Play On The Runway 2025

Play On The Runway 2025

Play On The Runway 2025

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend at YZD this August, where the historic 1km runway transforms into a playground of exhilarating activities and endless fun. Whether you’re biking, rollerskating, or simply enjoying the thrill of free play, there’s something for everyone.

This is more than an event—it’s a chance to have fun, connect with others, and make lasting memories. Bring your loved ones and join us for a weekend of adventure under the Toronto skyline.

Event Details: 

At this year’s Play On The Runway, NYA is excited to present a vibrant paint-by-numbers community mural led by talented artist AndreaCataRo (@AndreaCataRo). This collaborative art activity invites people of all ages to take part in creating a shared artistic vision, transforming public space into a canvas for connection, creativity, and celebration. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just curious to try something new, come paint with us and leave your mark on this joyful community event!

Dates: Saturday, August 9th & Sunday, August 10th

Time: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM (both days)

Location: 10 Hanover Road Toronto, ON M3K 0E2

This is a family fun filled day for all ages – the most fun you’ll have stuck on a tarmac!

Stiching the Sacred

Dates: Saturday, August 9th & Sunday, August 10th

Time: 12:00 PM -5:00 PM

Where: 10 Hanover Road Toronto, ON M3K 0E2

Price: Free

 Sign up to our newsletter to be first to know about upcoming programming!

Program Lead: AndreaCataRo

AndreaCataRo, is a Toronto-based mural artist and designer blending Colombian-Canadian roots with bold storytelling. Known for vibrant murals and expressive lettering, she transform public spaces into joyful, meaningful art that celebrates biodiversity, culture, and community connection. her work invites engagement and inspires a sense of belonging.

https://www.andreacataro.com/

Instagram

LinkedIn

 

 

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

GOOD FORM – 2 PART WORKSHOP SERIES

GOOD FORM – 2 PART WORKSHOP SERIES

Good Form

North York Arts proudly presents Good Form – an inspiring workshop series in collaboration with The Greenprint Network!

We’re launching the series with Good Form, with two workshops Pose & Presence and The Art of The Voice. The Program is a blend of media and music programming encouraging confidence and refining technique.

Coming Up: 

Workshop 2 – Good Form: The Art of The Voice 

What Makes Vocals Iconic? Led by O’Neil Gerald, analyze standout vocal performances from today’s top artists to understand tone, texture, emotion, and delivery. Then apply these lessons in a Cover Flip Challenge, where small groups reinterpret a known song using newly learned techniques and share with the group.

Date: Thursday, July 17th

Time: 6:00 PM -9:00 PM

Location: The Hub at Downsview Park, 70 Canuck Ave, North York

Up to 25 participants: Open, adults, singers, music producers, music engineers, recording artists, songwriters

Stiching the Sacred

Workshop

Good Form: The Art of the Voice

Dates: Thursday, July 17th

Time: 6-9 PM

Where:Downsview Hub
(70 Canuck Ave, North York)

Price: Free

Workshop

Good Form: Pose & Presence

Dates: Saturday, July 5th

Time: 1-4 PM

Where: The Goldfarb Gallery, York University, 83A York Blvd, North York, ON M3J 1P3

Price: Free

Meet the Facilitator!

Lindura

Saturday, July 5th

Meet Lindura

Lindura is a Toronto-based actress, model, and environmental advocate best known for her recurring role as Sydney Shandon on the hit drama series Sullivan’s Crossing. Before stepping into acting, she built a successful modeling career, appearing in over 80 commercials and working with top photographers across Canada and the U.S., as well as gracing the cover of Roidx Magazine in Paris. Beyond her work in entertainment, she is deeply committed to sustainability, co-founding Plasticfree Toronto to promote eco-conscious living. Dividing her time between Toronto and New York, Lindura integrates her values into her lifestyle, championing mindful consumption and individual action as powerful tools for change.

