Toronto Arts Foundation

Meet Avalonne Flamand (Red Sky Woman. Mskwa Giizhig kwe from Wiikwemikoong First Nation. Wolf Clan), aparticipant in the ArtWorksTO (AWTO) Indigenous Program!✨

Avalonne is an Indigenous artist from Wikwemikoong First Nation currently residing in Toronto, Ontario. Raisedin Sudbury, ON by her grandmother, Avalonne has navigated significant loss and challenges throughout herlife. Becoming a mother at a young age inspired her to build a better future for herself and her family, using artand creativity as a form of healing, as well as a way to process her experiences, tell her story, and connect withher culture and community.

Through the AWTO program, Avalonne is working with Toronto Council Fire to help expand the reach of itsannual Youth Gathering, a youth-led cultural celebration that reconnects Indigenous youth and communitieswith traditional gatherings. She is supporting the development of a social media strategy and creatingengaging digital content to help share Council Fire’s programs, events, and vision with a wider audience.

In addition to paid creative contracts such as Avalonne’s, the AWTO Program, originally created in2015, provides participants with a credential education delivered by OCAD U, mentorship and networkingopportunities, and other wrap-around supports intended to help equity-deserving artists establish themselvesin Toronto’s creative industries.

The Indigenous stream was added in 2025 as a fully Indigenous (First Nations,Métis, and Inuit) workforce development initiative that creates a customized, culturally rooted, and supportiveenvironment for Indigenous artists, enhancing their representation and success within media arts. 

In honor of Indigenous History Month, we’re highlighting all six participants in the first-ever ArtWorksTO Indigenous Program cohort and celebrating the stories, creativity, and contributions ofIndigenous artists in our community.

A huge congrats to Agneya - the recipient of the 2026 Breakthrough Jazz Artist Award 🎷✨

An Indo-Canadian percussionist and composer, Agneya explores rhythm as a meeting place between cultures. Based in Toronto and raised in India, his work blends South Asian rhythmic cycles, West African grooves, and jazz improvisation into an immersive and deeply expressive sound.

His debut album, AGNEYA (2026), reflects a global musical journey rooted in curiosity, connection, and innovation.

Congratulations to Breakthrough Jazz Artist award finalists Jon Catanus (Jon Chiong-Catanus) and Julian Anderson-Bowes (Julian Anderson-Bowes)

The Breakthrough Jazz Artist Award recognizes jazz artists who demonstrate exceptional talent and innovation in their field.

Generously supported by Michael Bourgeois & Marilyn Legge.

Calling all GTA organizations, arts groups, and community leaders! 📣✨

Become a Project Host for the ArtWorksTO Newcomer Program (ArtworksTO) and collaborate with talented newcomer artists and arts educators on meaningful creative projects.

Why become a Project Host?
• Access fresh, diverse creative talent
• Advance your equity and inclusion goals
• Receive full support throughout the process
• Artist fees are fully funded through a $5,000 creative contract
• Benefit from guidance provided by Toronto Arts Foundation and Work in Culture (Work in Culture)

Project streams include:
🎥 Media Arts: video, design, and storytelling projects
🎨 Arts Education: workshops and facilitation projects

Whether you’re looking to amplify your organization’s story, engage communities through the arts, or bring a creative project to life, this is an opportunity to collaborate, connect, and create impact together.

📅 Project Host applications open June 22 and close September 8, 2026.

Questions? Contact Stephanie Draker at [email protected].

Learn more through the link in bio: https://workinculture.ca/programs/artworksto/

Meet Brenna Nanie, one of the participants in the ArtWorksTO Indigenous program.🙌🏽✨☺️

Brenna is a mixed Indigenous artist who values the environment and community, and strives to represent these values in her artwork. She hopes to support her loved ones through a successful career of producing work that acts as a voice for the diverse Indigenous community of Tkaronto.

