2015 - 2016

Annual Report

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PHOTO BY: JARED VALIKKI OF PACK OF MOUSTACHES MEDIA

3 Mission

4 Message from the

Executive Director

6 Message from the Board

of Directors

8 Our Programs

10 Exhibitions

11 Education

12 Festivals and Events

13 Moving Forward

14 Treasurer’s Report

16 Funders and Community

Partners

18 Staff and Board of Directors

19 Acknowledgements

Contents

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Scarborough Arts, a non-profit charitable organization, serves the

Scarborough community through innovative arts and culture programs

for citizens of all ages. Our mission is to bring arts to the community

and community to the arts.

Our Mission

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Message from the Executive Director

A s Scarborough continues to embrace its dynamic evolution in response to the needs of its residents,

Scarborough Arts steps up to be at the forefront of the community’s change and cultural renaissance.You can feel the energy reverberating across the borough: the phrase “it is time to be in Scarborough” glides over Lake Ontario’s waves to reach the limestone hills of the Bluffs and echo over the roofs of suburban homes and industrial warehouses. Drawn by this energy and sentiment, the borough welcomed new guests, businesses, and residents to its streets, and the area heard lively discussions about its past, present and future led by groups that are helping to push beyond the challenges that Scarborough faced for so long. Organizations like the Scarborough Business Association, Scarborough Community Renewal Organization, and the Institute of New Suburbanism are encouraging this region to recognize its histories, envision its potential, and identify its unique spirit.

Scarborough Arts—in its 2015/16 operating year—joined these community conversations and advocated for the role the arts can and should play in projects of civic building. Through implementing our diverse range of programs—and by supporting

and listening to many of our partners, residents, members, and local artists—we recognized the artistic growth in this region is on the rise. As such, we took a leading role in visioning how the various stakeholders in Scarborough’s artistic scene can come together to plan its future.

Scarborough Arts’ 2015/16 operating year brought many exciting changes to the organization.

By opening our doors to new partnerships, exciting programs, and collaborations with local and international artistic communities, we found out about other approaches. This cross-pollination allowed us to reflect on our own practices, mission, and vision. We dug deep, identified the key audiences for our efforts, and implemented new strategies (across operations, programming, communications, staffing, and financial management) that would keep us accountable and responsive to our public.

The success of these approaches is evidenced by the optimistic and renewed energy present at events we run, the overwhelming interest we have had from media outlets in the region’s artistic scene, the feedback from our members and community partners about the organization’s passionate

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commitment to the growth of the region’s artistic community, and the increasing output and capability of artists that work with us. These positive responses spur Scarborough Arts’ growth and allow us to continue planning for a bright future. Still, we know we have some way to go. We will continue to refine our strategies so that we can more efficiently and effectively serve our membership, partners, and community.

As we reflect on a banner year, it is important to recognize the individuals who were key to the organization’s development and evolution. A hearty thanks goes out to past and present staff that met new expectations head-on and with open arms. Gratitude also goes out to the past and present Board of Directors who worked tirelessly to set Scarborough Arts on a clearer path. Additionally, it is integral to note that our staff could not have sustained our activity without the support of our many volunteers.

We are ever grateful to the City of Toronto, the Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Trillium Foundation, University of Toronto Scarborough, and all of our sponsors, funders and donors for sticking with us every step of the way. We also know that our

success is entwined with the energy from our partners in the borough who grow the health of the community. Without these supporters, as well as our dedicated members, and the hundreds of community artists, we could never reach the thousands of individuals we have engaged with arts through our programs and presentations. We are grateful to these people, and the many more not represented here, that make Scarborough a destination for the arts. We will continue to serve that destination with the determination and celebration that is characteristic of this unified and awesomely diverse community.

With thanks,

Sergei PetrovExecutive Director, Scarborough Arts

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Message from the Board of Directors

A t this time of re-planning, Scarborough Arts (SA) is asking what it means to be a Local

Arts Service Organization in Toronto, and what it might mean in the year 2020. Scarborough Arts is a registered charity funded through the City of Toronto, Provincial and Federal ministries, event sponsorships, and programming partnerships. With a new Board of Directors established, new models for growth are taking shape to support recently established programming vision for a hyper-diverse community—questions such as how can SA be both a provider and platform for local arts services and programming start to emerge. How can we better connect people to the arts of Scarborough, and local artists to new communities across Toronto, across Canada, and worldwide? What does next few years really look like for the arts in Scarborough? How should we respond as a community?

Local arts communities and economies are key elements of city renewal and re-development. In the pursuit of better, more vibrant and inclusive neighbourhoods, public support for arts production and consumption creates local health and wealth. The low

overhead required by young artists often activates dormant, low-priced locales. This artistic prelude to neighbourhood improvement and the growth of local culture could be called “Arts-Making,” defined by the Toronto Arts Council as activities “contributing to a vibrant arts ecology by creating, presenting, supporting or attending works of art.”

What are “arts ecologies” and what does it mean to contribute to their vibrancy? What are the diversity of spaces where arts are practiced, administered, or accessed? Is there an “evolving ecology” of arts areas across Scarborough and Toronto? Looking at the big picture, how do we better connect these spaces across the wider region, unleashing all kinds of artistic and social exchanges?

Arts-making is a big idea based on a belief in the transformative power of social connection and cooperation via the arts. Public participation in arts activities helps to grow a connected civil society. Residents grow meaningful relationships through the arts, hence why it is important to foster arts scenes as diverse as the municipal population. Scarborough Arts will work openly

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to foster an accessible network of arts spaces and services—from our long-time location at 1859 Kingston Road. Our beautiful base at the Bluffs is proving to be just the beginning. As a Toronto-based arts charity and LASO, we will help to meaningfully connect existing and emerging artists, arts spaces and services, and neighbourhood audiences, thereby improving overall access to the arts for people of every age and income level.

Standing on the edge of the bluffs, looking out at Lake Ontario, reveals a horizon of infinite possibilities. Scarborough Arts and artists contribute significantly to Toronto’s vibrancy, to national and global culture, and to the shifting regional economy. To help forge a more prosperous Toronto, we think improved focus is needed on access to the arts, which in practice means a strong focus on the spaces of production and consumption that make art possible and local networks of practice. Arts-making is a new mantra for social and economic advancement that envisions the arts as being the foundation of diverse local life.

In early 2017, SA’s Board and Staff will be

thinking deeply about what a Scarborough Arts ‘Membership’ means to artists and audiences, youth and seniors, long-timers and newcomers. Using insights from the 2017 Strategic Planning process, Scarborough Arts will develop a “SA2020 Plan” based around a bold vision for membership and community-wide programming. If you are interested in providing input for the development of our strategic plan “SA2020”, or to pose specific questions about programming and membership, or to share thoughts on the future of Scarborough Arts and the neighbourhoods we serve, do connect with Chair of the Board, Morgen Peers, at Board@ScarboroughArts.com, or Executive Director of Scarborough Arts, Sergei Petrov, at ed@scarborougharts.com, as we look forward to hearing from the community about the future of Scarborough Arts.

Sincerely,

Morgen PeersBoard Chair, and Scarborough Arts Board of Directors

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Scarborough Arts aims to build the community’s artistic vibrancy and excellence through programs and events that focus on collaboration, community, and celebration.— SASHA KOVACS, Interim Program Director, Scarborough Arts

Our Programs

PHOTO BY: KAT RIZZA PHOTOGRAPHY

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I am proud to say that in 2015-2016, Scarborough

Arts delivered fifteen diverse program offerings that engaged thousands of residents and visitors. While we worked hard to propel this activity, we also underpinned it with two major commitments. First, our team prioritized collaboration with our membership. At our first ever Member’s Night, our goal was to simply listen. We responded to what we heard by developing affordable program opportunities for members to showcase their talent both locally and in the downtown core. We also heard that members wanted access to professional development, so we deepened our support of the Seniors Writing Program by providing space in our boardroom for this group’s meetings, and strategically started building educational

workshop opportunities into our exhibition schedules. Our programs were planned with our membership in mind, and we hope you have experienced a more responsive and supportive Scarborough Arts. Our second but equally urgent goal was to engage the broader community in the enlivening of Scarborough’s artistic vibrancy. We opened our doors, and committed to being responsive. This approach led to remarkable projects: a landmark performance in our backyard at Harrison Properties, and the YEARBOOK exhibit which was one of the most successful in the organization’s history. The success of these approaches proves that collaboration works, listening helps, and a positive outlook serves this organization well. Together we can do more. Together, we can use the arts to build a vibrant artistic community.

