About

Welcome to ArtsEngageCanada!

This site is dedicated to helping performing arts presenters and artists to understand and create community engagement projects.

The site provides a knowledge framework of community engagement processes, resources, skills, tools, links and examples of community engaged works from artists and presenters.

As a project of Ontario Presents, ArtsEngageCanada was designed with the performing arts presenting field in mind. However, community engagement projects often involve many partnerships, and the information provided here may be useful to anyone wishing to engage their community through the arts.

Want to get in touch? Visit our Contact page here

Not sure where to start? Here’s an overview of the key areas of this site. If you are brand new to the site and to community engagement, we recommend starting from The Practice and working your way along the menu:

The Practice offers an overview of the concept of community engagement, why it is important to the arts today, and the process to develop a community engagement project.

The Presenter section provides resources that explore an expanded role for the presenter in their community.

The Artist, similarly, discusses the role of the artist from a community engagement perspective, rather than the usual presentation and outreach format.

Engage! Once you understand engagement and your role within it, visit the Engage! section for inspiration, tools, and step-by-step guides to kick-start your project.

The Idea Box is full of successful community engagement projects from Canada and beyond. Visit here anytime for new ideas and inspiration, or submit your own project to be shared in the Idea Box.

The Resource Centre provides links, reports, and other supporting resources that will help you to deepen your understanding of community engagement and bring your ideas to life. Like the Idea Box will be frequently updated with new resources.

How to Communicate with Us:

Email: info [at] ontariopresents [dot] ca
Talk to a real person via telephone: (416) 703-6709 ext. 9
Sign up for our enewsletter here

Current ArtsEngageCanada Team

Jane Marsland, ArtsEngageCanada Project Lead, Ontario Presents
Natalie Dewan, Communications and Membership Services Coordinator, Ontario Presents

Website initial development by:

ArtsEngageCanada.ca Volunteer Advisory Committee:

Annalee Adair, A Adair Associates and Consulting Inc.; Franco Boni, Artistic Director, The Theatre Centre; David Buchbinder, Artistic/Project Director - Diasporic Genius; Joan Chandler, Artistic Director - sheatre; Alyson Martin, Sioux Hudson Entertainment Series; Brian McCurdy, Executive Director - Burlington Performing Arts Centre; Santee Smith, Artistic Director - Kaha:wi Dance Theatre; Sanjay Shahani, Executive Director of the Edmonton Arts Council, Michael Trent, Performing Arts Program Director, Metcalf Foundation.

Intial Content Consultants:

Judy Harquail; Lendre Kearns; Gail Ferrin; Annalee Adair; Jane Marsland

Web Design and Maintenance by: rtraction