Designing Accessible Futures: Mentorship in the Arts

A partnership between North York Arts and The Cyborg Circus Project with the support of The City of Toronto. 

This project seeks to identify six Deaf, Mad or Disabled participants for a six month program

This program is for Deaf, Mad or Disabled people living in Toronto with some experience in an artistic discipline who are looking for support in setting up their own project. 

This program will provide mentorship and support to artists

This program is best suited to emerging artists who have ideas for their own projects or programs that they would like to run but need support with getting started

For example, this is a program for people who have an idea for a community arts program they would like to run but don’t know how to get started or find funding. 

Six people will be selected for the program and be provided a $200 honoraria for their participation

This program is specifically for artists who are Deaf, disabled, or mad. People with invisible disabilities are welcome. People with chronic illness are welcome. Disabled people who do not yet have a diagnosis are also welcome. 

This program will begin in November 2020 and continue until March 2021

The program has three components. 

The first component begins in November and is a series of six online meetings. 

Meetings will take place once or twice a week in the evening depending on what is best for participants.

Every meeting will be three hours long

Additionally, every participant will be matched with a mentor who they will work with individually throughout the program. 

Finally, in March participants will be involved in a Town Hall event to talk about the program

The program has committed to providing ASL interpretation as necessary for all aspects of the program including interviews, online workshops and mentorship meetings. 

In October, the program will interview up to 12 potential participants on a first come first serve basis. After interviewing all candidates, 6 participants will be selected. Everyone who is interviewed will be paid a $50 honoraria for their time. 

To register for an interview email TheCyborgCircusProject@gmail.com. Include: 1) Your Name 2) Confirmation that you live in Toronto 3) Confirmation that you are Deaf, Mad or Disabled 4) A brief explanation of your project

If email is inaccessible, please contact Melissa Foster at 416-732-3739, Monday to Friday during business hours. Please leave a message confirming the same information we are requesting in email as well as your phone number for a callback.

If you want more information, view our website at northyorkarts.org/accessible-futures

More information on The Cyborg Circus Project can also be found on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram