East End Arts 2025 Annual Report

2025 East End Arts

Annual Report

A Note from East End Arts

When our team took a moment to think of a word that describes our 2025, we landed on the word “Metamorphosis”. Butterflies specifically experience metamorphosis through the powerful transformation from a caterpillar to a beautiful winged creature, and it’s that journey of change, growth, and taking flight that resonated with the East End Arts team to choose this as our theme! (“Metamorphosis” was also the theme for the 2025 edition of East End Kids Pride, as chosen by the kids and youth of the organizing committee, so we want to give them full credit for inspiring the idea).

2025 was our twelfth year as a community arts organization in the east end, and it was a year where we tried out new program ideas, refined old ones, and really found our groove. We established a roster of incredibly successful and oversubscribed seniors programs, like Seniors in the East; we presented a record number of family-friendly events for children and youth, like the Biidaasige Park opening weekend; and we refined and recalibrated some of our long-standing programs helping them reach new heights, like The Beaded Path, which welcomed over 300 participants from 30+ cities! We also continued to develop new ways to make our programs more accessible and inclusive for everyone in our communities (including equity deserving groups). We did this by providing free arts and cultural experiences (none of our programs cost anything for people to join us in 2025), by offering more open door drop-in open programming (The Riverdale Open Mic, and Seniors Creative Circle), and by prioritizing paid artist opportunities for those who belong to our priority groups (Indigenous Roots Mural Program, and Nuit Blanche East Danforth), In 2025, 183 artists supported our programs and events, and the large majority of those artists were Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, People living with Disabilities and/or Mental Illness, Newcomers, and more!

Outside of our numerous program successes, 2025 was also a year where we prioritized making our cultural space at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse an accessible and supportive go-to venue for artists and creatives in the east end. We know that access to space continues to be a challenge across the city of Toronto, which is why we are so proud to have surpassed another record in 2025 by offering nearly

900 hours of free or subsidized space use at our clubhouse to artists, collectives and arts organizations. For instance, last year we welcomed a creative writing space partnership with Firefly Creative Writing; weekly Life Drawing sessions with AGA Arts Toronto; seasonal music residencies with Labyrinth Ontario; a monthly miniature making club for BIPOC queer adults; a theatre rehearsal and performance partnership; and many more! The strides we have made here are in direct alignment with the City of Toronto’s bold and exciting culture plan titled, “Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto (2025 – 2035)” to ensure culture for all, and culture for the future. We are excited by the ways we will continue to implement the priorities of this plan to drive change and allow the arts to thrive in the east end for years to come.

And so to the over 20,000 people who engaged, participated, and interacted with our art programs and events in 2025, thank you for supporting our work and for making this past year such a joy for our team! We know that the arts, and specifically community arts, make the east end a more vibrant, inviting, and inspiring place to work, visit, play, and live. As we plan ahead for 2026 and beyond, we are delighted to continue growing in the direction we’re currently headed, which focuses on accessible space, free opportunities, and prioritizing equity and inclusion for all. We hope that you’ll continue to be part of our journey, because we firmly believe that the east end of Toronto is one of the most creative and inviting places in our culturally exciting and lively city! #EastEndLove

Sincerely (With gratitude),

Eileen Arandiga and David Carey

OUR STORY

VISION

East End Arts’ vision is “to inspire, connect and uplift the communities of east Toronto through the power of the arts.”

SERVICE AREA

Our service area includes wards 14 and 19 in east Toronto.

PASSION

We believe that Community Arts can be a tool for empowering community members and artists alike to make their communities in east Toronto more vibrant and inspiring places!

VALUES

We strive to be:

1. Inclusive and Accessible eliminating barriers, providing a welcoming environment, and meeting people where they are.

2. Imaginative and Innovative by prioritizing experimentation, play, and artistic skill-building for artists and audiences of all levels.

3. Collaborative and Generous by working with everyone and sharing our resources, knowledge and time to build a supportive community.