BY THE NUMBERS

OUR PROGRAMSEDUCATION• Kaleidoscope• EAST• The Donnelly Project• Seniors Write• Cultural Access Pass

FESTIVALS & EVENTS• Scarborough Worldwide Film Festival• Bridging Festival • Bollywood in the Bluffs• Nuit Blanche

EXHIBITIONS• 12 x 12• Culture Days: Poetry Came

in Search of Me• Access/Abilities• Holiday Dreams • En Route: 30th Annual Juried

Exhibition & BIG ART BOOK• YEARBOOK• Spring Forward: Spring

Members’ Exhibition• Trove (Luminato)

3,000+ audience members

100+volunteers

150artists engaged

107workshops

393Cultural Accesspasses distributed to new Canadians

6youth employed

and trained

12wards served

70+organizationalpartners

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O ver the course of the year, we honed our approaches

to exhibition curation and presentation. Our priority was excellence and creativity in curatorial design. Our 12 x12 and Poetry Came in Search of Me exhibits were successful in part because of the ancillary events programmed around them. Our En Route: Annual Juried Exhibition showcased artists in a professional environment, and saw us develop

strategies to sell artists work in engaging and welcoming spaces. We ended the year with our most successful projects: Our Yearbook and Spring Forward exhibitions reflected a mature curatorial approach that provoked conversations in the local and national arts community. By committing to excellence in our exhibitions, we give the work of Scarborough’s artists the professional respect it deserves.

PHOTO BY: PETROSE TESFAI

Scarborough Arts’ Bluffs Gallery is the gateway to the rest of Scarborough that’s well worth a visit.— SHA WN MICALLEF, Co lumnis t , The Toronto Star

Exhibitions

BY THE NUMBERS

8exhibitionspresented

700+audiencemembers

142artistsshowcased

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O ur year-long arts education and development programs

engaged children, youth, and seniors in high-quality and professional arts programming in different areas of the community. Our Kaleidoscope in-school children’s art program provided workshops in photography, dance, drumming, and other arts to five under-served Scarborough area schools. In addition, the year-long EAST program saw over 20 youth engage in learning opportunities with professional

film and photography artists. The excellent films generated out of this learning were showcased at a special screening as part of the Scarborough Film Festival. Finally, our Seniors Write program initiated once more, with workshops on writing delivered at community libraries. Together, these educational programs enriched participants’ approaches, built capacity for individual artists, and cultivated a passion for a diverse range of artistic practices in a broad range of community members.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TARRAGON THEATRE

BY THE NUMBERS

Education

400children, youth, and senior participants

32artists paid

200workshopsoffered

The Donnelly Project was such an outstanding performance. I was really blown away!— PARTHI K ANDAVEL , TDSB Trustee , Scarborough Southwest , Ward 18

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T he spring and early summer of 2016 saw Scarborough Arts

commit to the production of a robust slate of festivals. These events energized the community with a broad range of celebratory events that put local art in conversation with international approaches. Scarborough Arts’ partnership with the Scarborough Film Festival increased the organization’s recognition and audience base. The ten-day festival animated outdoor spaces and indoor theatres across the region with excellent films that intersected with cultural questions that are local to the community.

The Bridging Festival, programmed alongside the Film Festival, brought emerging and established music artists together in Albert Campbell Square. Together, the cross-section of artists and forms presented at these festivals represented the artistic diversity that our organization values and supports. By supporting other events like Celebrate Scarborough!, Bollywood by the Bluffs (presented by Reel Asian International Film Festival), and Nuit Blanche (in partnership with North York Arts), Scarborough Arts sustained the energy of the region’s creative pulse.

PHOTO BY: SAMPREETH RAO

BY THE NUMBERS

Festivals and Events

2,500 audience

members

86volunteers

engaged

108 artists paid

Scarborough Film Festival is a great hit. It’s a great way to showcase the community and challenge the perception of Scarborough in the media. — LISA EVANS, Wr i te r, Canad ian Immigrant Magaz ine

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T hanks to the input and participation from our community, membership, and board

of directors, our organization moved into the 2016/2017 fiscal year in a strong financial position that allowed us to continue planning high-quality programming that engaged our partners and members.

Our summer Art in the Parks (at both Birkdale Ravine and Harrison Properties), our new SA Suite of workshops, our seniors writing events, and our sustained commitment to youth programming has developed in response to community feedback and with a view that engaging critical partners can enliven Scarborough’s artistic scene. We have worked hard towards the development of a consistent slate of programming that can

support the growth of local area artists, respond to community interests, and build a vibrant cultural environment in the borough we call home. As I complete the tenure of my position and hand back the reins to Jen Fabico once more (who returns from maternity leave this December) I can say, without question, that Scarborough Arts is a vital organization that has a key role to play in making Scarborough a great and liveable community.

Program Report Prepared By: Sasha KovacsInterim Program Director, Scarborough Arts

PHOTO BY: RUSIRU POLWATTA

Moving Forward

It is wonderful having such cultural events here in Scarborough, rather than having to trek downtown.— WENDY HOOKER, Va lued Scarborough Ar ts Member

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Treasurer’s Report

I t is my distinct pleasure to present the 2016 Financial Statements for Scarborough Arts.

