East End Arts invites artists to submit an application for Textile Tales! The deadline for this Artist Call is Sunday May 31, 2026 by 11:59PM EST.
ABOUT TEXTILE TALES
Textile Tales is a fibre-based art program that will allow up to 40 local seniors in the east end of Toronto try new textile and fibre art skills, learn basic digital literacy skills, and connect and get creative with other seniors online and in-person at our Clubhouse!
This program will take place over eight months – August 2026 to March 2027 – and will feature 8 monthly textile-based art workshops, alternating between online and in-person delivery. Each workshop will be taught by different artist facilitators who will teach different creative and unique textile-based techniques. Each participant will be given several blank textile canvas squares at the beginning of the program to try out and execute the different textile techniques they will be taught throughout the 8 months.
Textile Tales will culminate with an in-person exhibition at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse where all of the canvas pieces created will be shown in a final exhibition in March 2027, bringing together the “Textile Tales” of each Senior in one room for the community to see.
ABOUT THIS CALL FOR ARTISTS
We are seeking submissions from textile-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 a textile canvas square (likely 8″x8″ in size). Note that we will provide all senior participants with the neccessary materials related to each workshop (but there is a budget limit for materials, which you will find in the application questions).
The key themes for this artist call are: storytelling and connection. Workshops must be able to take place over Zoom OR in-person. Please note that we will be presenting 4 online workshops, 4 in-person workshops, but our senior committee will decide which ones will be online versus in-person. Therefore, it is important that your workshop can be adaptable for either setting.
We welcome any and all textile-based art forms (i.e., weaving, screen-printing, natural dyeing, embroidery, punch needle, block printing, and more) 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 simple canvas
Let your imaginations run wild, and propose a fun textile-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 how our final Exhibition was presented in 2022/2023 when we presented a similar textile-based program, please visit our Instagram HERE.
SELECTION PROCESS
Selected artists will be chosen by East End Arts staff, with the supporrt of 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 each be paid:
- For prep, $375.00
- For workshop facilitation, $450.00 for one 2-hour workshop
For a total of $825.00 per workshop.
IMPORTANT DATES
- Deadline for artist submissions: Sunday May 31st, 2026 by 11:59PM EST
- Results notification will be no later than the week of June 22, 2026
- Selected Artists will all be asked to join a welcome party with participants on Tuesday July 28, 2026
- Workshops will take place on Fridays, online or in-person, between September 2026, and February 2027
HOW TO APPLY TO TEXTILE TALES
Thank you for your interest in Textile Tales! 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 on a textile canvas square (likely 8″x8″ in size). All techniques should be accessible enough that they can be learned in a two-hour class online. (Max 250 words)
- Aside from the canvas textile squares we will provide to our seniors, what materials are required for your workshop? (Please keep in mind that the budget for materials is max $10/per participant).
- 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 we can share after your workshop in our shared senior Facebook group to help our participants feel inspired to continue using the technique that you’ve taught them?
- 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
-2SLGBTQIA+ Individuals
-Indigenous Peoples
-Person of Colour
-Person living with Disabilities and/or Mental Illness
-Newcomer
-Senior
-Youth Member (29 and under)
-Low Income Community Member
Please save your single PDF document with your name in the file name, and TEXTILETALES at the end, i.e. Robin_Brown_TEXTILETALES.pdf.
To apply, please email all files in one single PDF document, which includes your answers and all support material, to submissions@eastendarts.ca
If you have any questions about the application process you can email our Program Producer, Merryn, at merryn@eastendarts.ca
Deadline for submissions: Sunday May 31st, 2026 by 11:59PM EST
FUNDER OF TEXTILE TALES
Thank you to the New Horizons for Seniors Grant program for funding Textile Tales! We could not present meaningful, high-quality arts programs such as these without their support.