IG: @lifeoflindura

 

O'Neil

Thursday, July 17th

Meet O'Neil
 
O’Neil Gerald Donald (O’Neil Gerald for short) is a vocal coach, choral conductor and the founder of Reclaim Your Voice. With a B.F.A in Jazz Vocal Performance and a Master’s in Music composition, O’Neil has built his career teaching singers how to connect with their life’s message and deliver it in a musically original way. His YouTube breakdowns of popular vocalists simplify music so that non-musicians feel like they can finally understand their childhood music teacher. His analyses have received validation from accomplished artists such as Brandy Norwood and Yebba Smith, confirming the accuracy of his assessments. He also was featured as 1 of 11 national creators in the YouTube Black Class of 2023. In addition to running his vocal coaching business, O’Neil serves as a part of faculty at Centennial College in Toronto, Canada.

 

IG: @oneilgerald

 

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Community Choir Nights!

Community Choir Nights!

Community Choir Nights!

Join us for Community Choir Nights! During these group singing nights, participants will access joy in singing, being in harmony, and exploring meaningful songs. There is no need for musical or singing experience to join. We will learn most songs by ear. 

From popular songs that uplift the spirit, to Palestinian folk songs, and South African music, the choir will explore the role of singing in finding wellbeing, through people’s various experiences of oppression in history.

In the choir nights, Natalie will focus on joy, community building, and honoring the songs we sing.

Date: Wednesdays –  May 14, 21, 28,  June 4, 11

Time: 6:30 PM -9:00 PM

Where: Upper Gallery – Meridian Arts Centre (5040 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 6R8)

Price: Free

 Sign up to our newsletter to be first to know about upcoming programming!

Program Lead: Natalie Fasheh

Natalie Fasheh is an artist and social impact leader in Toronto. Natalie is passionate about envisioning and producing out-of-the-box, sociopolitical arts experiences that explore transformative possibilities for humanity. Natalie works as a choral conductor, composer, teaching artist, and writer. Natalie has a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance. She shares her Palestinian and Levantine culture through song. Natalie leads social justice based workshops and talks. Natalie is committed to equitable arts and leadership approaches. With her executive MBA in Arts and Innovation, Natalie loves working with organizations as an administrator and consultant on their artistic curation, strategy, and programming.

 

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Love in Letters: Lettering Workshop by AndreaCataRo

Love in Letters: Lettering Workshop by AndreaCataRo

Love in Letters: Lettering Workshop by AndreaCataRo

Celebrate connection, creativity, and care through the art of brush lettering in this beginner-friendly workshop led by artist and designer Andrea. Designed around the spirit of Mother’s Day, this session welcomes families, parents and children, and individuals of all backgrounds to come together and create something meaningful.

Participants will explore the basics of brush lettering in a relaxed, supportive environment and design a personalized card or keepsake print to gift to someone they love, or to simply enjoy for themselves. No prior experience is needed, and all materials are provided.

All materials are provided. No experience necessary. Recommended for children ages 10 and up.

Stiching the Sacred

Date: Saturday, May 10th, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM -1:00 PM

Where: Willowdale Room, Gibson House Museum (5172 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M2N 5P6)

Price: Free

 Sign up to our newsletter to be first to know about upcoming programming!

Program Lead: AndreaCataRo

AndreaCataRo, is a Toronto-based mural artist and designer blending Colombian-Canadian roots with bold storytelling. Known for vibrant murals and expressive lettering, she transform public spaces into joyful, meaningful art that celebrates biodiversity, culture, and community connection. her work invites engagement and inspires a sense of belonging.

https://www.andreacataro.com/

Instagram

LinkedIn

 

 

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Building Your Artistic Voice With Bilal Baig

Building Your Artistic Voice With Bilal Baig

Building Your Artistic Voice With Bilal Baig

 

This is a workshop geared towards emerging artists who have questions about how to enter the next chapters of their careers with a clear sense of artistry, and how to develop different streams of income and opportunity to support the art-making process. In this workshop, Bilal will share their ideas and strategies on: deepening connection to artistic self, navigating relationships with decision-makers and producers, and getting the most out of mentorship. Participants will analyze an effective artist statement and will also be given space to ask Bilal questions in a Q&A period.   
This free workshop has been created for queer and trans BIPOC artists living in North York and Toronto. If you identify outside of these intersections and would like to attend, send us an email to be placed on a waitlist and we’ll let you know if spots become available.
 
