fbpx
Art Starts TO
  • ABOUT
    • WHO WE ARE
    • OUR TEAM
    • JOIN US
    • ART STARTS 30
    • OUR FUNDERS
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
  • PROGRAMS
    • COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING
    • SPECIAL PROJECTS
      • Digital Now
      • The Virtuosity of Blackness
    • MENTORSHIP
      • Mentorship Hub
      • Female Mentorship Program
  • SUPPORT US
    • $30 for 30
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
  • |
  • DONATE
  • ABOUT
    • WHO WE ARE
    • OUR TEAM
    • JOIN US
    • ART STARTS 30
    • OUR FUNDERS
    • ANNUAL REPORTS
  • PROGRAMS
    • COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING
    • SPECIAL PROJECTS
      • Digital Now
      • The Virtuosity of Blackness
    • MENTORSHIP
      • Mentorship Hub
      • Female Mentorship Program
  • SUPPORT US
    • $30 for 30
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT
  • |
  • DONATE
2021-06-01  |  By artstarts In All Posts, News Releases

Leveraging Community Arts for Social Change, Art Starts’ Plans for Lawrence Heights

IMG_2264

After working as the art facilitator at Art Starts, Nicole Peña naturally segued into the role of Program Director. By then she knew the ins and outs, and nooks and crannies of the non-profit organization and was ready to roll up her sleeves.

Nicole envisions the neighbourhood cultural centre becoming a mecca for bringing the community together while artistically expressing messages of hope and anti-oppression.

As a black woman (her mother is Jamaican and her father, Trinidadian) representing her community, and armed with the responsibility of aligning the Art Starts mission, she is now in a position to advocate on an even higher level to make sure residents of underserved communities, such as Lawrence Heights and Eglinton/Oakwood, take advantage of the various offerings the cultural hub provides.

ASAP: I Made That! Program, Lawrence Heights, 2017

“We believe art is the vehicle for social change,” said Nicole during a recent guest appearance on a call-in show on G98.7 (CKFG). “We use art as a means of educating people to work with interesting artists and to do programs that are fulfilling.” 

CKFG is Canada’s first all-black and Caribbean commercial radio station that is not only known as the radio voice of Toronto’s Black and Caribbean community, but also a voice that speaks powerfully to urban issues. 

“We don’t just do after-school programs, we do mentorship for female- and male-identified youth and programs for seniors and adults,” she said, pointing out one called Virtuosity of Blackness – where singers, dancers, spoken word artists and others are promoted and showcased.

“We also provide opportunities for artists to teach and be part of the community.”

Due to the pandemic, the organization pivoted to facilitating online workshops. The artistic expressions are taught differently but still attract participants who want to expand their knowledge.

The Placemaking Project, Ellesmere Skatepark in Scarborough, 2018

Just six months into the new role, Nicole is already spearheading plans for a place-making project in the Lawrence Heights community, which will hire local artists and give residents an opportunity to help in the design of the space. Her team recently met with Councillor Mike Colle to help drive that initiative forward. Also on the agenda is Art Starts’ presence at the LHION’s (Lawrence Heights Inter-Organizational Network) monthly meetings to get firsthand knowledge of its operations, and how best to serve the communities they work with. 

Spaces must be filled, and community awareness achieved — Nicole is making sure that mission gets accomplished.


You can listen to the interview with Nicole Peña and host, Royson James and Elaine Thompson here.

Art Starts Toronto community arts organization community arts toronto Lawrence heights organizations Lawrence heights programs LHION nicole pena toronto charity Toronto emerging artists toronto non profit youth art programs toronto youth charity toronto
Previous Story‘Having a Creative Outlet is an Amazing Form of Self Care’, The Power of Art in Overcoming Adversity with Songwriter Q-X
Next StoryOPEN CALL: LOOKING FOR LOCAL TALENT

Related Articles

  • 3653BF5D-CB6F-4EDB-9DCA-AF0531C1B34C
    Art Starts Celebrates, Featuring Monica Wickeler
  • IMG_3277
    JOB OPPORTUNITY: PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Latest Posts

  • 3653BF5D-CB6F-4EDB-9DCA-AF0531C1B34C
    Art Starts Celebrates, Featuring Monica Wickeler Thursday, 15, Dec
  • Art Starts Team
    VOLUNTEER POSITION: BINGO VOLUNTEER Thursday, 18, Aug
  • IMG_3277
    JOB OPPORTUNITY: PROGRAM COORDINATOR Thursday, 21, Jul
  • Elizabeth Cinello interior 1
    Art Starts Celebrates, Featuring Founding Member Elizabeth Cinello Thursday, 30, Jun
  • IMG_0634 (1)
    JOB OPPORTUNITY: PROGRAM ASSISTANT Thursday, 9, Jun

Categories

Tags

annual showcase artist abby ho artist in residence art show toronto Art Starts Toronto cartography chester le programs community art organizations toronto community art programs community arts community arts organization community arts toronto community programs toronto Documentary Editing edits emerging artists toronto Indigenous Knowledge Lawrence heights programs Learning monica wickeler neighbourhood nicole pena non profit toronto program director art starts project 40 collective public art toronto Story Storytelling street art toronto TakingItGlobal grant toronto toronto artists toronto black event toronto charity Toronto emerging artists toronto mural toronto non profit Video visual artist youth art programs toronto youth arts toronto youth charity toronto youth programs toronto

Archives

  • December 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • March 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017

About

Art Starts is an award-winning charitable, not-for-profit organization that uses the arts as a vehicle to encourage social change in Toronto’s underserved neighbourhoods. We bring professional artists and communities together to work in and across all artistic disciplines.
 

WHO WE ARE

  • ABOUT US
  • CONTACT

WHAT WE DO

  • PROGRAMS
  • SPECIAL PROJECTS
  • MENTORSHIP

FIND US

Designed by Vimbai Chikoore

Artist name/Product title

A few sentences about the artist and or the item for sale. 

Learn More:

Etsy Shopping-bag Instagram