The Koffler Centre of the Arts is thrilled to acknowledge a significant investment of $526,200 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to expand its Koffler Studio Offsite arts education program.
Koffler Studio Offsite is a free after-school visual arts program successfully piloted in 2019 at Thorncliffe Park Public School in Toronto. The program offers enriched arts experiences and arts-based learning opportunities to students aged 9-11 living outside the downtown core and attending schools that rank high on the Learning Opportunities Index. Many of these students are also newcomers to Canada.
Koffler Studio Offsite was originally developed and launched with the support of an
Ontario Trillium Foundation Seed grant. Through its Grow Investment Stream, the OTF has generously committed to sustaining and expanding Koffler Studio Offsite over a three-year period. The arts-based educational program will continue to be offered at Thorncliffe Park Public School and will be expanded to include two additional schools to be selected in consultation with the Toronto District School Board based on community needs. The program will serve over 4,000 students across three Toronto neighbourhoods.
The program was recognized by the Ontario Association of Art Galleries as one of the province’s leading arts education programs through a nomination for the Education Award at the
2019 OAAG Awards.
Driven by the need to reduce socio-economic and geographic barriers barring students from participation in the arts,
Koffler Studio Offsite brings professional artists into the classroom to lead multi-disciplinary artmaking workshops. Program participants also visit contemporary art galleries and institutions across the city. The program culminates in an exhibition of participants’ artworks in a high-traffic public space, encouraging the whole community to participate.
Koffler Studio Offsite will be led by the Koffler’s
Dainesha Nugent-Palache, TD Assistant Curator of Education & Exhibitions, in collaboration with
Patricia Ritacca, Koffler’s Education and Public Engagement Manager.
Read the full press release here.