Artists Supporting Community Initiative (ASCI)
The ASCI pairs out-of-work artists with paid opportunities to support emergency frontline relief efforts in the York South-Weston community. By building a bridge between artists and essential service organizations in our community, this program intends to facilitate unlikely relationships, grow human resource capacities, and provide relief to both the arts sector and our community’s urgent needs.
For artists and community organizations interested in participating, please see below!
For Artists
To be part of the ASCI, participants will be paired with an essential service organization, working a maximum of up to 55 hours. Support can include food or medication delivery for seniors, staffing at a local food bank, managing a community phone line, and more. These hours can be worked over a period of time, with a minimum of two weeks to a maximum of two months. The fee breakdown is as follows:
$17.50/ hour for up to a maximum of 55 hours.
The ASCI is designed so the maximum payout is $962.50, which leaves participants eligible for CERB. Supplemental transportation support available for delivery drivers.
SIA is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and to building an organization that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage applications from members of Black, Indigenous, and racialized communities; Two-Spirit, non-binary, trans, lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer people; disabled people; youth; and members of other equity seeking groups. SIA is also prioritizing artists, arts workers and creatives who live in and around York South-Weston.
Only those selected for interviews will be contacted.
Please note, we are currently only accepting questionnaires from artists, art workers and creatives interested in delivery driving and who have access to a vehicle.
For Organizations
To receive support from the ASCI, we ask that essential York-South Weston (YSW) service area organizations fill out the questionnaire provided through the link below. This questionnaire is to hear and assess what the needs are of the YSW organizations we are connecting with, and learn how to best serve and support them through this program.
Please note, we are no longer accepting questionnaires for September. We encourage all York-South Weston organizations to check back in October.
To protect all participants of the ASCI and to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, SIA is following health guidelines as set by the City of Toronto.
Have any questions about the ASCI?
Email the Artist and Outreach Coordinator, Tamara at tamara@shakespeareinaction.org