4. Responsive and Sustainable by responding to the needs of our community and our evolving world, while investing in the longevity of our shared future.

OUR IMPACT

1281

894

HOURS

Provided to artists & community members for free or subsidized at our Clubhouse.

83

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Collaborated with and supported us.

CHILDREN & YOUTH

Engaged with our programs & events.

183 ARTISTS Were supported through our programs.

218

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

We presented in the east end of Toronto.

811

SENIORS

Engaged with our programs & events.

VOLUNTEERS

Gave their time to support our programs.

247

ACTIVITIES

Took place at our home, St. Matthew’s Clubhouse.

23,742 PEOPLE

Engaged with our programs & events.

The Riverdale Mic

Community | All Ages | Artist Development

he Riverdale Mic launched in the spring of 2025 to help foster a brand new community of creatives in the east end! This free bimonthly open mic forum was all about providing an opportunity for local writers, poets, musicians, and creative folks to network, push themselves up on “stage”, create beautiful art, and have some fun together.

From the start, our key focus with the Riverdale Mic nights was accessibility; regardless of experience level, we wanted to create an environment where anyone and everyone could feel comfortable to sign up to perform! We are so happy with the way this program has blossomed and grown, that we will be bringing it back again in 2026. Providing more free, drop-in style programs continues to be part of our strategy here at St. Matthew’s Clubhouse, and we’ve loved the enthusiasm from everyone who has stepped through our door!

Open Mic

Performers

69 Program Participants

I’ve always written jokes, but have not been motivated lately to stay out late to maybe not get stage time, be the only sober person in an inebriated room, or witness any more of the sexist/ racist/ageist/ableist/homophobic rhetoric that can still come with the comedy circuit. Enter the Riverdale open mic, a warm and welcoming community space that is a wholesome beacon for talent. I’m proud to say that I’ve touched the mic every time and have every intention to keep that streak going. I’m so grateful for the opportunity,”

- Open Mic Participant

Indigenous Arts | Online | Story and Skill Sharing

317 Participants joined in 2025

8 Indigenous Artists Supported

18 Hours of Story & Skill Sharing

30+ Cities Reached

I am so grateful for the time to learn and share with Indigenous relatives in a space that felt safe. Mel was a fabulous host! This program was bonding time for my daughter and I as well as a positive atmosphere for learning about our culture, arts and business opportunities. Positive encouraging space, [and] so thankful it was online!”

- The Beaded Path Participant

The Beaded Path (formerly BYOBeads) was an Indigenous-led Beading Circle hosted by East End Arts with support from Native Women in the Arts. It was a no-cost online space where creative people from across Turtle Island could come together to chat, laugh, and share their experiences and skills while beading/creating together. The 2025 season was again led by Mel Bartel, a talented 2 Spirit Nishinaabe artist, and featured seven talented Indigenous Guest Artists who joined to share their work, skills, and stories with online participants. Guest Artists spoke on a variety of topics, from Harvesting Quills and Tufting, to Working with Birch Bark. The 2025 Guest Artist lineup included: Krysta Furioso, Carmen Miller, Jaymie Campbell, Naomi Smith, Jessica McKenzie, Mary Magiskan and Barb Nahwegahbow.

Over the course of the 2025 season we welcomed our highest attendance to date since this program’s launch: 317 participants, from over 30+ different cities! From California to British Columbia, Thunder Bay to Regina, The Beaded Path has become a vital online program for Indigenous creators everywhere, and we look forward to continuing to present it for years to come.

EAST END

Multidisciplinary Arts | Designed by Kids for Kids

n June 2023, an awesome 7-year-old kid asked her two east Toronto moms if she could organize a Pride Parade for her rainbow friends. Fast forward to 2025, and we were proud to welcome 750+ people through this program to celebrate the third annual End End Kids Pride (EEKP)!

