East End Arts is a non-profit community arts organization that serves the east end of Toronto. We provide inclusive, engaging and high quality arts activities and events to our local communities, and we support artists and arts organizations in their creative practices.

OUR VISION

“To inspire, connect and uplift the communities of east Toronto through the power of the arts.”

OUR MISSION

“To cultivate an arts community in the east end of Toronto that helps to increase arts engagement opportunities and supports local artists and arts organizations.”

OUR PASSION

Creativity, Community, Connection

As a Community Arts Organization, we believe that Community Arts can be a tool for bridging the space between professional artists and community members; for empowering community members and artists alike to make their communities in east Toronto more vibrant and inspiring places!

Through our programs and events we aim to challenge our viewers and ourselves to think big, challenge issues, and reimagine public spaces, communities, and neighbourhoods in new and innovative ways. From large-scale murals to art workshops for youth and seniors, we strive to build programs and initiatives that respond to the real needs of the east end, while providing everyone an equitable seat at our table to share and create.

 

OUR VALUES

We strive to be an organization that is:

1. Inclusive and Accessible:
   We believe in eliminating barriers, providing a welcoming environment, and meeting people where they are.
2. Imaginative and Innovative:
   We believe in experimentation, play, and artistic skill-building for artists and audiences of all levels.
3. Collaborative and Generous:
   We believe in working with everyone and sharing our resources, knowledge and time to build a supportive community.
4. Responsive and Sustainable:
   We believe in responding to the needs of our community and our evolving world, while investing in the longevity of our shared future.

OUR SERVICE AREA

Our service area currently includes wards 14 and 19, which are loosely defined to the north by the Don Valley Parkway and Sunrise Avenue, as far south as Lake Ontario, as far west as Don Valley Parkway, and as far east as Victoria Park Avenue.

The east end is an area that is brimming with artists, arts and cultural organizations, and a wide array of creative communities and projects. The neighbourhoods we serve include Blake-Jones, Broadview North, Crescent Town, Danforth Village, Dawes Road, East Chinatown, East Danforth, East York, Greektown, Greenwood-Coxwell, Little India, Leslieville, O’Connor Parkview, Old East Danforth, Pape Village, Parkview Hills, The Pocket, Riverdale, Riverside, Studio District, Toronto Beaches, Topham Park, West Danforth, Woodbine Gardens, Woodbine-Lumsden, and more!

OUR COMMITMENT TO ARTISTIC INTEGRITY

As our digital world continues to evolve and change, we will continue to advocate for artists and their original works. Please note that East End Arts does not support AI-generated art or products created using artificial intelligence tools. We support artists, facilitators, and/or creators who produce handmade, or locally sourced original artwork. This is in alignment with our values of being Responsive and Sustainable, and investing in tools and practices that are both good for the longevity of our planet and livelihood of practicing artists.

OUR PRIORITY GROUPS

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at East End Arts, and we are committed to ensuring that our programs and services are accessible and available to those who need it most. Equity-seeking groups are those that identify barriers to equal access, opportunities and resources due to disadvantage and discrimination and actively seek social justice and reparation. Our Equity-seeking and priority groups at East End Arts are as follows:

• Local East Toronto Residents
• Artists and Arts Collectives
• 2SLGBTQIA+ Individuals
• Indigenous Peoples
• People of Colour
• People living with Disabilities and/or Mental Illnesses
• Newcomers
• Seniors
• Youth Members (29 and under)
• Low Income Community Members

 

OUR HISTORY

East End Arts (EEA) is the city’s sixth Local Arts Service Organization (LASO), a group of organizations funded in part by the City of Toronto to serve a specific geographic area. The role of LASOs is to encourage artistic growth in both emerging and established artists, contribute to the economy and local tourism, promote inclusion and equity, support healthy social change, and help create audiences for the future.

The other LASOs are: Arts Etobicoke, Lakeshore Arts, North York Arts, Scarborough Arts, and UrbanArts. Each group has unique programs that respond to the specific needs of their areas. For more information about LASOs, click HERE.

The City of Toronto recommended the formation of an East York LASO in the 2011 Creative Capital Gains Report. Following this recommendation, a steering group of 10-15 volunteers met regularly, with occasional input from another 100 interested stakeholders, until East End Arts was officially launched in 2013.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

East End Arts acknowledges that our work takes place on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples. East Toronto is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.

In keeping with those treaties, East End Arts is committed to the ongoing stewardship of this land. One of the ways we do this is by striving to create waste free programming, and we encourage those of you working in our shared spaces (like parks) to do the same. Another of the ways we do this is by encouraging the telling of stories and the making of art that engages directly with the landscape in our neighbourhoods, because we know that a greater understanding of that landscape will lead to a greater respect for the traditional stewards of this land, to whom we are so deeply indebted.