Programs

Arts Mentorship Platform

Design and develop arts and social change projects at SKETCH and in the Greater Toronto Area

Mentorship

Receive one-on-one Mentorship in community arts project development and management
Write grants to fund your project
Manage your project’s budget and expenses
Promote and market your project and its events
Evaluate and report your project

Funding

SKETCH can administer funds that you acquire for your project and is legally responsible in all funding agreements. Grants for community arts projects most often come through:

Others are potentially available upon request.

SKETCH accepts new projects only as capacity allows. Contact myia@sketch.ca for more info.

SKETCH will provide governance, policies and trusteeship for your project as we are able but our platform is based on a mentorship model. We want to partner with you to see your project develop in the best way possible. We prioritize initiatives that address systemic barriers, increase access to the arts, and develop leadership of marginalized communities in the arts.

Arts Mentorship Platform Projects

Canvas Art Projects

arts-based educational programming for youth on body positivity and gender identity

Lifted By Purpose

music mindfulness and stress management for youth formerly incarcerated

ODE

(re)connections with Indigenous culture and community engaging Indigenous 2Spirit Youth

Power To Girls

leadership-based programs, projects and events for young women of colour

Street Voices

new media platform and magazine for creative voice of youth living in shelters

Sunset Service

inclusive, interspiritual ministry and community for LGBTQ*, POC and marginalized youth

Toolbox

trade-based program designed to encourage and build healthy relationships between girls, gender nonconforming youth, and boys

Rainbow’s Pride in Scarborough

arts-based programming and Pride events for LGBTQ* youth with disabilities in Scarborough

SKETCH COMMUNITY UPDATE (as of August 14, 2020)

Thanks to all who participated in Creating Against the Odds! Our online experiments offered May, June and July. Thanks to everyone who made those experiments during these challenging times.

SKETCH studios at 180 Shaw Street will remain closed to public access until further notice. We are forced in this time of pandemic to rework and consider our sustainability given public health priorities and resources. We will keep you posted on new designs in September.

Connect here for wellness supports.

We've launched our Equity at SKETCH Web page to be in dialogue with you about our Equity goals.

Black activists and communities everywhere are working hard to lead all society to call out and authentically address the violent impacts of White Supremacy in policing, justice, education, health, community and in all systems and infrastructures across Turtle Island (North America). Anti-Black racism is deeply embedded in every fabric of our society. This, as well as our violent colonial legacy of Indigenous erasure, constant gender discrimination and violence, and the violence and mistreatment of those in the disability community, are pervasive pressing truths that we need to face and address, daily, to make change in real ways. We need boldness, energy, honesty, deep listening and accountability, to generate sustained action and inversions of power in the immediate, medium and long term.

What can a community-engaged arts organization in Toronto like us do, to take up its role in this critical renaissance of justice? Join us in learning together with us, what this means.

SKETCH is deeply committed to supporting, learning from and amplifying the brave and creative leadership of young Black Artists and Activists. Check out Art in Pandemic and be inspired by the incredible work of young artists creating during this time.

We call on the Arts Councils to create a Black Artists Fund to support Black Artists and Black Arts and Culture Organizations, recognizing and investing in their leadership in arts and culture, and in building fair and inclusive communities.

Please support us to be a just, accountable and vibrant arts platform for young people on the margins! We need your help now more than ever!