Students at Trinity Square Video, 2018. Photo: Connie Tsang.
Ontario
Canadian Art’s School Hop is an important 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 semi-annual program has hosted an ever-increasing number of students at Toronto studios and galleries on tours led by local artists and curators. The program provides free bus transportation and pays for artists and curators to lead discussions with students.
In this program, participating students are exposed to different artistic practices from diverse cultural backgrounds. They visit commercial galleries, artist studios and artist-run spaces, and they meet professional artists 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.
2019 Spring School Hop Dates
Images Festival: April 23, 24, 25 & 26
Contact Photography Festival: May 7, 8, 9 & 10
For more information, please email Alex Bowron or call (416) 368-8854 x 102