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Dear SKETCH Community,
As you know, for the past 28 years SKETCH has been running free arts programs for aspiring and emerging creatives who are navigating precarity and inequity due to systemic oppression.
Unfortunately, due to immediate financial challenges, SKETCH is pausing our direct spring and summer program offerings and temporarily reducing staffing in response to our financial situation.
We want to reassure you that this is not a shutdown. During this period, we will be focusing our energy on strengthening our financial standing through fundraising, renting out our beautiful studios at 180 Shaw Street and supporting our artists through access to studio space, wellness supports and other supportive offerings.
What we are Continuing to Offer
SKETCH will remain accessible to artists and renters, and we are actively working to continue wellness supports, artist access to space and creative community building during this period. In the coming days, we will be announcing dates and times for picking up food, harm reduction, personal care and art supplies for artists as well as upcoming opportunities to access studio space, paid opportunities and drop in art making sessions for our artists.
How You Can Help Today!
Your continued support during this time is vital. We have set a goal to raise $150,000 by August, and we are confident that, with your help, we can achieve that.
Donate Now
To make a donation, please visit www.sketch.ca/donate . We can provide tax receipts for donations $10 and above. Our charitable number is BN 896568417RR0001.
Rent Studio Space @ SKETCH
If you’ve enjoyed accessing SKETCH studios and know other artists, groups or organizations looking for gathering, creation or event space, please help spread the word. In addition to the financial support rentals provide, neighbors and creators such as yourself keep the energy of the space alive.
Check out our studio spaces here.
Click here to rent our space.
Throw a Fundraiser/Partner/Volunteer
If you have any ideas to connect with us to throw fundraisers, connect us to partnerships, volunteer artists/facilitators/mentors, connect your companies for volunteer opportunities etc please contact nevine@sketch.ca
Supporting our beloved Arts Sector for Equity Seeking Artists in Toronto
We have seen many organizations in Toronto’s arts sector in the last year experience similar and more serious challenges. The impact of ongoing financial pressures, exacerbated by external factors such as Covid, inflation, decreased donations and restricted funding, has necessitated for many of us to re-evaluate, pause, re-structure and for many even shut down. We are keen on addressing this issue alongside our colleagues from other arts organizations feeling these pressures and advocating for a stronger, more resilient arts landscape for equity deserving artists in Toronto who are often the most impacted.
SKETCH is determined to overcome these challenges by using our creativity and leaning on our community. We are committed to taking this time to reimagine and restructure our work to continue to provide vibrant programming in our community studios and building on partnerships to come back even stronger for our fall program season.
As we navigate these challenges together, we remain committed to supporting equity deserving artists in our community. We are exploring new avenues to ensure that SKETCH emerges from this pause stronger, more sustainable, and better equipped to support the artists who rely on us.
Contact Us
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Paulina, Executive Director paulina@sketch.ca with any questions, concerns, or if you would like to connect with us to support our fundraising, rentals, or volunteer opportunities. We are here and ready to chat.
Thank you once again for your continued support and understanding. Together, we will overcome these challenges and emerge even stronger.
Warm regards,
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Paulina O’Kieffe-Anthony
Executive Director
SKETCH Working Arts
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Natassia Morris
President/Board Chair
SKETCH Working Arts
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