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Our Programs & Projects
Through our different programs and projects, ArtHeart provides participants with a supportive environment in which they can create, learn, build self-esteem and develop artistic skills. By putting their hands and imaginations to work, our participants are empowered to engage with their community in a meaningful way. Our year-round programs and projects include: Children, Youth and Family Mobile Arts Program, Adults and Seniors Mobile Arts Program, Youth Employment Program, Council Fire Native Cultural Centre Collaborative Art Program at Wigwamen Terrace and “No Starving Artists”.
Children, Youth and Family Mobile Arts Program
This program provides free art workshops after-school and in the summer in accessible supportive spaces (in the common rooms of Toronto Community Housing (TCH) buildings i.e.: 180 Sackville Street as well as the lounge and terrace at Daniels Spectrum), with art instruction, curriculum, nutritious snacks, art exhibit opportunities, and art materials for children and youth ages 4 to 16 living in Regent Park.
The program offers a variety of visual arts opportunities such as painting, drawing, ceramics, crafts, fabric arts, photography, digital arts, and more. Parents are also welcome to participate and create art with their children. This family engagement is very special!
Adults and Seniors Mobile Arts Program
Creating art lifts people’s spirits, provides focused activity and a chance to put aside some of the struggles that our participants’ experience. Participants come together in safe, supportive and accessible workshop environments to learn, make and exhibit art, enjoy refreshments, and find community. ArtHeart provides free materials, healthy snacks and refreshments, and art instruction.
Participants work with a range of visual art techniques including painting, drawing, digital arts, print-making, ceramics, brush-painting, weaving, sewing, sculpture, crafts, photography, and media arts.These Mobile Arts Programs are held at Daniels Spectrum terrace/lounge and TCHC: 220 Oak St.
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ArtHeart in Collaboration with Council Fire Native Cultural Centre at Wigwamen Terrace Program
ArtHeart partners with Council Fire Native Cultural Centre’s Life-Long Care Program for Elders to provide a weekly outreach/mobile arts program for elders at affordable housing residence: Wigwamen Terrace. ArtHeart helps to provide a variety of art materials, facilitation and guest artist support. Projects include: beading, crafts, basket making, beeswax candles, medicine pouch and dream-catcher making.
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No Starving Artists
For over 34 years, staff and volunteers at ArtHeart have worked hard to create an art workshop / studio environment in which there are ‘no starving artists!’ This program addresses the increased food insecurity of many of our participants. Cultural and dietary preferences have been taken into consideration. ArtHeart serves nutritious snacks and refreshments at each Mobile Arts Program workshop. Food for this program has been generously donated by The Daily Bread Food Bank and Second Harvest. Lead staff are trained in safe food handling.
Youth Employment Program
Regent Park youth are employed and given their first job at ArtHeart. They receive meaningful part-time work experiences for minimum wage in their immediate neighbourhood. The hands-on employment consists of assisting with the after-school and summertime children’s arts program, office administration, and snack preparation. This involves team-work, community service, and creativity. The youth build upon their skills in preparation for further employment. Over 300 youth have graduated from this program since 1998.
