The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre (CCAC) is a community arts charitable organization that was founded in 1979 by David Blackmore and Tommy Oki. Its mandate is to provide art classes, music instruction, karate and summer camp to children in the CCAC’s neighborhood for subsidized rates because “it’s so important that all children have access to creativity” and that music and arts lessons are affordable for everyone in the community. The general model is: a community arts centre that offers highly subsidized (and some free) private and group music, art, karate, drama classes, a drop-in coffee house, and summer arts camp.

The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre is really good at their music program. It is known for its supportive environment for aspiring young musicians which includes a homey and nurturing atmosphere where kids can gather and learn.

The centre’s catchment area is Cabbagetown, Moss Park, St. Jamestown and Regent Park (communities in the downtown east side of Toronto). Doors are also open to anyone who wants to attend from other areas of the city. The language of service is English. It works primarily with children and youth ages 3-20; they also offer a few adult drop-in programs. The average number of participants are: 40 per day and 500 annually. The program hours are Mon.-Fri.; 3:30-8:30; Sat. 9:00-5:00; Sun. 6:00-10:00 .

The music classes offered are piano, violin, guitar, saxophone, flute, and drums. Music theory, visual arts and karate are taught in group classes. Their summer camp offers lots of arts and crafts as well as field trips around the city to attractions such as: the zoo, Casa Loma, and the Royal Ontario Museum. Classes are mostly available through registration, few are drop-in. On Sunday evenings the centre offers a coffee house wherein people can play music and recite poetry. Fees for classes are determined through a sliding scale and about 75% of the students require subsidies. The centre holds 3 recitals a year and showcases the participants’ artwork.

The CCAC’s goals this year are to increase their corporate fundraising, reinstate their drama program and increase their programming hours. They are also adjusting, after a huge move, into their rented studio that is 2,100 sq ft. As Sarah says, “challenge is always.”

WISHLIST: The CCAC needs musical instruments, volunteers, donations, metronomes, and sheet music (they’ve started a music library).

The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre has a board of directors, and it would like to start an advisory council or committee in order to support the Board’s activities. The Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre has 1 full-time staff, 15-18 part-time staff, and approximately 10 community volunteers. Its annual budget range is $260,000. It is supported by about 4% gov’t funding. It does not currently have a budget for professional development, training, conferences.

Cabbagetown Community Arts Centre loves partnering with other community arts projects/programs/organizations/resources!

ArtBridges interview with Sarah Patrick, Executive Director, on april 8th, 2010.

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