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MANDATE
Arts for Children and Youth's mandate us to engage young people
living in priority neighbourhoods in high quality and accessible
arts educational programming that is meaningful, relevant and
collaboratively developed with community and education partners.
AFCY positions arts programs in schools and neighbourhood venues
as a means to build community, and empower marginalized children
and youth to reach their full potential through the arts and
social contributions.
MISSION
Our mission is to ally with high priority communities and empower marginalized children and youth by engaging them in hands-on, community and school based arts education programs that respect and act on existing cultural and community activity, resulting in participatory action and social awareness.
HISTORY
Established in 1995, AFCY, known at that time as Arts for
Children of Toronto (AFC), functioned as an arts scholarship
provider with a mandate to ensure that any child, regardless
of means could attend music, visual arts or dance programs
and experience the benefits of art experiences. More than 850
children received arts scholarships through AFC. In 2002, our
strategic shift away from awarding scholarships and toward
outreach programming stemmed from our belief that we would
reach more children and provide more accessible program opportunities
to those in the most need by bringing programs into priority
communities.
PROGRAMS
AFCY has, to date, provided over 40,000 children and youth
from low-income areas in Toronto with high-quality, innovative
arts experiences in visual arts, dance, drama, music, dub poetry,
filmmaking and photography. AFCY brings programs into the communities,
rather than having the participants travel downtown to our
offices. Today, AFCY reaches approximately 9,000 children and
youth per year through inner-city schools, community centres,
shelters, churches, libraries, hospitals and Toronto Community
Housing buildings.
The long–term goal is to work deeply with each community
that AFCY serves. Over time, programs will become entrenched
throughout a community and be seen as an essential part of
the lives of all the children and youth.
AFCY'S programs fall into two categories:
Currently, AFCY's programs are delivered to more than 90 diverse
venues in inner-city community hubs, specifically Weston-Mount
Dennis, Jane-Finch, Jamestown, Lawrence Heights, Toronto Central,
Regent Park, Warden Woods-Victoria Village, Malvern and Steeles/L'Amoreaux.
Many of AFCY's programs fall under our largest program stream:
Community Sharing. AFCY's Community Sharing Projects (CSP)
directly increase community capacity building. Young people
create works of art that are donated to a social service within
their area, including neighbouring schools, seniors' homes,
public libraries, daycares, and Children's Aid centres. Performances
and exhibitions also take place in local, non-traditional venues
(e.g. a shopping mall) in order to reach and engage the widest
demographic within their neighbourhood. Each of AFCY's programs
are designed to help the participants reflect their cultural
heritage, bringing to light the interconnectedness of diversity
within their school and neighbourhood. The Community Sharing
Program is also tailored to the needs of children and youth
with special needs.
GOALS
Our goals are focused on:
- Engaging marginalized youth in unique arts programs that
develop both artistic and personal skills;
- Providing meaningful
mentorship opportunities that could lead youth to finding
gainful employment; and,
- Providing children and youth with
a venue to develop a stake in their own community.
The results of AFCY's work can be seen in many places throughout
Toronto: outdoor spaces, hallways, hospitals, and entrances
of schools and community centres display the art of children
and youth who have worked with AFCY artists and youth arts
assistants. Community and media interest in many of AFCY's
special projects have been extensive and enthusiastic.
AWARDS
- In 2009 Executive Director, Lola Rasminsky, received
the Local Hero Award from the Canadian Urban Institute.
- In 2008 Artistic Director, Julie Frost, was presented
with the Vital People Award by the Toronto Community Foundation.
- In 2008 Artistic Director, Julie Frost, was presented
a scholarship for a leadership training program at the
Richard Ivey School of Business
- In 2007 Executive Director, Lola Rasminsky received
the Order of Canada for her work in bringing the arts to
at risk youth.
- In 2007 AFCY won the highly competitive Toronto
Mayor's Arts for Youth Award.
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