Attendance Policy
Please let us know well in advance of a session if you have to cancel your participation. If you are a no-show, your spot will be opened to the waitlist and you forfeit your ability to pre-register for available slots next season (Winter 2025).
Please note that registration does not confirm attendance in the program. You will receive an email if you were selected to participate OR placed on the waitlist.
Stiching the Sacred

Date: Saturday, November 2nd

Time: 1-3pm, Virtual 

Where: Zoom

Price: Free

Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed.  Thank you to all who have registered. Sign up to our newsletter to be first to know about upcoming programming!

Program Lead: Bilal Baig

BILAL BAIG (they/she) is a writer and actor for stage and screen, as well as a workshop developer and facilitator for art-focused non-profits. Baig’s published works include their first play, Acha Bacha, and an anthology of monologues they co-edited for queer/trans actors titled This Is Beyond. Baig was a co-creator, executive producer and lead in their Peabody Award-winning series, Sort Of. Baig received the Canadian Screen Award for comedy writing and performance, as well as a Gotham Award nomination for performance in a new series. Baig has facilitated creative writing and playwriting programs for trans artists, BIPOC artists, and trans youth including: Trans Gemmes (2019-2020), Paprika Festival’s Playwrights Unit (2019-2023), Being Me (2023—), and Dialogue Dolls (2023—).

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

How to be a Facilitator with Pam Lau

How to be a Facilitator with Pam Lau

How to be a Facilitator with Pam Lau

Wanting to get into leading arts workshops but overwhelmed by how to approach your proposals or where to start? How to Be a Facilitator is a 3-hour workshop for emerging and mid-career artists in any discipline looking to build their facilitation skills. Participants are guided through how to ideate and shape a program proposal, how to budget and prep, and lastly, how to deliver an engaging program.
 
Who Is This For?
  • Emerging to mid-career artists of any discipline who are interested in facilitation
  • You have an rough idea of an arts workshop you want to lead but would like guidance on writing and structuring a proposal and pitching your workshop
  • You do not need to be formally trained in your discipline or have previous teaching experience
 
Participants Will Gain:
  • Clarity on what subjects and themes they want to teach and define the audience their workshops are for
  • Insights on how to write a clear and convincing workshop proposal
  • Tips for budgeting for their program and engaging attendees
  • Resources for where they can apply to run their workshops and how to tailor their proposals
 
Attendance Policy
Please let us know well in advance of a session if you have to cancel your participation. If you are a no-show, your spot will be opened to the waitlist and you forfeit your ability to pre-register for available slots next season (Winter 2025).
 
Please note that registration does not confirm attendance in the program. You will receive an email if you were selected to participate OR placed on the waitlist.
Stiching the Sacred

Date:  November 9th, 2024

Time: 1-4pm

Where: Art Starts 3401 Dufferin St, North York, 
Located at Yorkdale Mall, Lower Level

Price: Free

Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed.  Thank you to all who have registered. Sign up to our newsletter to be first to know about upcoming programming!

Program Lead: Pam Lau

Pam Lau is a photographer and educator. Ambassador for Canon Canada and Curatorial Advisory Board Member for PhotoED Magazine. Recipient of the Applied Arts Young Blood Photography Award and received Honourable Mention in the Community Artist category at the North York Arts Grow North Awards. Pam teaches Location Photography at Humber Polytechnic and has led workshops for ArtReach, ArtStarts, North York Arts via Workman Arts, JAYU, and Cultural Pluralism in the Arts Movement Ontario. Frustrated with a culture of gatekeeping and lack of transparency, Pam co-founded Ecru; a grassroots educational initiative for those who face financial, cultural and institutional barriers to entering creative industries.

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

March Break – Teen Art Hub

March Break – Teen Art Hub

Teen Art Hub with Declan David

The Teen Art Hub is a dynamic, week-long drop-in March Break program designed to support young artists (ages 14-18) in exploring their creative potential and gaining insights into art-related careers. This intensive program combines daily workshops, career development sessions, and interactive artist talks led by professional artists, all aimed at fostering artistic skill, encouraging self-expression, and building confidence in young creatives.

Capacity: 15-20 participants 

The program will run daily during March Break, allowing participants to immerse themselves in focused artistic learning. Each day includes:

  • Hands-On Art Workshops: Covering painting, sketching, digital art, and mixed media techniques.
  • Career Development Sessions: Practical guidance on portfolios, artist bios, art school applications, and resume building.
  • Guest Artist Talks: Insights into various artistic fields, with Q&A sessions to help students explore professional art paths.