“My time in this program has been enriching and enlightening Being able to work with folks who come from the same walk of life as I has been wonderful. It allowed me to expand my practice and motivate me to learn new things.” - Brenna Nanie

Through her placement with Farm Boy National Inc., Brenna is creating a large, site-specific artwork for permanent installation in the new Farm Boy Collingwood store. The piece will reflect the history, culture, and ongoing presence of local Indigenous communities while weaving together themes of land, food, agriculture, and community. Designed to welcome and connect visitors to the space, the artwork will serve as a meaningful expression of storytelling, relationship-building, and community connection.

In addition to paid creative contracts such as Brenna’s, the AWTO Program, originally created in2015, provides participants with a credential education delivered by OCAD U, mentorship and networking opportunities, and other wrap-around supports intended to help equity-deserving artists establish themselves in Toronto’s creative industries.

The Indigenous stream was added in 2025 as a fully Indigenous(First Nations, Métis, and Inuit)workforce development initiative that creates a customized, culturally rooted, and supportive environment for Indigenous artists, enhancing their representation and success within media arts. 

In honor of Indigenous History Month, we’re highlighting all six participants in the first-ever ArtWorksTO Indigenous Program cohort and celebrating the stories, creativity, and contributions ofIndigenous artists in our community. 



Photo descriptions
Photo 1: A portrait of Brenna Nanie standing against a light grey background. She has brig

Today is the last day to apply for the ArtworksTO Newcomer Program‼️⏰

Meet Can Deniz Atici (Can Deniz Atici), an ArtWorksTO Newcomer Program participant in the Media Arts stream. 🎥✨

Through his placement with Vengeance Foundation (VENGEANCE FOUNDATION), Can documented the organization’s flagship community arts programs through video storytelling, capturing the people, moments, and impact at the heart of his work.

Funded by the TD Ready Challenge, the ArtWorksTO: Newcomer Program supports newcomer artists in building sustainable careers in media arts and arts education through credentialed learning, mentorship, networking opportunities, and paid work experience. Participants receive a guaranteed paid creative contract valued at $5,000, alongside industry mentorship and access to a growing community of creative professionals.

Are you a newcomer to Canada ready to take the next step in your creative career? Applications are open now for both the Media Arts and Arts Education streams.

⏰ Deadline to apply: Today, Thursday, June 18, 2026.

Questions? Reach out to Program Lead Ximena Berecochea at [email protected].

Learn more and apply through the link in bio. https://torontoartsfoundation.org/programs/artworksto-newcomer/

Meet Atish Mukhopadhyay (Atish Mukhopadhyay - Sarod), an ArtWorksTO Newcomer Program participant in the Arts Education stream. 🎻✨

Atish Mukhopadhyay facilitated after-school music workshops and activities for children in underserved communities with Sistema Toronto (Sistema Toronto). Through his placement Atish helped facilitate after-school workshops and developed a learning activity that explored the musical and cultural context behind repertoire pieces. His work helped young participants deepen their understanding of music through creativity, storytelling, and connection.

Funded by the TD Ready Challenge, the ArtWorksTO (ArtworksTO): Newcomer Program supports newcomer artists in building sustainable careers in media arts and arts education through credentialed learning, mentorship, networking opportunities, and paid work experience. Participants receive a guaranteed paid creative contract valued at $5,000, alongside industry mentorship and access to a growing community of creative professionals.

Are you a newcomer to Canada ready to take the next step in your creative career? Applications are open now for both the Media Arts and Arts Education streams.

⏰ Deadline to apply: Today, Thursday, June 18, 2026.

Questions? Reach out to Program Lead Ximena Berecochea at [email protected].

Learn more and apply through the link in bio! https://torontoartsfoundation.org/programs/artworksto-newcomer/

Elena Panfilov (Elena | Photographer Toronto | Фотограф Торонто), a 2025 ArtWorksTO (ArtworksTO) Newcomer Program participant in the Media Arts stream. ✨📸

“After moving to Canada, I felt unsure and a bit alone in my photography journey. This program changed that. It helped me find my people, build a network, and feel inspired again.” - Elena Panfilov

Elena Panfilov completed a placement with Care/Of (Care/Of), a culinary studio and experiential production house. Through her placement, Elena documented the events and creative community of Care/Of using her artistic practice to capture moments of connection, creativity, and collaboration.

