House Of Arts

04/13/2026

https://canfilmday.ca/event/house-of-arts-presents-because-we-are-girls/

House of Arts Toronto presents the documentary Because We Are Girls (2019), preceded by the new short doc A Cliff Becomes A Bridge. Following the screening, Because We Are Girls director Baljit Sangra will join via Zoom for a Q&A.

04/13/2026

RSVP link in comments !!

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 ...

09/21/2023

🌟 Join House Of Arts for a night of celebration and connections at Society Clubhouse. Mark your calendars for September 23rd from 7 to 10pm for the ultimate Graduation + Networking Event!

✨ Walk the red carpet, savor delectable appetizers, strike a pose for the photographers, and most importantly, mingle with the talented graduates of the "Acting from the Ground Up" program.

🎟️ RSVP now: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/graduation-networking-tickets-685188476177

09/18/2023

09/04/2023

With Gratitude to Our Funders! 🙏💫

We owe our deepest thanks to the Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, our incredible funders. They believed in our vision and granted us the Animating Toronto Parks grant – our largest funding milestone to date!

A special shoutout to Lena, the most wonderful grant officer for Animating Toronto Parks. Your support and guidance made this journey beautiful, leading us to collaborate with numerous supportive community groups and breathe life into our Festival, 'Hear the Horn of East Africa.' 🌍🎉

This Festival made history as the first to unite East Africans in a public setting, and we're determined to continue this legacy. Together, we've laid the foundation, and we hope to make this Festival an annual endeavour.

To our funders, thank you for believing in our dream and helping us turn it into a reality!

🌟

09/03/2023

Gratitude Overflowing! 🙏❤️

Behind every successful festival is an incredible community, and we're overwhelmed with appreciation for ours. 🌟

🌳 Friends of Guild Park's John Mason, the glue that bridged us the ever so distant Guild Park. Friends of guild park is a volunteer group of dedicated, wonderful, and caring humans - the light of Guild Park!

🎨 SKETCH (Sarah, Felicia, Antonia, & Paulina): Our resource wizards, connecting us with freelancers, space, and even the occasional snack. They came through big time on Festival day, securing chairs & tables for us.

🌿 Arts in the Parks Toronto (Alexandra, Jacqlyn, and Hasanika) Your support made our first festival an absolute joy to work on!

🎲 Park People / Ami·es des parcs (Wesley and Ayesha): Thank you for the games and Festival resources that brought smiles to countless faces. Y'all made our engagement with kids an absolute joy.

💧 Emma & Sean: Keeping us hydrated and energized with water!

👕 Acting in Color : Crafting the amazing shirts for our dedicated volunteers and crew.

It truly took a village to make the Hear the Horn of East Africa Festival a reality, and we'll be forever thankful to everyone involved.

Wishing you all a fantastic long weekend! ☀️🌻