WHO WE ARE
ART STARTS creates vibrant Toronto neighbourhoods through community building arts initiatives. We employ a unique model, using the arts to nurture resiliency, cultivate life skills and inspire personal growth.
Art Starts works in under-resourced Toronto neighbourhoods to bring together professional artists – dancers, musicians, visual artists, actors, and playwrights – with residents of all ages. Together we create responsive, life affirming art projects and inspire long-term social change.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ARTBOMB
Art Starts charity is a continuous process of the interaction and involvement of our community members including Toronto residents, arts groups, social service agencies, neighbourhood improvement bodies and cultural associations. Our partnership with ArtBomb comes at an important time of growth and development for Art Starts. In order to continue to expand and solidify our capacity to facilitate change, we rely on our partners to help us spread the word about what we do.
ArtBomb’s unique model is an important tool for emerging local artists. With the movement of the art market towards online purchasing, showing their work on ArtBomb is something our young artists can aspire to, and thanks to ArtBomb’s inclusive, artist-centred mandate, it is a goal that many of them will achieve. ArtBomb’s jury chooses beautiful, high quality works of art, whether the artist is emerging, mid-career or established. ArtBomb’s passion for encouraging collectors to simply buy what they love makes them an important community-building organization. They are making art accessible by taking the fear factor out of buying, they are breaking through established barriers to art appreciation and acquisition, they are supporting local collectors at all income levels and they are making a difference to young local artists.
Over the next month ArtBomb will be showcasing the work of Pamela Ozery.
Pamela’s work is the result of a continuing process from which her composition would emerge gradually. She worked simultaneously on several paintings at a time, returning again and again to build a final image. Her work was a free form process that was executed through spontaneous brush and tool work. Pamela was born in Kent England in 1942 and spent her youth in Israel and England before settling in Toronto.
The Ozery family has generously donated a selection of the late Pamela Ozery’s work to Art Starts. A percentage of proceeds from sales will support Art Starts’ community-building arts initiatives.
THE ART STARTS STORY
Founded in 1992, Art Starts was born out of the desire of four socially conscious artists to make art with their community as a way of building bridges and quelling tensions. They opened a storefront studio and called it Art Starts. Residents, once very isolated from one another, began to come together. Through theatre, music, dance and visual art pieces, a culture of mutual understanding and respect was developed and a shared sense of purpose was born. Since that time, Art Starts has become an artistic hub of activity in the most culturally, racially and linguistically diverse areas of Toronto.
OUR IMPACT
Every year, Art Starts actively benefits over 1,000 people living in marginalized Toronto neighbourhoods. Our creative programs provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment for collaboration and self-expression. We provide unique opportunities for local youth to work with professional artists and contribute to the broader community. We exhibit and showcase the creative work of local children & youth. We afford opportunities for people of all ages to engage in physical activities like yoga, dance and circus arts. We are a gateway to post secondary education. We mentor emerging artists and nurture local talent, beautify public spaces, help with portfolio development and offer employment opportunities. We have conceptualized and crafted permanent public art installations, danced, performed, sung, celebrated, composed, laughed, designed and exhibited. We have made art in laundromats and grocery stores, helped youth produce original music recordings, facilitated workshops in photo-lit, textile arts, hip hop, mural arts, drumming, break & step dancing and so much more.
We are extremely appreciative of Art Bomb’s support in helping us spread the word about and raise funds for our life changing programs. For more information on Art Starts or to make a donation, please call us at 416-656-9994 or visit our web page at www.artstarts.net.
