Arts Wellness

Self and community care through the arts, food access, tech support & referrals

Food

We serve healthy, homemade meals (vegan and with meat) at every onsite or in-person program. Artists coming to in-studio programs can access our Comfort Care Cabinet, filled with snacks and non-perishable foods to go. We can also offer limited emergency food supports to youth engaging with our programming.

For more information, email culinaryartsbotaddress@sketch.ca@sketch.ca

A photograph of an evening sky, with purples, pinks and blues, photographed reflected on water, with a lighthouse in the distance. The SKETCH logo and the text: “Wellness Referrals: Support, informal counselling, and mental health outreach with Central Toronto Youth Services. Email radinka.jeyathas@ctys.org”

Wellness Referrals

Support, informal counselling, and mental health outreach with Radinka from Central Toronto Youth Services. Radinka will also be onsite during Winter Bundles programs for in-person support.

Email radinka.jeyathasbotaddress@ctys.org@ctys.org for info.

A digital illustration of a green bag, surrounded by a design of different care items: scarves, mitts, art supplies, Naloxone kits, fruit, cookies, and more. The SKETCH logo and the text: “Winter Care Bundles: Choose your own art supplies, food, and harm reduction supplies. Email culinaryarts@sketch.ca to sign up. Limited spaces.”

Winter Care Bundles

Choose your own art supplies, fresh produce, snacks, prepared meals, and wellness and harm reduction supplies. Starting in February! Limited spaces.

Email culinaryartsbotaddress@sketch.ca@sketch.ca to sign up.

Digital illustration of a person listening to headphones and drawing. Behind them is a calm scene of a houseplant and a cat looking out the window at the CN tower. The SKETCH logo and the text: “Winter Art Hangout: Chill online crafting sessions with Lofi Beats. Supplies available for pick up through SKETCH. Email lydia@sketch.ca to sign up.

Winter Art Hangout: LoFi Beats to Craft to!

Online crafting sessions with Lofi Beats, focused on exploring different craft creations with crochet, knitting, card making, zines and more. Supplies available for pick up through SKETCH. There will be some instruction and time to create together. Feel free to bring whatever you’re currently working on.

Email lydiabotaddress@sketch.ca@sketch.ca to sign up.

Comfort Care Cabinet

Our comfort care cabinet is located on the lower level at the SKETCH studios, near the entrance and kitchen. It includes shared supplies and items that are free and open to artists participating in our programming. Supplies available often include toothpaste, winter accessory items, socks, deodorant and more. Availability is limited and changes depending on donations and season.

Mental Health and Harm Reduction Support & Referrals

Harm reduction: We work from a harm reduction framework, which aims to minimize judgment and recognize individual autonomy by understanding that people are capable of making the best decisions for themselves. We provide access to information and supplies in order to minimize potential risks with drug use. SKETCH has access to harm reduction supplies and naloxone in the comfort care cabinet, and sharps disposal bins in the washrooms. Our partners include TRIP, Parkdale Queen West CHC, and Pieces to Pathways.

Now and always, mental health supports are critical for our overall wellness. SKETCH works to connect young artists with community resources, self-care and wellness supports:

SKETCH assembles information about arts-based wellness practices here
Free harm reduction supplies and information – distribution with partners

For more information, email culinaryartsbotaddress@sketch.ca@sketch.ca or lydiabotaddress@sketch.ca@sketch.ca