Since its inception, EEKP has been a grassroots opportunity for folks to come together with rainbow families, friends, neighbours, and the east end queer community to celebrate #EastEndLove and queer joy! The 2025 edition grew and expanded in incredible ways that we are so proud of! For instance, we hosted five free arts workshops for kids and youth, from portrait painting to butterfly puppet making; we held a Kids Pride Art Exhibition at our clubhouse to display all the incredible artwork created by workshop participants; we hosted our first ever Queer Arts Market to spotlight and amplify 2SLGBTQ+ artists in our community; and we again put on a joy-filled Community Celebration day in Dentonia Park to kick off Pride month! Over 500 people joined us for the park celebration day, which featured a magical parade led by Shadowland Theatre, Kiki ballroom dancing, drag King storytime, aerial circus performances, music, dancing, facepainting, kidapproved snacks, art stations, rainbows, sunshine, and more! We know that love always wins, and we can’t wait to support this program into 2026 and beyond!

KIDS PRIDE

Rainbow Family Friendly | Community Celebration

Youth Workshop Participants 38 Volunteers

- East End Kids Pride Family Participant 92

Queer Artists Supported

792

People Engaged

Neighbourhood Improvement Area (Taylor Massey, 61)

I absolutely adored the [Metamorphosis] theme this year and the story behind this program. It was amazing to see so many families and children expressing themselves. I loved that it was a community parade and everyone was encouraged to walk. Overall bravo! We will be back next year,”

Programs for Elders

Senior-Focused | Community Building | Multidisciplinary

In 2025 we continued to build on our 2022-2024 success of delivering high quality, impactful arts programming for elders in our community. In 2025, we outdid ourselves again and served the largest number of senior residents in one year through programming: 283 participants! Through a number of programs and partnerships, we were able to focus on teaching new artistic skills, creating new communities, and tackling social isolation and loneliness. Our 2025 lineup included: Seniors in the East: A Storybook Program - Chapter 1 and 2 (a hybrid paper-based 7-month art program); Seniors Creative Circle (a new monthly drop-in circle space for seniors to get creative), and partnerships with local health centres South Riverdale Community Health Centre and East End Community Health Centre. We also welcomed and supported the birth of a new Alumni Seniors Group at our Clubhouse, composed of members who have participated in our programs before but who also wanted to offer space for new senior members to join our organization. The Alumni Group is now close to 20 senior members and growing, and they come together on their own time to make art and share skills. We are ecstatic over this pipeline that we’ve helped to create, which supports elders of all creative skill levels in the east

Community Workshops

Hours

Seniors Engaged

When I first came to East End Arts, like most people, I was still reeling from the isolation of Covid shutdowns. Acceptance into “Seniors in the East” felt as though I’d been thrown a lifeline. In your programme, I have met people and had experiences that otherwise, I never would have. I feel as though, because of all of you, my life and life experiences have expanded far beyond any expectation or hope that I would previously have imagined. In my mid eighties, I have been supported in broadening both my life experience and my circle of friends,”

- SITE 2025 Participant

Indigenous Roots Mural Program

Mural Art | Artist Development | Reconciliation

What meant the most to me was that this mural wasn’t just about making something beautiful; it was about creating something that respected the people of this land. The process was healing, grounding, and deeply meaningful for me. I’m currently on a journey of reconnecting with my Métis identity, and art has been one of the most meaningful ways I’ve been doing that. I’m genuinely proud and grateful for the opportunity; it feels like a big step forward in my career,”

- Mari, Indigenous Mural Artist.

Indigenous Roots was a mural project presented by East End Arts and the Danforth Multifaith Commons of EEURM, which was a part of the EEURM’s journey towards addressing the church-related recommendations as addressed by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. In July of 2025 East End Arts and EEURM hired an east end Métis Artist named Mari to beautify and enhance the indoor lobby space of the Danforth Multifaith Commons. The mural’s title is “The Land Speaks Through Generations”, which features three separate but connected panels exploring messages of Indigenous Representation, Brilliance, Joy, Interconnectedness, Land Stewardship, and Cultural Preservation.

