House Of Arts

05/18/2024

🎉Come together for a transformative Writer’s Circle on June 1st at Westin Hotel on the Harbour Front.

✍️ Celebrate the opening of my solo exhibit, “Ancestor Project: Goddesses,” by grounding ourselves, sharing our stories, and connecting with fellow writers. Bring your blankets, cushions, and writing tools for an afternoon of creativity and community.

📣Open to all, from seasoned writers to curious newcomers. Please arrive on time. Let’s rewrite history together!

📚✨

Made possible by & Toronto Arts Foundation

05/10/2024

Reflecting on the past year, unfortunately, it marked the end of consistent monthly events at House Of Arts.
The cyberbullying became the final straw for me. Despite pouring countless voluntary hours and labor into the initiative, the lack of funding and legal support in handling cyberstalking and bullying took its toll. It became clear that prioritizing my well-being was paramount, leading me to step back from programming, events, and festivals.

In light of this experience, I strongly advocate for urgent action on and budget allocations to support organizations grappling with similar issues. The online world is an integral part of our lives, and it’s imperative that we take proactive steps to address its challenges.

Thank you Sharlene Gandhi for shedding light on this important issue and for including us in the article. We appreciate you and Future of Good!

Sharlene’s statement resonates deeply: ‘It’s a double-edged sword – we would like to do advocacy, but it can also draw unwanted attention. What is the balance between us doing communications work and trying to protect our volunteers?’

05/10/2024

Recap of Canada Film day Event! 🎬✨

On April 17th at Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), we kicked off the evening with a screening of “Unarmed Verses” by renowned director Charles Officer. Following the screening, I Warda Youssouf of House Of Arts led an engaging discussion on storytelling and community impact, bringing together an all-star panel.

Yazmeen Kanji, a Muslim Indo-Caribbean filmmaker and CEO of Films With A Cause shared insights from her award-winning documentaries, including “From Syria To Hope” and “With Love From Munera.”

Spencer Phillips, Executive Director at Art Starts brought his wealth of experience in championing inclusive creativity and driving social change through the arts.

Many thanks to Tara Marina Pearson from Centre for Social Innovation for facilitating this event, assisting me in preparing for the conversation, and collaborating with House of Arts. I've always wanted to host a screening for REEL CANADA Film Day!

02/07/2024

Reflecting on Amanda Parris insightful words at TIFF Bell Lightbox last night deeply resonates when contemplating the challenges faced by nonprofits, especially amidst the increased focus on "Diversity" funding initiatives. As she aptly pointed out, giving from guilt is not a place where funders wish to stay in the long run.

To all the hashtag out there, do you find yourself drowning in grant applications, desperately hoping for a financial lifeline to keep your noble missions afloat? Fear not! "I Hope Like Hell We Get This Grant" is a musical remedy for those late-night hashtag proposal struggles. 🥲

As a passionate advocate for the arts, I personally connect with this song on a profound level. At House of Arts, on January 31st, we faced rejection after five months of hard work applying for an OTF grant. Undeterred, we rallied and applied for four more grants on Feb 1st. We're committed to running free programming, powered by the dedication of our incredible volunteers, and all we're yearning for is a well-deserved break!

The question arises: Does Canada have a philanthropic problem, or is there an oversight when it comes to supporting the very arts and culture that put it on the map?

This album transcends being a mere 'parody' of tunes; it's a lifeline for those of us navigating the challenging seas of nonprofit nonsense together. It's a comforting reminder that we're not alone in this challenging voyage.

Now Playing: I Hope Like Hell We Get This GrantNew short just dropped! We're excited to debut our newest video, full of hits we know our fundraising friends ...