Who are we?

The Community Arts Guild is a non-profit arts organization in East Scarborough that builds collaborations between professional artists and people with different levels of artistic skill, experience, and confidence, using art as a means to build community.  

We make art to realize creative potential and form new connections and understanding.  

Our artwork is often performance-based, and we collaborate across disciplines and traditions, particularly exploring intersections of performance and design. We draw on theatre, puppetry, projection and shadow play, installation (indoors and out) music, dance, culinary and textile arts, and film.

Our organization and work in the neighbourhood grew out of a residency undertaken by Jumblies Theatre from 2009-2012. We continue in a collegial and often-collaborative relationship with Jumblies, in a network of independently-incorporated and distinctive “offshoots” and partners.

Our Strategic Plan

Read about our plan for stability at Community Arts Guild here!

Funding for this project provided by the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Equity and Anti-Racism in our work

The Community Arts Guild stands in solidarity with our Black community members, artists, and partners in opposition to systematic and institutionalized anti-Black racism. We recognize that many people in our immediate community face racism and discrimination on a daily basis that negatively impact their safety, wellbeing, and opportunities to grow and thrive.

We condemn oppressive ideologies and practices that cause violence, and seek to erase Black, Indigenous, and other racialized histories and voices within Scarborough and beyond.  We will continue to centre Scarborough community members within our programming, projects and activities, as well as work with our community partners, artists, leaders, and volunteers to ensure transparency and accountability. Through our work, we strive to dismantle systemic racism and to listen and create together as acts of resistance and reimagining.

We know this work is about unlearning and learning, and we want to encourage an open dialogue. Please connect with us.

In solidarity,
Community Arts Guild

Working in Scarborough since 2012, we partner with local residents & organizations in the area to:

  • Research, develop, create and produce arts projects

  • Make public facilities more accessible through art activities that invite people in and reflect their diverse identities and cultural backgrounds.

  • Create in response to the goals, strengths, and interests of collaborating participants, artists and social sector partners.

  • Work to dismantle barriers to participation by offering free activities, going to places that are close to people’s homes and daily lives, and providing support such as childcare, food, interpretation, transportation

  • Build and contribute to opportunities for people to come together across differences through artmaking, within our neighbourhood and beyond.

  • Contribute to anti-racism and equity initiatives within our community and the arts through our work.

  • Share resources and networks to contribute to a stronger arts ecosystem in Scarborough