Funded by the TD Ready Challenge, the ArtWorksTO: Newcomer Program supports newcomer artists in building sustainable careers in media arts and arts education through credentialed learning, mentorship, networking opportunities, and paid work experience. Participants receive a guaranteed paid creative contract valued at $5,000, alongside industry mentorship and access to a growing community of creative professionals.

Are you a newcomer to Canada ready to take the next step in your creative career?

Applications are open now for both the Media Arts and Arts Education streams. Link in bio!

⏰ Deadline to apply: Thursday, June 18, 2026

Questions? Reach out to Program Lead Ximena Berecochea at [email protected].

Learn more and apply through the link in bio. https://torontoartsfoundation.org/programs/artworksto-newcomer/

Meet Glamma Glamma , an Afro-Indigenous (Jamaican/Métis-Mi’kmaq) interdisciplinary artist and photographer based in Tkaronto.☺️✨

“The ArtworksTO Indigenous program so far has been a great opportunity to connect with other Indigenous artists who take their craft as seriously as I do. Also, knowing that all my hard work is going to uplift an organization, and the Indigenous community at large, has really propelled me to uncover deeper levels of flexibility and compassion in my processes. I’m learning so much and am grateful to be working with people that hold me to a standard of excellence while also supporting me in a way that feels sincere and equitable.”

Through photography, film, sound, and visual storytelling, Glamma captures the beauty, resilience, and lived experiences of communities across Turtle Island. Her work spans portraiture, pow wows, cultural gatherings, and community events, creating powerful narratives rooted in connection, belonging, and cultural memory. 📸

Glamma’s work has been exhibited at the Clark Centre for the Arts and Gallery 44, and includes collaborations with CBC Arts, Manifesto Festival, Emancipation Arts, the Toronto Zoo, and the Distillery District.

As part of the ArtWorksTO ArtworksTO Indigenous program, Glamma is completing her placement with Shawish Market. Through this project, she will document and celebrate Indigenous artists and makers, capturing their creative journeys and stories while building connections across generations, communities, and artistic practice.

In honor of Indigenous History Month, we’re highlighting all six participants in the first-ever ArtWorksTO Indigenous Program cohort and celebrating the stories, creativity, and contributions of Indigenous artists in our community.✨💛💐
 

Meet Alireza Keymanesh, an ArtWorksTO Newcomer Program participant in the Arts Education stream. 💫

“Through ArtWorksTO, I connected with education and with the industry. It valued my work and treated me as a professional artist-educator. I won’t forget the support I directly and indirectly received from the whole ArtWorksTO, TAF and OCAD team, and I’m deeply appreciative of all of it. “ - Alireza Keymanesh

Through his placement with Dancemakers, a Toronto-based progressional dance company, Alireza helped create a collaborative dance program that brought participants together through workshops, creative exploration, and collective movement-making, culminating in a final public studio showing that celebrated the process of learning and creating in community.

Funded by the TD Ready Challenge, the ArtWorksTO Newcomer Program supports newcomer artists in building sustainable careers in media arts and arts education through credentialed learning, mentorship, networking opportunities, and paid work experience. Participants receive a guaranteed paid creative contract valued at $5,000, alongside industry mentorship and access to a growing community of creative professionals.

Are you a newcomer to Canada ready to take the next step in your creative career? Applications are open now for both the Media Arts and Arts Education streams.

⏰ Deadline to apply: Thursday, June 18, 2026.

Questions? Reach out to Program Lead Ximena Berecochea at [email protected].

Learn more and apply through the link in bio. https://torontoartsfoundation.org/programs/artworksto-newcomer/