Closed
TAO — Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Supports newcomer and refugee artists through professional mentorship opportunities
Grant and Funding
Overview
The TAO — Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship grant provides up to $15,000 to support professional newcomer and refugee artists in Toronto through structured mentorships. The program aims to foster artistic development and integration by funding mentorship activities between established artists and newcomers across all artistic disciplines.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increasing community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop employee skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 15,000 $
Timeline
- Receipt of requests is now closed
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
Location
- Toronto
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Newcomers to Canada
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
Activities funded
- Mentorship projects where a newcomer or refugee artist partners with a professional mentor to advance their artistic practice.
- Development and enhancement of artistic skills in a specific discipline through guided, collaborative activities.
- Initiatives aimed at supporting the integration and inclusion of newcomer and refugee artists into Toronto's artistic community.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 100,000
Purchasing industrial composters for waste diversion at a tech campus
$ 80,000
Developing an e-commerce platform for regional handmade products
$ 200,000
Renovating a heritage community theatre for accessibility and safety
$ 160,000
Implementing solar panels and energy management in a food cooperative
$ 450,000
Upgrading manufacturing facility for sustainable glass packaging solutions
$ 310,000
Deploying a mobile health clinic to serve underserved communities
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a professional artist who is a newcomer or refugee residing in the City of Toronto.
- The applicant must have arrived in Canada after January 1, 2018.
- Both applicant and mentor must be recognized professional artists working in any artistic tradition.
- The applicant must be a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, have an application pending for Permanent Resident status, or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant), and able to provide documentation if requested.
- The applicant must possess a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
Who is eligible?
- Individual professional artists from any artistic tradition
- Individual professional arts workers (mentors) such as arts managers, curators, or producers
Who is not eligible
- Companies or organizations are not eligible; this program is specifically for individual professional newcomer or refugee artists and their individual mentors.
Eligible expenses
- Financial support paid directly to the newcomer or refugee artist for their professional development.
- Financial support paid directly to the mentor for providing mentorship services.
Eligible geographic areas
- City of Toronto
Selection criteria
- Artistic merit and quality of the application.
- Potential for the mentorship to support the applicant’s integration into the Toronto arts community.
- Meaningfulness of the mentorship experience for the applicant.
- Mentor's experience and qualifications relevant to the mentorship.
- Realism and feasibility of the mentorship workplan.
How to apply
1
Confirm eligibility requirements
- Review program guidelines to understand objectives and eligibility
- Ensure applicant and mentor meet professional artist criteria
- Confirm both are Toronto residents with required status
2
Consult the Program Manager
- Contact the Program Manager for guidance and assistance if needed
- Request help for finding a mentor or translation services if applicable
3
Register on TAC Grants Online
- Register as an Individual Applicant on TAC Grants Online
- Ensure both applicant and mentor have separate accounts
4
Prepare and complete application
- Complete the Mentorship Details section of the application
- Prepare and attach resumes/CVs for both applicant and mentor
- Collect and upload relevant support material (e.g., artistic work samples)
5
Submit the online application
- Review application for accuracy and completeness
- Submit the application online before the deadline
- Ensure both applicant and mentor are included as co-applicants
6
Await results notification
- Receive confirmation email after submission
- Monitor for an update on results within two months of the deadline
Additional information
- Applicants and mentors must each have a unique email address registered in the TAC Grants Online portal; they cannot use an email linked to an organization or collective.
- Accessibility support of up to $500 is available per eligible applicant per year to assist Deaf persons or persons with disabilities in preparing their applications.
- The mentorship activities must begin after July 1 and be completed by June 30, 2026.
- Support material such as videos, images, or writing samples should follow specified requirements; video/audio must not exceed 3 minutes, and writing samples are capped at 15 pages, double-spaced.
Contacts
liza@torontoartscouncil.org
416-392-6802