Given that our fiscal year ends in June, and that I did not join as acting Treasurer until May, I must give all credit for a solid financial performance to our Executive Director and his team. They have worked hard to refine the ways that the organization tracks and accesses the resources available to it, and as a result, delivered an excellent year of programming very efficiently.

The organization doubled its net operating assets year over year and entewred 2017 with a carry forward of $59,075. This was due to reduced salary costs and lower than expected programming expenses combined with a significant uptick in revenues from fundraising, donations, and the deployment of “Bingo Funds” that were accumulating but went unspent in recent years. It should also be noted that the team maintained a strong focus throughout the year on containing costs, reducing office and incidental expenses by more than $10,000, while also delivering new and established programming under budget.

While a surplus is very nice to have, moving forward the board will look to the Executive Director to not only maintain the prudence demonstrated in his first year, but learn from his

experience and improve forecasting to ensure that our resources are being used to their absolute fullest. Certainly though, a tremendous amount has already been achieved in improving our books and I am excited to play a role in evolving this oversight even further.

With the processes and discipline put in place during 2016, Scarborough Arts is on a strong financial footing to expand its programming and reach in our community. To further this, the organization received a vote of confidence from the City of Toronto who increased our main operating grant from $209,000 to $269,000. We also anticipate being much more active in attracting new donations and grant funding via the addition of a dedicated staff member for this purpose in 2017.

2017 is poised to be another year of growth at Scarborough Arts, and all of us at the organization look forward to making the most of our accumulated surplus and expanded funding to bring even more programming access to the communities of Scarborough.

Simon PaaborInterim Treasurer, Board of Directors

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$31,455

27,620

$59,075

Net Assets, beginning of the year

Excess of Revenues over Expenses

Net Assets, end of year

$41,415

- 9,960

$31,455

Condensed Statement of Changes in Net Assets for the Year Ended June 30

2016 2015

$148,01429,587

1,309178,910

90,24888,662

$178,910

Current Assets Endowment Fund GICs Capital Assets Total Assets

Current Liabilities Net Assets Total Liabilities and Net Assets

$391,99629,587

2,312 423,895

362,853 61,042

$423,895

Condensed Balance Sheet at June 30

2016 2015

65+29+6+x65%

29%

6%

Programming

Administration

Excess of Revenue

Total Programming and Administrative Expenses for 2016

$460,680

297,481135,579

$27,620

Revenues

Expenses Programming Administration

Excess of Revenue over Expenses

$467,978

321,294156,644

- $9,960

Condensed Statement of Operations for the Year Ended June 30

2016 2015

2016

d+100+53 2016

2015

Net Assets,2015-2016

2016 2015

e+100+42+36+x42 — 2015

— 2016

Surplus over Deficit, 2015-2016

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Funders andCommunity Partners

Neilson Park Creative CentreCulture Days OntarioToronto Public LibraryJane’s WalkNuit BlancheScarborough Residents UniteSnapd Scarborough Kinron Associates City of TorontoScarborough ArchivesMyseum of TorontoScarborough Poetry ClubTarragon Theatre

Agincourt Collegiate InstituteR.H. King AcademyUniversity of Toronto ScarboroughReel Asian International Film FestivalPhase One StudiosG5 Canadian UrbanEast Scarborough Boys & Girls ClubAgincourt Community Services AssociationsBirchmount Bluffs Community CentreJVS TorontoHeartBeatz — Cliffcrest Community CentreTrinity Square VideoWoodgreen Rites of Passage

An agency of the Government of OntarioUn organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario

Thank you to the community partners, sponsors, and service agencies who worked with us this past year, allowing us to elevate our programs, engage with new audiences, and extend our organization’s reach.

OUR FUNDERS

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS

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Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)RISE EdutainmentVIBE ArtsKiwanis TorontoToronto FoundationJohansen-Larsen FoundationThe George Lunan FoundationJ.P. Bickell FoundationWJ PropertiesCineplex Cinemas ScarboroughFox TheatreWoodside SquareScarborough MirrorMoxie’s Grill & Bar100 in 1 Day TorontoPlanet In FocusToronto Jewish Film FestivalHuman Rights WatchAlliance Francaise TorontoCinefrancoConsulate General of FranceJAYU Human Rights Film FestivalRegent Park Film FestivalConsulate General of MexicoWater DocsChildren’s Aid Society of TorontoCatholic Cross Cultural ServicesHarmony MovementDiaspora DialoguesMural RoutesSt. Boniface Catholic SchoolWarden Avenue Public SchoolSilver Springs Public SchoolSt. Dunstan Catholic SchoolMilitary Trail Public SchoolArts EtobicokeBay Mills Slam Hub

