How much funding can be received?

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.

Financing terms and conditions

Total grant amount is $15,000 per mentorship.
$7,500 is paid directly to the newcomer or refugee artist.
$7,500 is paid directly to the mentor.
Up to $500 available per eligible applicant for application accessibility support for Deaf persons or persons with disabilities.

Eligible projects & activities

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

$ 450,000

Upgrading manufacturing facility for sustainable glass packaging solutions

$ 80,000

Developing an e-commerce platform for regional handmade products

$ 200,000

Renovating a heritage community theatre for accessibility and safety

$ 310,000

Deploying a mobile health clinic to serve underserved communities

$ 160,000

Implementing solar panels and energy management in a food cooperative

Eligibility criteria of the TAO — Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program

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

Eligibility criteria of the TAO — Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program

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 to the TAO — Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program

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

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

Register as an Individual Applicant on TAC Grants Online
Ensure both applicant and mentor have separate accounts

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)

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

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.

Contact Toronto Arts Council (TAO)

liza@torontoartscouncil.org

416-392-6802

Apply to this program

Supports multi- and inter-arts creation, production, and development