Toronto Arts Foundation Partners with TD Bank Group

The partnership is is designed to to encourage learning, equity and entrepreneurship in the arts

TORONTO, May 29, 2018Toronto Arts Foundation and TD Bank Group are partnering to expand access and learning opportunities for Toronto’s arts community. The partnership consists of three components: Making a Living Making Art, TD Community Arts Award, and the Emergence Symposium. All three components are administered by Neighbourhood Arts Network, an initiative of Toronto Arts Foundation. 

Toronto is home to nearly twice as many artists as any other Canadian city. With help from TD Bank Group, Toronto Arts Foundation is providing opportunities for the arts community to explore and celebrate sustainable and equitable practices to support the health of the sector and its vital contributions to our city.

Making a Living Making Art is a free professional development workshop series for creative entrepreneurs. Industry experts are invited to lead the sessions, providing valuable information and expertise about a number of topics including self-promotion, communications platforms and techniques, sponsorship and fundraising and more. Four Making a Living Making Art sessions will take place throughout the year, beginning in July.

The TD Community Arts Award is a $10,000 cash prize that celebrates a community-engaged arts organization that is making a significant contribution in Toronto by working collaboratively in, with and for communities. Previously named the TD Arts Diversity Award, Toronto Arts Foundation created the award to recognize and encourage those who use the arts as a tool for positive social change. Nominations for the award are now open, and will be accepted until July 2, 2018.

The Emergence Symposium will convene over 200 artists, cultural workers, community leaders, academics, youth and policy makers over several days to discuss issues that affect the arts sector as a whole. Building on the success of the previous Emergence Symposium (2015), the gathering will explore emerging trends, community innovation and creative leadership in the field of arts and equity. The Symposium will take place in November 2018; exact dates will be announced in September.

“TD is a visionary and community minded partner” said Claire Hopkinson, Director & CEO, Toronto Arts Foundation. “Our collaboration allows us to invest more deeply in city-building through the arts by creating more opportunities for artists to thrive, and to celebrate those who are doing such excellent work.”

"TD is proud to support Toronto Arts Foundation and the ongoing sustainability of arts and culture in our communities. Art connects us and exposes us to new perspectives as well as fosters learning and provides a voice to diverse groups. By investing in the arts programming and our cultural landscape in Canada, we open doors to a more inclusive tomorrow for all." said Valerie Picher, Associate Vice President, Community Relations, TD Bank Group.

For more information about the TD Bank Group and Toronto Arts Foundation partnership, please visit www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org

To learn more about the TD Community Arts Award, and to nominate an organization, please visit www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org/td-community-arts-award


About Toronto Arts Foundation
Toronto Arts Foundation is a charitable organization that sparks creative connections, spotlights artistic excellence, and supports vibrant cultural growth throughout our diverse city, through private sector investment.

About Neighbourhood Arts Network
Neighbourhood Arts Network enriches Toronto by fostering excellence in community engaged art making. This city wide network encourages the exchange of ideas, resources and expertise between artists who work in, with and for Toronto’s diverse communities. Neighbourhood Arts Network is an initiative of Toronto Arts Foundation.

About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group ("TD" or the "Bank"). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves more than 25 million customers in three key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Retail, including TD Canada Trust, TD Auto Finance Canada, TD Wealth (Canada), TD Direct Investing, and TD Insurance; U.S. Retail, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, TD Auto Finance U.S., TD Wealth (U.S.), and an investment in TD Ameritrade; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with approximately 12 million active online and mobile customers. TD had CDN$1.3 trillion in assets on January 31, 2018. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

Contact Information
For more information about the TD Bank Group and Toronto Arts Foundation partnership, including all of the components, please contact: Sarah Gladki, Communications Manager, Toronto Arts Foundation at sarah@torontoarts.org or at 416-392-6802 x 217