Cultural Hotspot Projects showcase local artists and organizations that celebrate creativity, culture and community. These projects are free and provide opportunities for the public to participate in arts activities and events. Browse upcoming Cultural Hotspot events.
A full-day community event themed Celebrating Our Roots that aims to celebrate and uplift the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in the Jane and Finch area through arts, culture and community engagement. Features include performances, a Pride Ball competition, interactive installations, a Cultural Heritage Corner, a youth empowerment workshop and a community potluck.
Funding Recipient: Promoting Education and Community Health (PEACH)
A series of monthly artist showcases and a community festival celebrating urban agriculture and the arts, featuring performances and visual art presentations.
Funding Recipient: Black Creek Community Farm
A dual-stream project offering weekly training in creative writing, music, performance and choreography for youth ages 13 to 21 from James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School. Participants build original content, explore lyrical composition and collaborate on a final showcase.
Funding Recipient: The Greenprint Network
An arts-based training project for Black children and youth ages 6 to 16 to express their voices and perspectives through augmented reality art. Guided by professional artists and facilitators focused on the theme of Afrofuturism participants create original works that envision the future of Jane and Finch.
Funding Recipient: AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives
A two-day community arts festival featuring an artist showcase and small business market, celebrating the creativity and contributions of women and gender-diverse residents of the Jane and Finch community.
Funding Recipient: Flaunt It Movement
A creative shoe design project engaging youth ages 13 to 18 in hands-on workshops with artist Deanna Livoti (Kickz by D), culminating in a public showcase of customized Air Force One designs at the Hub at Downsview Park and online.
Funding Recipient: The Neighbourhood Group Community Services
A series of collaborative community-based art and storytelling events that include a community dinner, public art installation, and artist residencies with IBPOC youth, focused on building connection through narrative and creativity.
Funding Recipient: Jane Finch Community and Family Centre
An arts mentorship project beginning with facilitator training for spoken word artist, Jayda Marley, followed a series of spoken word workshops for youth led by Jayda. The project culminates in a community performance of original spoken word poetry.
Funding Recipient: The Goldfarb Gallery
A youth mentorship project featuring a series of workshops focused on content creation, artist development and music marketing, culminating in the release of new music and a final album launch event.
Funding Recipient: New Tradition Music
A community literary project that gathers local Jane and Finch stories into a 144-page mobile journal, brought to life through a one-night immersive exhibit featuring storytelling, spoken word and immersive sensory experiences.
Funding Recipient: Rebeena Subadar
A dance-focused workshop series by and for Somali women that teaches and celebrates the traditional Somali Buraanbur dance, culminating in a community performance that showcases the participants’ newly developed dance skills and connection to their cultural heritage.
Funding Recipient: Born Somali
A youth-led film project that captures and shares the voices, stories and challenges of Jane and Finch residents through a short film, culminating in a community screening.
Funding Recipient: Jamal Omar
A public dance initiative consisting of six outdoor workshops open to all ages and led by professional dance instructors, exploring a variety dance styles at Downsview Park.
Funding Recipient: North York Arts
A wellness-focused arts project that engages Black youth ages 13 to 25 through creative workshops centred on arts and crafts, poetry and visual media that encourage healing, self-expression and personal reflection.
Funding Recipient: EastMind Collective
A community arts youth mentorship program featuring arts-based workshops including visual arts, eco-arts, music and digital media, designed to engage and empower youth ages 14 to 25 from the Jane and Finch community.
Funding Recipient: Terra Elysium Foundation