Ontario Arts Council - Artists in Communities and Schools Projects

The program supports the research, development and realization of community-engaged arts projects. Activities involve professional Ontario artists and community members working together to develop and design a creative experience. These experiences may include co-creation. Skill building is a core component of projects. There are three categories:

• Planning: to help cover the costs of co-planning and co-design of the project between artists and communities
• Project: to help cover the costs of realizing a community-engaged arts project
• Two-year project: to help cover the costs of continuous multi-phased community-engaged arts project for two years. This category is available to community-engaged arts collectives and organizations that have received two or more OAC project grants through Community-Engaged Arts or Arts Education grant programs within the last five years.

The program is committed to developing the field of community-engaged arts. Additional funds are available to any category to help cover the cost of mentorship of artists from OAC priority groups looking to build skills and experience in project planning and/or facilitation as part of a community-engaged arts project.

• Mentorship: up to $3,000 in additional funds are available in any category to help cover the costs of mentors and mentees in the development of project planning and/or facilitation skills.
  • Applicants can be either mentors or mentees.
  • Mentees must be professional artists and members of at least one OAC priority group.