Creative Mosaics, a new collaborative project involving seven organizations, will set out to identify and respond to the needs of newcomers and culturally diverse communities. A comprehensive community needs and capacity building assessment will be conducted engaging children, youth, community members, artists and cultural leaders through community discussions, focus groups, surveys and outreach.

The goal is to develop a free innovative mentorship-based arts and culture program for children and youth in underserved neighbourhoods in the Scarborough area. Programming will be provided on-site through existing partnerships with local schools and community organizations. Children, youth and school communities will work with professional and emerging artists, intergenerational mentors, and cultural leaders to explore and share diverse cultural experiences through various art forms. This program aims to bring people of all ages and cultures together celebrating the diversity of Scarborough.

The Creative Mosaics collaboration includes Scarborough Arts Council, Catholic Cross-Cultural Services, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture, Arising Women, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) and Philippine Advocacy Through Arts and Culture.

For more information contact Cian Knights, Creative Mosaics Program Coordinator at (416) 698-7972 or by email: cian@scarborougharts.com.