“Historically pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next.“
- Arundhati Roy
MABELLEarts
2022
Impact
Report
For MABELLEarts this pandemic was a portal. It launched our little pirate ship of artists and change-makers into uncharted waters; calling on skills and abilities we didn’t even know we had. Now, seeing a light at the end of this gateway to a new world, I can say with certainty, we’re never going back. We’ve seen what’s possible when artists and community come together to make art and solve problems. We’ve seen all kinds of possibilities – new ways of working and creating and a new role for grassroots arts organizations like ours. Together, we’re taking that vision and reimagining our work and the neighbourhood we are lucky enough to call home. I hope you’ll keep watching. Keep contributing. Keep dreaming with us. Help us to build and explore and continue to grow and change. We can’t do it without you.
— Leah Houston, Executive Director, MABELLEarts
800
When Covid hit, MABELLEarts staff and community leaders came together to respond. What started as a delivery-to-the-door service for our ten most vulnerable residents has evolved into a weekly block party and community employment initiative serving over 800 residents on Mabelle Avenue. Together, MABELLEeats!
80%
We doubled down on community employment! MABELLEpantry is now 80% staffed by MABELLEneighbours. Community staff receive a good wage, ongoing training and opportunities to lead at MABELLEarts. We’re working closely with community members to connect folks in need with fresh and beautiful produce while offering new opportunities for micro-business development.
$93,000
Directly to 18 MABELLEneighbours as wages and honoraria.
200
We found each other again in MABELLEpark
During Ramadan, our 11th Annual Iftar Nights Festival welcomed over 200 guests to MABELLEpark. Together we broke the Ramadan fast surrounded by immersive audio, video and puppetry installations by 12 newcomer artists.
1230
Summer in the park was a watershed moment marking our emergence out of the pandemic. Together a team of 8 paid youth leaders co-created a range of experiences with an incredible roster of 17 professional artists and 2 resident arts organizations to delight and engage MABELLEneighbours and friends of all ages and backgrounds. 225 people took part in 75 workshops and events marking 1230 moments of connection in our beloved park.
$282,000
Supported the livelihoods of 53 artists and 7 arts orgs when they needed it most.
Along Mabelle Avenue we continued to dream with residents to build the community we want with what we already have. Our partnership with Toronto Community Housing, key supporters and funders brought to life our shared vision of a state of the art computer lab on Mabelle Avenue where residents gather, learn and connect.
Thats one more space reimagined to meet our community’s needs!
1
400
While MABELLEarts reached deep into the Mabelle Ave. community we also stretched outward and brought together newcomer artists, community arts orgs and settlement agencies across the GTA.
Our Welcome To The Neighbourhood program is putting art at the heart of the Canadian settlement experience.
12 community arts organizations have been matched with 8 settlement agencies to co-create arts experiences for and with over 400 newcomers to Canada.
