CultureShift 2026: Open Call for Youth-Led Projects

Calling all young creatives and changemakers ages 13-29! We are giving away up to ten $2500 prizes to youth-led project proposals for art-based community projects.

This is your chance to turn bold ideas into impactful community art projects through CultureShift, a multi-faceted initiative designed to support young artists and leaders as they use arts and culture to shift narratives, break cycles of oppression, and drive meaningful social change.

We are looking for projects by young artists and leaders who use their creative talents to reshape their communities, reclaim their narratives, and reimagine a more just and inclusive future. 

Selected proposals will get the opportunity to make use of Art Starts space, resources, and guidance to execute their projects in November/December 2026.

Deadline: October 11, 2026 (midnight)

Click here to apply now!

Questions: programming@artstartsto.com

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Art Starts is committed to creating a safe and inclusive space for racialized youth, centering their voices and experiences. CultureShift equips young visionaries with the confidence, skills, and tools to not only imagine change—but to lead it.

This program is made possible by the generous support of Ada W. Slaight Fund, Toronto Foundation.