On Sunday September 28, 2025 we held a Mural Unveiling at EEURM to applaud this beautiful new mural, toast Mari for her incredible vision and efforts, and celebrate Indigenous creativity and culture. An Indigenous artist named Danielle also joined in to sing and perform for the congregation. We are looking forward to more public art partnerships into 2026 that help to spotlight Indigenous mural artists and creators!

Nuit Blanche East Danforth

Family-Friendly | Festival | Contemporary Art

Nuit Blanche is North America’s largest sunset to sunrise Contemporary Arts Festival, and in 2025 we brought it back for its fourth time to East Danforth! Alongside our partners at Danforth Mosaic BIA and Native Women in the Arts, we were ecstatic to present 18 contemporary art installations from 7pm-7am on the Danforth between Greenwood & Coxwell TTC Stations. Inspired by the theme “Translating the City”, we profiled installations that helped to tell the hidden artistic stories and voices of the East Danforth neighbourhood with a focus on different languages, cultures, and stories not yet explored. While our team of staff and volunteers were a bit tired, what an incredible night enjoyed by all! Live music filled the streets, businesses stayed open late with special deals and treats, and all the artwork presented was fantastic! From an all-night forest-themed Silent Disco, to a Bangla and English textile and poetry installation, to a multimedia kite installation about hope and entrapment, to the 14 IN VIEW installations in storefronts along the Danforth, we hope that everyone had as much fun as we did!

5500

20 Artists Presented

People Engaged 21 Business Partners

18

Artificial Holiday Trees from Community

So many installations close together, easy to find and access. The East End Arts Team put on a spectacular family friendly show - legitimately the best Nuit Blanche experience I have had in Toronto. Really loved that the local businesses were engaged and participating. This is our first fall in the east end and this was a wonderful introduction to the neighbourhood,”

- Nuit Blanche East Danforth Visitor

Our Clubhouse, Fully Activated

Community Hub | Artist Support | Accessible Space

In 2025 we continued to prioritize making St. Matthew’s Clubhouse a lively, thriving community hub in East Toronto, and we are excited to report that we surpassed our already impressive 2024 numbers: we welcomed a record number of rentals and community collaborators with 187 rentals, 165 of those being arts and culture related! We know that artists, arts organizations, collectives, and small community groups struggle to find low cost, accessible space, which is why we prioritize the use of our space at heavily discounted rates for artistic activities and local events. Last year we partnered with more than 20 unique organizations, artists, and/or collectives to support initiatives like life drawing sessions, creative writing workshops, dance rehearsals, musical residencies, book clubs, theatre performances, and so much more! Our 2026 model will build on this trend, as we look to present more partnership programming to help support creators in their practice, and engage more audiences across the east end!

165

Arts-Related Rentals in 2025

894

Hours provided to artists & community groups for free or subsidized

1112

Hours of Activity at our Clubhouse in 2025

I love this space so much and everyone who attended my sessions was very charmed by it as well. It felt like the walls itself were happy to have us there. I would definitely love to use it again and again! I am an eastender and feel grateful to have this as an option,”

- Clubhouse Renter, 2025

FUNDERS & PARTNERS for the 2025 fiscal year

OUR FUNDERS:

OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS:

2 Spirited of the First Nations Danforth

AGA Arts Toronto

Akin Studios

Alisa Singh

Anex Works

Applegrove Community Complex

Arts Etobicoke

Beach BIA

Blossoming Minds

Bomb Fitness on the Danforth

Booster Juice on the Danforth

Brad Bradford (Councillor)

Common College of Art

Cultural Pluralism in the Arts

Movement Ontario (CPAMO)

