![\"artstarts-platform-a\"](\"http:\/\/artbridgesblog.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/artstarts-platform.jpg\")
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\u00ab\u00a0Platform A<\/strong> partner organizations AFCY, Art Starts, Jumblies Theatre and SKETCH\/CUE<\/strong> are pleased to announce the recipients of 33 new micro-grants made possible through City Council\u2019s increase in investment to the Toronto Arts Council. This initiative puts micro-grants of $1,000 directly into the hands of emerging and newcomer artists and collectives who would benefit from seed funding to get projects started, to practice skills and to experiment with creative ideas that later become more fulsome projects.<\/p>\n The Platform A partner organizations received more than 85 submissions from across the city proposing a range of inspired, community-engaged arts projects. The applicants had never before received funding from arts council bodies. The successful micro-grantees are engaging in a range of arts initiatives from a visual arts project creating images of home with immigrant\/refugee youth (both new & of origin), to a literary magazine featuring writing and artwork from young women of colour to a series of skills-sharing workshops for emerging filmmakers from priority neighbourhoods culminating in the creation and showcase of a short film.<\/p>\n One of the successful micro-grants recipients is a youth-led writing collective called the Toronto Wordsmiths. Working out of the Parkdale Library, they will facilitate creative writing and literary workshops resulting in the production of a zine and an event. \u00ab\u00a0We hope to have people come together to share their own experiences through writing,\u201d says collective member Jess Goldman. \u201dWe want to create a space that feels safe but also that encourages young people to come together in positive ways. This grant will help us offer more creative opportunities for writing, performance and art making.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n The 33 funded projects will engage residents across the city of Toronto in a diversity of art forms at a neighbourhood level.<\/p>\n The following recipients were awarded micro-grants from the Platform A partners:<\/p>\n AFCY<\/strong> Art Starts<\/strong> Jumblies Theatre<\/strong> SKETCH\/CUE<\/strong> Platform A<\/strong> is a collaboration between four of Toronto\u2019s leading organizations in community-engaged arts: Arts for Children and Youth, Art Starts, Jumblies Theatre and SKETCH\/CUE. These organizations have all emerged from grassroots initiatives and have grown to become key community builders in Toronto\u2019s arts sector, engaging thousands of children, young people and adults annually through their diverse, innovative and accessible programming.<\/p>\n About Partner Organizations:<\/span><\/p>\n Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY)<\/strong> Art Starts<\/strong> Jumblies Theatre<\/strong> SKETCH\/CUE<\/strong> TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL<\/strong> -submitted by Mario Murray,\u00a0Marketing and Events Coordinator.\u00a0Art Starts<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n ArtBridges\/ToileDesArts Sponsor<\/small><\/span> \u00ab\u00a0Platform A partner organizations AFCY, Art Starts, Jumblies Theatre and SKETCH\/CUE are pleased to announce the recipients of 33 new micro-grants made possible through City Council\u2019s increase in investment to the Toronto Arts Council. This initiative puts micro-grants of $1,000 directly into the hands of emerging and newcomer artists and<\/p>\n
\nAscend Arts Collective;\u00a0Basement Apt. Films;\u00a0Community Action Committee;\u00a0Camelle Davidson;\u00a0Leila Dey;\u00a0Fitzroy Facey;\u00a0Junior Lavagesse;\u00a0Casandra London<\/p>\n
\nOhemaa Boateng;\u00a0Afi Browne;\u00a0Khydup Gyatso;\u00a0Lindy Kinoshameg;\u00a0Nicole Little;\u00a0Car Martin;\u00a0Genito Muchochoma;\u00a0Ananna Rafi;\u00a0Toronto Wordsmiths<\/p>\n
\nAlvis Choi;\u00a0Ben Lee;\u00a0Lorenzo Pagnotta;\u00a0Pam Snell;\u00a0Tamar Swartz;\u00a0Faten Toubasi;\u00a0Jun Yee Wang;\u00a0Josephine Yudera;\u00a0De Ridder Linarez<\/p>\n
\nSalomeh Ahmadi;\u00a0Lola Bunz;\u00a0Jesi the Elder;\u00a0Whitney French;\u00a0Heather Fulton;\u00a0Richael Laking;\u00a0Steve Mantyka;\u00a0Dynesti Williams<\/p>\n
\nAFCY is an award-winning organization whose mandate is to engage young people living in priority neighbourhoods in high-quality, accessible arts educational programs that are meaningful, relevant and collaboratively developed with community and education partners. AFCY positions arts programs in schools and neighbourhood venues as a means of building community, and empowering marginalized children and youth to reach their full potential as artists and social contributors.
\nwww.afcy.ca<\/a><\/p>\n
\nArt Starts is an award-winning charitable, not-for-profit organization that uses the arts as a vehicle to encourage social change in Toronto\u02bcs underserved neighbourhoods. Bringing professional artists and communities together to work across all artistic disciplines, Art Starts combines the best practices of hands-on community consultation with a collaborative art-making approach and sound organizational and administrative support.
\nwww.artstarts.net<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIn operation for over ten years, Jumblies is an inclusive and community-focused theatre company offering multi-year residencies, studio training, mentorships, and innovative collaborative projects. Jumblies is an award-winning organization increasingly cited as a pioneering and inspirational example of art that embraces and intertwines aesthetics with social engagement.
\nwww.jumbliestheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n
\nSKETCH is a nationally recognized, award-winning community arts development initiative based in Toronto engaging young people living homeless and on the margins, ages 15-29, from across Canada. SKETCH creates equitable opportunities for diverse young people to experience the transformative power of the arts. A project of SKETCH, CUE is a radical, youth-led, high-access arts support initiative enabling young marginalized artists to develop arts project proposals, produce, and exhibit their visions, within an intimate and supportive community framework.
\nwww.sketch.ca<\/a>
\nwww.cueartprojects.ca<\/a><\/p>\n
\nToronto Arts Council, an arm\u2019s length body of the City of Toronto, funds artists and arts organizations across the city through its grants programs. In 2012, approximately $10.3 million was disbursed to 419 arts organizations and 272 individual artists following assessment of 1562 applications. Toronto Arts Council\u2019s grant budget increased to $14.3 million in 2013.
\nPlatform A is a key initiative that was developed in line with TAC\u2019s strategic priorities to enhance support for Community Connections in local and youth-based arts delivery, and foster increased Innovation and Partnerships that will incubate new ideas and opportunities across all disciplines.\u00a0\u00bb<\/p>\n
\n![\"Spamalot](\"http:\/\/artbridgesblog.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Spamalot_Web_Banner2.jpg\")
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