Program Goals:

  • Provide a comprehensive, supportive environment where teens can practice and learn a variety of artistic techniques.
  • Offer essential career guidance to help young artists prepare for their creative futures.
  • Connect participants with experienced artists, building an early professional network and fostering mentorship opportunities.
  • This program includes:
    • Free TTC Tickets
    • Snacks and light meals daily
Stiching the Sacred

Dates: Monday, March 10th – Friday, March 14th

Time: 12pm – 5pm

Where: Lower Gallery – Meridian Arts Centre (5040 Yonge Street, M2N 6R8)

LOCATION UPDATED!

Price: Free

Program Lead: Declan David

Declan David is an emerging visual artist and animator based in Toronto, celebrated for his vibrant use of colors and innovative styles. Influenced by his Trinidadian and American heritage, the Neo-expressionist movement of the 1980s, and the graffiti culture of the 1990s, Declan’s works delve into the contemporary Black male experience. His diverse portfolio includes experiential paintings on glass and canvas, illustrations, and animations, steering away from sensationalized depictions of Black bodies. declan-david.format.com

Meet the Guest Facilitators!

Jules Fantinato - Neurographica

Monday March 10th

Meet Jules

Jules Fantinato is a Creative Arts Therapies Practitioner and Neurographica Specialist dedicated to promoting wellbeing through art. With over 27 years teaching experience and training in visual arts, she leads workshops and initiatives that harness art’s therapeutic power to foster focus, calm, and emotional healing. 

Instagram: @cat_creativeartstherapies.

Azania Curling-Wright Charcoal and Watercolour

Wednesday March 12th

Meet Azania

Azania Curling-Wright is a Toronto-based artist and a graduate of OCAD University, holding a BFA in Drawing and Painting. Her work focuses on the human face and body, using mixed media, bold shapes, and dynamic lines to explore themes of identity, mental health, and memory. Inspired by old family photographs, the colours of everyday life, and her unique perspective on the world, Azania brings a deeply personal approach to everything she creates. As a workshop leader, she’s passionate about empowering young artists to discover their own voices and styles, while refining their technical skills.

 

Nima Arabi - Shading, Symbolism, and Composition

Friday March 14th

Meet Nima

Nima Arabi is a multidisciplinary artist and educator specializing in drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. His work explores identity and Persian mystical poetry. With a Master’s in Fine Arts from York University, he teaches across all ages and exhibits internationally, merging art, education, and storytelling in innovative and community-driven projects.

Rama Gaming House Logo

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

What is a Poem Now?

What is a Poem Now?

What is a poem now? by Rania El Mugammar

This seven (7) week hybrid program offers a supportive and structured writing space, alongside a bookbinding workshop with Guest Facilitator Michael Fliess.

Participants can expect to explore the question “what is a poem now?” from a creative and political perspective. The role of artists and writers in our current world is an entry point for writing and reflection. Anchored in the poetic forms of haiku, oral poetry/spoken word, rap and micropoetry, writers will explore narrative, structure, orality, and rhythm in their work. 

Drawing from a variety of literary and poetic traditions, learners will share, give feedback and workshop existing or new poems. The bookbinding elements will allow participants to create a tangible and physical copy of their works.

Stiching the Sacred

Date:  Tuesday, February 4th – Tuesday, March 18th

Time: 6-8pm for writing (Online), 6-8:30pm for bookbinding (In-person)

Where: Zoom (Online), Gibson House Museum – 5172 Yonge St (In-person)

Price: Free

Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed.  Thank you to all who have registered. Sign up to our newsletter to be first to know about upcoming programming!

Program Lead: Rania El Mugammar

Rania El Mugammar is a Sudanese Artist, Liberation Educator, Abolitionist, Anti-oppression Consultant , multidisciplinary performer, speaker and published writer. Her work explores reproductive justice, transformative justice & abolition, art as liberation and digital justice.

As a writer, Rania’s work explores themes of identity, womanhood, Blackness, flight, exile, migration, belonging, gender, sexuality and beyond. Rania’s primary mediums are poetry, spoken word and oral storytelling. She is a published poet, storyteller and playwright. Rania is deeply interested in poetic form and the auditory texture of words as well as the visual/aesthetic impact of language and form.