Crescent Town Club

Croquembouche

Danforth Mosaic BIA

Draft Reading Series

Dusk Dances

East End Acts Book Club

East End Community Health Centre

East End Kids Pride Community Group

East Minster Regional United Ministry

Firefly Creative Writing

Fresh Paint Toronto

From There to Here on the Danforth

Good Intentions

Good Vibes Kitchen

Hair Sensation + Skin Care

Hugh’s Room

Interwoven Connections

Julie Dabrusin (MP)

K H Davis Engineering Consultants

Kiki Ballroom Alliance TO Kiwimii (Vincy Lim)

Lakeshore Arts

Labyrinth Ontario

Liquid Architecture

Linsmore Tavern

Mabelle Arts

Maestro Duo

Manny Dingo

Mary-Margaret McMahon (MPP)

MEEM Toronto

Monumental

Mural Routes

Native Women in the Arts

Naz Rahbar and ArtCave

Nathaniel Erskine Smith (MP)

Neighbourhood Food Hub

North York Arts

Patisserie La Cigogne

Paula Fletcher (Councillor)

Pegasus Community Project

– Polaris Site

Peter Tabuns (MPP)

Pride Toronto

Queen Books

Rainbow Circus

RAW Design TO Red Rocket Coffee

Red Pepper Spectacle

Redwood Theatre

Riverdale Hub

Riverside BIA

Scarborough Arts

Scouts Toronto

Secret Planet Print Shop

Shadowland Theatre

South Riverdale Community Health Centre

Storytelling Toronto

Superior Bookkeeping Services Ltd

The Bentway

The Public Great

Toronto Collage Collective

Toronto Community Housing

Toronto Fringe Festival

Toronto Public Libraries

Urban Arts

Waterfront Toronto

Whitney Smith - Wild Culture

Wiklém Design inc

Winter Stations

Workman Arts

for the 2025 fiscal year

OUR TEAM

EAST END ARTS STAFF

Eileen Arandiga Executive Director

Chelsea Virginia Gerow Senior Communications Manager

Merryn Connelly-Miller Program Producer

Tyler James Andrews Operations & Outreach Manager

EAST END ARTS BOARD

David Carey, President

Jane Gutteridge

Joyce Badley

Laura Grier

Noah Parker

Oliver Pitschner

Sapphira Charles

Tura Cousins Wilson

With thanks to Peter Venetas (previous longstanding board member), Mahmoud Ismail (previous Program Manager), Vincy Lim (previous Program Assistant), Ariesha Mais (previous Communications & Digital Assistant), Tricia Simpson (previous Communications & Outreach Assistant), Marim Adel (previous Marketing & Digital Assistant), Xijia (Romee) Lai (previous Programming Intern), Eddy Lee (volunteer rockstar), Amerte Urgessa (previous Clubhouse Cleaner), Ada Lourdes (current Clubhouse Cleaner), Sympl Solutions (current Bookkeeper), and Chorizo + Jasper (current clubhouse pups) for their contributions in 2025.

PHOTO CREDITS:

All photo credits are listed from Left to Right, Top to Bottom.

Pg 4: East End Kids Pride Parade. Photo by Chris Owyoung.

Pg 6-7: The Riverdale Mic Photos. Photo 1, by Eileen Arandiga; Photos 2 & 6, by Merryn ConnellyMiller; Photo 3, by Chelsea Virginia; Photos 4, 5 & 7, by Tyler James Andrews.

Pg 8-9: The Beaded Path Workshop & Art Photos. Photo 1, Beadwork by Naomi Smith; Photo 2, Beadwork by Jaymie Campbell; Photos 3-7, Screenshots by East End Arts team members. Pg 10-11: East End Kids Pride photos. Photos 1-3 & 11, by Chelsea Virginia, Photos 4, 6, 8-10, by Cass Rudolph, Photos 5 & 7, by Chris Owyoung.

