Ceiling Tiles

BIJF Multi-Arts Program Exhibitions Funded by OTF 2014 – 2016
In 2014, I utilized community networks established through prior arts programming to identify community needs, and found a funding opportunity to develop timely and relevant community-based arts programs. I developed a grant program that was approved by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to expand arts initiatives at the Beaches International Jazz Festival (BIJF). I wrote, researched, and developed strategies for program development, audience development, and built an overall community arts outreach strategy. The OTF awarded the Festival with a two-year, $96,400 grant that allowed me to expand my role as a project administrator and to create year-round accessible programming that enabled children, teens and adults to participate in creating art that would be displayed in their local communities. I managed the OTF program budget from 2014 – 2016, creating 7 accessible community-based arts programs that addressed youth and diversity issues in underserved communities forming part of East York and Scarborough; developed and implemented customized curriculums for workshops for program instructors, volunteers, teachers, students and audience members to create community murals; and monitored and evaluated the impact of these program development plans.

Throughout the 2015 – 2016 school year students from 16 east end schools had the opportunity to create painted ceiling tiles under my guidance that were permanently installed in Michael Garron Hospital Emergency ward. Artwork created in the 2015 – 2016 school year reflected the festival’s themes of diversity, community and music.