Rania is an experienced anti-oppression, abolition and liberation educator and consultant who is unflinchingly committed to decolonization and freedom as the ultimate goals of her work. She has worked extensively with contemporary arts institutions, STEM based enterprises, media organizations, educational institutions and community/grassroots spaces.

www.raniawrites.com 
www.facebook.com/raniaelmugammar 
www.patreon.com/raniawrites 
Twitter: @raniawrites
Instagram: @rania.writes

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Stitching the Sacred

Stitching the Sacred

Stitching the Sacred: Islamic Geometry Embroidery Workshop by Leila Fatemi

This workshop will introduce participants to the practical art and philosophy of sacred and Islamic geometry. Drawing inspiration from the geometric patterns that shape our natural world, we’ll reflect on the interconnectedness of all things and our place within the whole. Using thread, paper, and embroidery techniques, participants are invited to create their own geometric artwork. This meditative process encourages mindfulness, grounding, and community connection. Ideal for those seeking a reflective, creative practice, this session offers a unique opportunity for hands-on engagement with art that mirrors the harmony of nature and our shared human experience.

Stiching the Sacred

Date: Saturday, February 8th (Meridian Arts Centre)

Date: Saturday, March 8th (The Neighborhood Organization)

Time: 1-4pm

Where: East York Town Centre
45 Overlea Blvd, East York, ON M4H 1C3

(Exact details for confirmed participants)

Price: Free

Program Lead: Leila Fatemi

Leila Fatemi  is a contemporary visual artist currently based in Tkaronto/Toronto. Through a combination of material and textual research, her practice unfolds across a variety of mediums including photography, collage, archival materials, textile, pattern and printmaking. Bridging themes of postcolonialism, gender, and spirituality, Fatemi’s work challenges viewers to consider their role in relation to the representational accuracy and cultural consequences of Orientalized subjects. Her work offers alternative perspectives surrounding the colonial gaze, ethnic representation, and collective numinous experiences by employing methods of subversion and reclamation as tools to resist imperialist legacies.

Fatemi received a BFA in Image Arts: Photography Studies from Toronto Metropolitan University. Her work has been exhibited in Canada and internationally and has been featured in online and print media. She was the first-place recipient of the Clyde & Co. Art Award for excellence in visual art, a finalist for the Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Artist Award in 2020 and is the 2022-2023 Black, Indigenous, People(s) of Colour Residency recipient at Open Studio.

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Projection Mapping 101

Projection Mapping 101

Projection Mapping 101 with Maziar Ghaderi

This interactive workshop introduces the fundamentals of projection mapping, including software setup, content creation, and mapping techniques. Participants will explore integrating designs into dynamic media environments using cutting-edge tools.

With a class size of up to 7, the workshop offers a personalized, hands-on experience. Participants will create their own small-scale projection mapping projects, perfect for designers, tinkerers, and media enthusiasts!

What is projection mapping?
A versatile tool used by DJs, visual artists, and in theater to transform spaces with visuals.

Why join?
Boost your skills, gain collaborators, and stand out in the job market.

Requirements:
Participants need their own laptops and basic tech savviness.

 

Community Zine Collab - lino cut sample by Morgan Kagesheongai
Community Zine Collab - lino cut sample by Morgan Kagesheongai

Date: Sunday, January 26th

Time: 1:00PM-5:00PM

Where: Art Starts is located at Yorkdale Mall, Lower Level

Price: Free

Due to overwhelming demand, registrations are now closed.  Thank you to all who have registered. Sign up to our newsletter to be first to know about upcoming programming!

Program Lead: Maziar Ghaderi

Maziar Ghaderi is an award-winning media artist, filmmaker, and educator specializing in projection mapping, creative technology, and immersive storytelling. With over a decade of experience, Maziar has taught media production at OCAD University, the China Academy of Art, and Toronto Metropolitan University. His innovative projects, recognized by institutions like the MIT Media Lab, blend cutting-edge technologies with artistic expression. Maziar has raised over $340,000 in funding for digital media initiatives and collaborated with renowned artists, including Marina Abramović. Passionate about empowering creators, he brings a wealth of expertise to this workshop, guiding participants to explore the art of projection mapping. 

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

647-477-6059

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network