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.
Free workshop series for youth 16 to 24 years of age in Jane and Finch to learn branding, marketing and graphic design.
Funding Recipient: The Classroom
This initiative includes individual training opportunities for members of The Greenprint Network artist collective to improve community-based program delivery at James Cardinal McGuigan Catholic High School and elsewhere in Jane and Finch.
Funding Recipient: The Greenprint Network
Opportunities for women and gender diverse community members to engage in a variety of activities, including workshops, open mics and DIY nights, in Flaunt It’s studio space.
Funding Recipient: Flaunt It Movement
Research and development of business cases for community-based projects that include a medium-sized festival that showcases local artists and examines the feasibility of using private-public space to show local artwork.
Funding Recipient: Troy Budhu
Sticker production project led by Jane and Finch artist Dasmingle that culminates in a colouring book highlighting the neighbourhood’s landmarks.
Funding Recipient: Mindy Huynh
Emerging Jane and Finch producer and rapper, MxdnxghtsOnly, receives one-on-one mentorship sessions with professional artist Rich Kidd in musical-based skills, production and music industry events.
Funding Recipient: MxdnxghtsOnly (Pierre Mvita)
A theatre-based workshop series created and led by Steven HEAVY Salguero, this improv acting and script development program is for local youth in the Jane-Finch area. It explores topics that range from everyday situations to social justice issues. Session workshops run out of The Spot, located on the second floor of Yorkgate Mall.
Funding Recipient: Steven HEAVY Salguero
Sustainable career development in Canada’s Music Incubator Artist Entrepreneur program where artists of all genres expand their music business and entrepreneurial knowledge, push their creative skills and develop the tools and confidence needed to run their businesses.
Funding Recipients: Kibra and Sydanie
J-Rebel is an artist, B-boy, coach and arts educator, offering a Hip-Hop education, leadership and mentorship program called Concrete Warriors 4. This capacity building project includes program development training focused on social-emotional learning and Applied Educational Neuroscience infused with Hip Hop elements to be applied to future offerings of Concrete Warriors 4.
Funding Recipient: J-Rebel (Joseph Hersco)
This initiative focuses on vocal strengthening, working with professional session musicians and creation of new spoken word material.
Funding Recipient: Aliyah Burey
Honouring the announcement of the Little Jamaica Community Land Trust to Black communities in Toronto and Canada, this project features an in-person celebration event with performances from prominent reggae artists from Little Jamaica in spring 2024.
Project lead: Black Urbanism TO
A vendor market that partners with local businesses in Eglinton West strip between Marlee Avenue and Keele Street to bring live musical and DJ performances to storefronts in the area.
Project lead: Black Business and Professional Association
Enhanced programming of the initial Little Jamaica Rising Stars Signature project that offers free arts and culture festivities, as well as portraits of community members taken by local photographers to be featured in an exhibition with live music and performances.
Project lead: Keele & Eglinton Residents (K.E. Residents)
Community project that produces a Little Jamaica zine that highlights the history of and visions for the future of the neighbourhood, highlighting voices of elders and youth.
Project lead: Reclaim, Rebuild Eglinton West
Arts and culture workshop session for Black fathers and their children, held in partnership with the EarlyOns Centre. Project culminates in a community celebration with food from local restaurants.
Project lead: Macaulay Centres for Children
A curated virtual showcase of Toronto’s roots reggae history connecting the communities of Little Jamaica and Jane and Finch through the stories, experiences and artifacts of roots reggae pioneering artist Dennis Reeves.
Project lead: Amexem Mu Centre
A mural project for 504 Oakwood Avenue building that involves artist-led youth consultations, workshops and mentorship sessions. Collaborative mural creation completed by professional artists and local youth.
Project lead: For Youth Initiative
A celebration of movies and documentaries made by local and international filmmakers, exploring themes of African liberation, spirituality and displacement. Films screen in the Eglinton West neighbourhood over three days with an opening night reception.
Project leads: Lori Beazer