![\"artstarts-platform-a\"](\"http:\/\/artbridgesblog.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/artstarts-platform.jpg\")
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Platform A announces the recipients of 2015 Toronto Arts Council micro-grants to support community-engaged art-making in the city.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00ab\u00a0Platform A<\/strong> partner organizations AFCY, Art Starts, Jumblies Theatre<\/strong> and SKETCH\/CUE<\/strong> are pleased to announce the recipients of 50 new micro-grants made possible through City Council\u2019s increase in investment to the Toronto Arts Council. This initiative puts micro-grants of up to $1,000 directly into the hands of emerging and newcomer artists and collectives who will 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 100 submissions from across the city proposing a range of inspired, community-engaged arts projects. The successful micro-grantees will be working on such projects as creating murals with women\u2019s shelter residents, developing collaborative youth video projects and producing and recording music and mix-tapes. What makes these micro-grants so important is that they are recognizing the artistic practices of those who have not previously been able to access funding for their projects.<\/p>\n The purpose of these micro-grants isn\u2019t only to provide funds for arts initiatives across the city but to provide guidance and mentorship to applicants. The process introduces them to granting body structures all while giving them tangible experience they can springboard into larger projects. This was echoed by last year\u2019s Arts For Children and Youth micro-grant artist Kiana \u2018Rookz\u2019 Eastmond who said, \u201cWhat was amazing was we were able to get funding and do so well. I know that this will open doors for grants to come. These micro-grants are a great step\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are happy to be in a position to increase access to arts funding for newcomer and community-based artists through the Platform A initiative. We extend our warmest congratulations to each of the recipients,\u201d says Claire Hopkinson, Director and CEO of the Toronto Arts Council.<\/p>\n The 56 funded projects will engage residents across the city of Toronto in a diversity of art forms at a neighbourhood level. The following recipients were awarded micro-grants from the Platform A partners:<\/strong><\/p>\n Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY)<\/strong><\/a> Art Starts<\/strong><\/a> Jumblies Theatre<\/strong><\/a> SKETCH<\/a>\/CUE<\/a><\/strong> The creative output of the 56 micro-grantees will be showcased at an event scheduled for June 18, 2015 at Artscape Youngplace.<\/p>\n Platform A 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 To follow the Platform A initiative on social media you can connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com\/platformatoronto on Twitter with the handle @pfa_toronto or across all media with the hashtag #platformatoronto.<\/p>\n About Partner Organizations:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY)<\/strong><\/a> Art Starts<\/strong><\/a> Jumblies Theatre<\/strong><\/a> SKETCH<\/a>\/CUE<\/a><\/strong> TORONTO ARTS COUNCIL<\/strong><\/a> Platform 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.<\/p>\n Toronto Arts Council contact: kerry@torontoartscouncil.org, 416 392 6802 x209″<\/p>\n -submitted by Art Starts<\/small><\/em> Platform A announces the recipients of 2015 Toronto Arts Council micro-grants to support community-engaged art-making in the city. \u00ab\u00a0Platform A partner organizations AFCY, Art Starts, Jumblies Theatre and SKETCH\/CUE are pleased to announce the recipients of 50 new micro-grants made possible through City Council\u2019s increase in investment to the Toronto<\/p>\n
\nShashann Miguel-Tash,\u00a0Pages on Fire,\u00a0Jade Greaves,\u00a0Shiv Patel,\u00a0Tara Dorey,\u00a0May Chook,\u00a0Michael Nguyen,\u00a0Conrad Davis Oluwatobi Ajibolade,\u00a0Jigme Phunkhang,\u00a0Kobi Ntiri,\u00a0Tina Nicole Austin<\/p>\n
\nJaicyea Smith,\u00a0Janiece McIntosh,\u00a0Adam Cohoon,\u00a0Poonam Sharma,\u00a0Elliot Pines,\u00a0Kassandra Prus,\u00a0Marjan Verstappen Casandra London,\u00a0Ashley Bratty,\u00a0Candice Botha,\u00a0Svitlana Ivchenko,\u00a0Juan Carbonell<\/p>\n
\nToronto Wordsmiths,\u00a0Faeghan Williams,\u00a0Jonathan Vallely,\u00a0Kristine White,\u00a0Jun Yee Wang,\u00a0Miranda Sharp,\u00a0Mackenzie Konecny,\u00a0Robin Sutherland,\u00a0Katherine Fleitas,\u00a0Julia Hune-Brown,\u00a0Veronika Diaz,\u00a0Nirven Armoogum Pavla Uppal,\u00a0Tristan Castro-Pozo<\/p>\n
\nAlvero Muanza,\u00a0Matthew Progress,\u00a0Evan Moore,\u00a0Bernice Chau,\u00a0Lorena Torres,\u00a0Loaiza Mapela,\u00a0Simon Nguyen,\u00a0Nathan Baya,\u00a0Anthony Peawan,\u00a0Oddane Taylor,\u00a0Phillip Saunders,\u00a0Gnarly Charly,\u00a0Khalid Wilson,\u00a0Pierre Bimwala,\u00a0Huda Tariq,\u00a0Tim Hunter,\u00a0Andrew Nyarko,\u00a0Alyza Bernier<\/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.<\/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\u2019s 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.<\/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.
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\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.
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\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.<\/p>\n
\nSee the profiles of\u00a0Art Starts<\/a>,\u00a0Arts for Children and Youth<\/a>,\u00a0Jumblies Theatre<\/a>\u00a0&\u00a0SKETCH<\/a>\u00a0in ArtBridges\u2019 Community-Engaged Arts\u00a0Directory and Map<\/a><\/small><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"