Pg 12-13: Assorted Program Photos. Photo 1, Biidaasige Park, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 2, Mastro Duo, by Merryn Connelly-Miller; Photo 3, From Here to Wear, by Ariesha Mais; Photo 4, Light It Up, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 5, Light It Up, by Durga Rajah; Photo 6, SITE Ch 2, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 7, Winter Stations, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 8, Life Drawing, by AGA Arts; Photo 9, Indigenous Roots, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 10, SITE Ch 2, by Merryn Connelly-Miller; Photo 11, East End Kids Pride, by Chris Owyoung; Photo 12, We Are All Relatives, by Jennifer Lee.

Pg 14: Senior Arts Programming Photos. Photos 1 and 5, by Chelsea Virginia; Photos 2, 4, 6, by Merryn Connelly-Miller.

Pg 16-17: Indigenous Roots Mural Program Photos. Photos 1-2, & 4-7, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 3, by Eileen Arandiga.

Pg 18-19: Nuit Blanche East Danforth Photos. Photos 1 & 4, by Chelsea Virginia. Photos 2,3, 5-7, by Cass Rudolph.

Pg 20-21: Assorted Program Photos. Photo 1, Life Drawing, by AGA Arts; Photo 2, Winter Stations, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 3, From Here to Wear, by Tricia Simpson; Photo 4, Biidaasige Park, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 5, SITE Ch. 2, by Tyler James Andrews; Photo 6, Nuit Blanche, by Cass Rudolph; Photo 7, The Beaded Path, beadwork by Jessica McKenzie; Photo 8, Seniors Creative Circle, by Merryn Connelly-Miller; Photo 9, Light It Up, by Merryn Connelly-Miller; Photo 10, We Are All Relative Mural, by Jennifer Lee; Photo 11, Holiday Arts Market, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 12, East End Kids Pride, by Chris Owyoung.

Pg 23: Clubhouse Activation Photos. Photo 1, Labyrinth Musician, by Labyrinth Ontario; Photo 2, Firefly, by Firefly Creative Writing; Photo 3, Maestro Duo, by Merryn Connelly-Miller; Photo 4, Holiday Arts Market, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 5, Infinite Skies Rug Workshop, by Vincy Lim; Photo 6, Collage Workshop, by Toronto Collage Collective.

Pg 26: Staff Team Photos. Photo 1, by Cass Rudolph; Photo 2, by Chelsea Virginia.

Pg 28-29: Assorted Program Photos. Photo 1, Light It Up Lantern Workshop, by Eddy Lee; Photo 2, Life Drawing, by AGA Arts; Photo 3, Seniors Creative Circle, by Merryn Connelly-Miller; Photo 4, We Are All Relative Mural Project, by Jennifer Lee; Photo 5, Mini Makers Club, by Naz Rahbar; Photo 6, Nuit Blanche East Danforth, by Naz Rahbar; Photo 7, SITE Ch. 2, by Merryn ConnellyMiller; Photo 8, Don River Awakens Festival, by Tyler James Andrews; Photo 9, Holiday Arts Market, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 10, From Here to Wear, by Marim Adel; Photo 11, Biidaasige Park Opening, by Merryn Connelly-Miller; Photo 12, Seniors Creative Circle, by Merryn ConnellyMiller.

Pg 30-31: Assorted Program Photos. Photo 1, The Beaded Path Screenshot, by EEA Team; Photo 2, East End Kids Pride, by Ariesha Mais; Photo 3, Nuit Blanche East Danforth, by Merryn ConnellyMiller; Photo 4, From Here to Wear, by Tricia Simpson; Photo 5, Light It Up, by Durga Rajah; Photo 6, Biidaasige Park Opening, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 7, Winter Stations, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 8, East End Community Health Workshop, by Merryn Connelly-Miller; Photo 9, Holiday Arts Market, by Chelsea Virginia; Photo 10, Don River Awakens Festival, by Tyler James Andrews; Photo 11, Nuit Blanche East Danforth, by Cass Rudolph; Photo 12, Life Drawing, by AGA Arts.

Annual Report design and creation by Chelsea Virginia.