From June through October 2024, the Cultural Hotspot shines a spotlight on the Jane and Finch community. This prioritizes supporting and highlighting communities within the geographic boundaries of Steeles Avenue to the north, Wilson Avenue to the south, Weston Road to the west and Keele Street to the east.
The Cultural Hotspot provides a variety of funding opportunities for high impact and innovative project proposals that foster community engagement and create opportunities for people to connect and participate in community arts through workshops, activities and events.
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Ignite Ideation Funding supports artists, collectives, grassroots and resident-led groups and small to midsized community and arts organizations up to $5,000 per applicant. A minimum of ten projects to receive support in a funding cycle. Funding can spearhead capacity-building activities, creative practices, planning, research, development and/or testing out new creative community arts project ideas that aim to benefit the Jane and Finch community. The project ideation phase must support exploratory concept development and does not have to result in an artistic product. These may include activities that can be applied toward future Cultural Hotspot SPARK and Signature Projects.
Ignite applicants, or majority of the collective applying if working collaboratively, must:
Ignite funding can be applied to capacity-building, exploratory and/or concept development activities, such as:
Eligible applicants are strongly encouraged to:
Applications open on April 22 and close on May 31 at 11:59 p.m.
For further information on Ignite Ideation Funding please email CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca.
SPARK Project funding supports emerging and established equity-deserving artists, artist collectives, not-for-profits and community-based organizations from diverse communities with up to $7,500 per project.
SPARK Project funding applications have closed for the 2024 funding cycle.
For further information on SPARK Project funding please email CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca.
Signature Projects are intended for established organizations with a proven track record to successfully deliver mid to large-sized community-based arts and cultural projects. These projects are free for both participants and the public, which aim to promote and grow community arts and provide new opportunities to engage residents in the arts and celebrate local creativity and culture through workshops, activities, events and other initiatives. Youth employment and/or mentorship opportunities are built into each Signature Project with priority given to youth from equity-deserving communities. Signature Projects are eligible for funding of up to $22,000 each.
Signature Project funding applications have closed for the 2024 funding cycle.
For further information on Signature Project funding please email CulturalHotspot@toronto.ca.