager Spencer Phillips , Communications & Outreach Coordinator Leah Jules, Program Coordinator Ritchie Acheampong, Program Faciltator Ervin Bempong, Program Faciltator Joy Simone-Brown, Program Faciltator Freddy Brobbey , Program Faciltator Roza Agostino, Office Administrator
A small but dedicated team of individuals committed to positive social change in York South-Weston
Contract Staff Jeffery Edwards Akil Dixon Karis Avillano Sashney Gordon Kester Philip Bre-Anna Morgan James Huynh Kris Ramadhin Nancy Martin Helen Ogubazgi
Board of Directors Laurie-Shawn Borzovoy, Chair of the Board Dexter Blackwood, Treasurer Louis Kizito, Vice-Chair David Cass, Secretary Tevya D. Reid, OCT, Director Kyla Farmer, Director Juliet Mugabi, Director Joe Mihevic (City Councillor St. Paul's Ward 21), City Council Appointment Frances Nunziata (City Councillor York South-Weston Ward 11), City Council Appointment
Acknowledgements UrbanArts could not provide programs & services without the support and participation of its public and private sector partners Artistic Gallery 44 - Centre for Contemporary Photography ArtReach Toronto Mixed Company Theatre Neighbourhood Arts Network Friends of the Arts Arts Etobicoke Lakeshore Arts East End Arts Scarborough Arts North York Arts National Ballet of Canada Artscape Story Planet Corporate Sponsors & Donors 3M Canada AIP Media Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Telus Canadian Tire (Jumpstart) Local Business and BIA Partnerships Shoppers Drug Mart Weston BIA Mount Dennis BIA Super Coffee
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Community Partners Learning Enrichment Foundation CARC - The Community Action Resource Centre Young and Potential Fathers – Ujima House Falstaff Community Centre Native Child and Family Services of Toronto Anduhyaun Women’s Shelter For Youth Initiative Unison Community Health Services Right To Play Frontlines YMCA of Greater Toronto Area and Young and Potential Fathers (YPF) Community MicroSkills Development Centre (MicroSkills)
Youth Employment Services (YES) Progress Place Weston-King Neighbourhood Centre Access Point on Jane North York Community House The STOP York Youth Coalition Weston Farmers Market Yorktown Family Services North York Harvest Food Bank St Albans Boys and Girls Club Toronto Public Libraries (Mount Dennis & Weston-King) Mogadishu Soccer Club Centennial Recreation Centre for Youth – Supporting Community Arts Programming Humber Community Services for Senior Northwood Neighbourhood Services
Educational Toronto District School Board Toronto Catholic District School Board York University’s Tubman Institute York University University of Toronto Ryerson University Humber College Centennial College’s Arts Administration Program
Humber College George Brown College Guelph-Humber Funding Partners City of Toronto Ontario Trillium Foundation Toronto Foundation (Playing for Keeps) Ontario Arts Council Toronto Arts Council Anonymous Donor
Treasurer's Report
Statement of Financial Position
TREASURER’S REPORT & AUDITED FINANCIALS
UrbanArts’ 2015-2016 fiscal year was a major success in that we received a noticeable increase in our operational funding and we also received a new three-year Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. These new funds come at a time when we are expanding our service area and moving toward serving the broader community, still with a focus on youth. We continue to receive well needed support, sponsorships
and donations from our various funding sources that have enabled us to continue offering much needed programs and services to youth and artists. This year we also took on, with the City and business partners, the Cultural Hotspot project as part of our deeper engagement with our local (Citydesignated) Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs). UrbanArts’ daily operations continue to be well managed and enhanced by the Executive Director and staff along with our very dedicated team making up our Board of Directors. This work is being bolstered by our new strategic plan ‘2020 Vision’ that clearly lays out our financial and resource development objectives over the next four years to further grow and stabilize the organization.
As of August 31, 2016 UrbanArts continues to be an extremely vibrant and busy place and our staff has done a tremendous job in striving to meet the artistic needs of a community in constant transition. We value all the relationships we have built with our funders, donors, volunteers and staff. Every dollar we receive goes far in ensuring we can most effectively meet our growing demands for services and programs and in keeping with our strategic priorities. Thank you on behalf of the Board of Directors for all your ongoing support.
2016
ASSETS CURRENT Cash $ 342,562 Guaranteed investment certificates 25,896 Accounts Receivable 5,340 Harmonized Sales Tax Recoverable 22,090 395,888 CAPITAL ASSETS 5,394
$ 401,282
LIABILITIES CURRENT Accounts payable & accrued liabilities
Deferred contributions
$
20,210 323,506
343,716 NET ASSETS INVESTED IN CAPITAL ASSETS UNRESTRICTED
5,394 52,172
57,566
401,282
-Juliet Mugabi, Treasurer
The presentation of the Fiscal 2015-2016 Condensed Statement of Financial Position and Condensed Statement of Financial Operations are derived from the Audited Statements of UrbanArts, dated August 31st, 2016, as audited by Hogg, Shain & Scheck Professional Corporation. A complete copy of the audited statements and accompanying notes may be obtained by contacting UrbanArts at 416-241-5124 or info@ urbanartstoronto.org
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Statement of
Operations Revenues
Expenses
UrbanArts Community Arts Council 5 Bartonville Ave. East Toronto, ON M6M 2B1 19 John St. Toronto, ON M9N 1J2 Phone (416) 241-5124 Email info@urbanartstoronto.org Web www.urbanartstoronto.org