Blue Ant MediaCanadian Civil Liberties AssociationCentennial CollegeChester Le Community CornerChildren’s Peace TheatreCity of Toronto Arts ServicesCity of Toronto, Councillor LeeCity of Toronto, Mayor’s OfficeCity of Toronto Parks, Forestry and RecreationCrossroads of the Danforth BIAEast End ArtsEast Metro Youth ServicesEast Scarborough StorefrontGreat Lakes BreweryHigh Park Community CentreKinron Events & ServicesLakeshore ArtsLuminatoMalvern Family Resource CentreNative Child & Family ServiceNeighbourhood Arts NetworkNorth York ArtsPapermill Gallery at Todmorden MillsScarborough Civic CentreScarborough MuseumScarborough RotaryToronto Public HealthTropicana Community ServicesUniversity of Toronto Scarborough, Cultural Pluralism in the Performing ArtsUrban ArtsVICEWarden HilltopWarden Woods Community CentreWarden Woods Public SchoolY+ Contemporary

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Staff & Board of DirectorsSCARBOROUGH ARTS STAFF 2015-16Sergei PetrovExecutive Director

Jen D. FabicoProgram Director

Sasha KovacsInterim Program Director

Tamla Matthews-Morgan Manager – Children’s Programs

Marianne RellinProgram and Communications Coordinator

Jason Yorke-BestCommunity Relations Liaison

Andrew TuggsCoordinator – Youth Programs

Natalie MathiesonBridging Festival Operations Manager

Carter BruceFilm Festival Manager

Laura EnriquezArt in the Park Coordinator

Resyl-Cheryn De GuzmanExhibitions Intern / Art in the Park Coordinator

Spencer BaronDevelopment Intern

Ivanka Dakaii & Damon Couto-HillCo-Op Students, Office Assistants

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-16Morgen PeersInterim Chair as of May 2016

Julie WittInterim Secretary as of May 2016

Simon PaaborInterim Treasurer as of May 2016

Vidya PatelChair

Teresa MagnificoVice-Chair

Lori MarzinottoVice-Chair

Yulya UsmanovaTreasurer

Pippa FeinsteinSecretary

Grant MacEachernDirector

Paul FairmanDirector

EX OFFICIO:Councillor Michelle BerardinettiScarborough Ward 35

Sergei PetrovExecutive Director, Scarborough Arts

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Acknowledgements

AUDIENCEScarborough Arts’ goal is to connect local, national, and international communities

through our programs and services. It is an immense pleasure for all of us to welcome

Toronto’s and Scarborough’s residents and visiting guests. Because of your interest, we are

able to celebrate and share the passion, the creativity, the ideas, and the vision that exist

in Scarborough. Find out more at www.scarborougharts.com.

MEMBERSBack in 1978, Arts Scarborough was founded by local artists who stepped up to enhance cultural offerings in the City of Scarborough, becoming founding members of this cultural non-profit. With their support back then, and with a continued support of almost 200 members today, Scarborough Arts is able to have a consistent—and now a growing—membership base. We thank our members for their support, participation, donations, passion, creativity that helps us be better for the whole community of Scarborough. Support the continued growth of this borough’s arts community by becoming a member. Visit our website: www.scarborougharts.com/membership

VOLUNTEERSOver 100 individuals donated their time and skills to support our creative mission.

We are honoured to have such an engaged group of volunteers who allow us to do

more for the broader Scarborough community. We couldn’t have done it without you

and we look forward to seeing more of you in the months and years to come! Be part of

Scarborough Arts’s volunteer team today! Email volunteer@scarborougharts.com.

PARTNERSIn this past year, over 70 community partners, sponsors, local groups and service agencies worked with us to make our programs leap forward, inspiring us to create exciting ways to engage with new audiences, helping to elevate our message and mission far beyond our own reach. It’s truly a unified feeling in the community as like-minded organizations open their doors to each other to create a wonderful today and tomorrow for our residents. Thank you and we look forward to our growing friendships. Let’s work together for a better future for Scarborough. Email ed@scarborougharts.com.

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@scararts

@scarborougharts

1859 Kingston RoadScarborough, Ontario M1N 1T3416-698-7322info@scarborougharts.comwww.scarborougharts.com

Charitable # 1236 89704 RR0001 Photo by: Kat Rizza Photography