East End Arts invites artists to submit an application for Seniors in the East: Storybook Program, Chapter Two! The deadline for this Artist Call is Friday June 6, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST
ABOUT SENIORS IN THE EAST: CHAPTER TWO
Seniors in the East: Storybook Program Chapter Two is an art program that will allow up to 40 seniors in the east end of Toronto to try new paper-based art skills, learn basic digital literacy skills, connect and get creative with other seniors online and in-person at our Clubhouse!
Seniors in the East will take place over seven months – September 2025 to March 2026 – and will feature nine arts workshops. The goal of these workshops is to teach new art skills that can be executed on mixed-use paper in a bound 9”x12” storybook. This program will culminate with an in-person exhibition at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse where all of the storybooks from all of our senior participants will come together, and their artwork and stories will be shared with the community.
ABOUT THIS CALL FOR ARTISTS
We are seeking submissions from paper-based artists and/or arts facilitators interested in sharing their art practice with a group of engaged seniors through one 2-hour workshop. We are open to any type of art form, so long as it can be executed on mixed media paper to help fill the pages of their storybooks. The key themes for this artist call are: storytelling and connection. Workshops must be able to take place over Zoom, and senior participants will be provided with materials related to the workshops.
We welcome all paper-based art forms (i.e., drawing, collage, stamping, calligraphy, paper weaving, etc.) that are:
- Accessible: to teach and learn in a 2-hour workshop over Zoom
- Sustainable: low waste, thoughtful use of materials
- Story-driven: encouraging personal reflection and storytelling
- Portable: easily executed with limited materials on mixed media paper
Let your imaginations run wild, and propose a fun paper-based workshop that is both engaging and accessible for our senior participants! We look forward to seeing what you propose.
If you would like to see the types of workshops that we presented in the 2024/2025 First Season of the Seniors in the East program, please visit HERE.
Similarly, if you would like to see how our final Exhibition was presented in the 2024/2025 First Season of Seniors in the East, please visit our webpage HERE and our Facebook album HERE.
SELECTION PROCESS
Selected artists will be chosen by a jury of senior participants from this program. Priority will be given to artists from EEA’s Priority Groups, with particular weight given to applications from other senior artists or arts facilitators. Proposals will be evaluated based on the experience of facilitators, alignment with the themes as described in the application, and viability of the proposed workshop to be delivered.
Selected artists will be paid $250 for prep and $450 for one 2-hour workshop, for a total of $700.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Deadline for artist submissions: Friday June 6, 2025
- Results notification will be the week of July 11, 2025
- Selected Artists will all be asked to join a welcome party with participants on Friday August 8, 2025
- Workshops will take place between Friday September 5, 2025, and Friday February 20, 2026
HOW TO APPLY TO SENIORS IN THE EAST: STORYBOOK PROGRAM CHAPTER TWO
Thank you for your interest in Seniors in the East Chapter Two! To apply, please email one single PDF document, which includes your answers and all support material, to submissions@eastendarts.ca, with the following information:
- Name of Artist or Collective:
- Postal Code:
- Website (if applicable):
- Social Handles (if applicable):
- Describe the artistic technique that you would like to share in your workshop. Keep in mind that all techniques must be able to be executed in a bound mixed-use paper notebook with limited materials. All techniques should be accessible enough that they can be learned in a two-hour class online. (Max 250 words)
- Aside from the mixed use paper notebook we will provide to our seniors, what materials are required for your workshop? (Please keep in mind that the maximum budget for materials per workshop is $850 total. This should cover materials for all 40 participants. We appreciate budget-lean applications to help us keep costs down)
- It’s often true that seniors are disproportionately isolated and their stories are often untold. How will your workshop allow seniors to tell their stories and encourage self expression? (Max 250 words).
- In addition to your proposed art workshop, please provide two (2) “creative prompts” that participants might use to feel inspired to continue using the technique that you’ve taught them. (We will use these prompts to share with our shared Facebook group after your workshop takes place).
- Please explain how your proposed arts workshop considers sustainability in its design and implementation. (Max 250 words)
- Please provide an artist bio (250 words), attach a CV, and a promotional headshot.
** This bio & headshot will be used as promotional material for selected artists. - Provide four (4) examples of your work as support materials.
**Please note that it’s important that these support materials show your ability to execute the type of workshop you have proposed. - Please confirm if you are a member of any of East End Arts’ Equity Seeking Groups:
-Local East Toronto Resident
-Female/Non-Binary Identifying
-Indigenous
-Black
-Person of Colour
-Person living with Disabilities and/or Mental Illness
-LGBTQ2+
-Newcomer
-Senior
-Youth
-Low Income Community Member
-Crescent Town Community Member
-Bengali Community Member
-Francophone
Please save your single PDF document with your name in the file name, and SITE2 at the end, i.e. Robin_Smith_SITE2.pdf.
If you have any questions about the application process you can email our Program Manager, Mahmoud, at mahmoud@eastendarts.ca
Deadline for submissions: Friday June 6, 2025 by 11:59PM EST
FUNDER OF SENIORS IN THE EAST: STORYBOOK PROGRAM CHAPTER TWO
Thank you to the New Horizons for Seniors Grant program for supporting a second season of Seniors In The East!
