Students at Trinity Square Video, 2018. Photo: Connie Tsang.
Ontario
Canadian Art’s School Hop is a youth initiative aimed at providing education and outreach to Toronto’s secondary-school students. In the face of reduced funding for extracurricular activities and a diminished focus on art education in public schools, this free half-day program offers a unique opportunity for a younger generation to participate in the cultural landscape of Toronto.
Since 2003, this program has provided year-round visits to secondary-school students at Toronto galleries and art spaces, on tours led by local artist facilitators. The program provides free transportation and pays artists to lead these half-day sessions.
Participating students are exposed to different artistic practices that represent diverse cultural backgrounds. They visit commercial galleries, artist studios and artist-run spaces, and meet professional artists, gallerists and curators. The program encourages a free exchange of ideas about art, culture and society, and establishes a historical context for approaching contemporary art practices.
School Hop gives priority and vital program access to the most underprivileged schools in the region, with more than half of the participating Greater Toronto Area schools coming from low-income neighbourhoods or including at-risk youth. Through continuous feedback from teachers and galleries, we are constantly improving the program, its accessibility and its ability to meet crucial needs of the community.
This fall, in partnership with the Toronto Biennial of Art, we are pleased to welcome students to one of the two main exhibition sites at the inaugural Toronto Biennial of Art.
2019 Fall School Hop Dates
November 18, 20, 21 & 22
To register your class for a session, fill out our online registration form. (deadline: Oct 22, 5p.m.)
For more information, please email Uma Vespaziani or call (416) 368-8854 x 102