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Arts recipients
| Amount awarded | How funds will be used |
|---|---|
| $750 | Women In Music Charity Concert: The Women in Music charity concert, successfully held at Onyx in 2023, received overwhelmingly positive feedback and garnered interest from more businesses and artists for this year. The grant will cover musician payments, photography, and promotional costs for the event. |
| $750 | Instrument Repair and Upgrade for Guelph Symphony: The project aims to repair communal instruments shared with the Guelph Symphony, purchase new Canadian composed music, and transition to an electronic system to aid visually challenged members. The new system will also be environmentally friendly. |
| $750 | Visual Arts for Emotional Health: This project will provide multi-session visual art instruction and mental wellness support for 10-to-13-year-old children, focusing on drawing and painting techniques. The goal is to foster emotional health through art without passing costs onto families, with funds going towards artist honorarium, art materials, and space rental. |
| $750 | The Satellite Collective: A group of Guelph-based artists is working to build the local music and arts community by hosting all-ages, accessible matinee concerts featuring diverse, emerging bands. Grant funding will help purchase a PA system to reduce rental expenses and expand shows, bringing in more national and touring groups. |
| $750 | Guelph Jazz Festival Tribute to Local Songwriters: The Guelph Jazz Festival seeks funding for a special project celebrating local songwriters by having contemporary singers cover their songs, with a poignant tribute to the late Richard Laviolette. Funds will pay honorariums for eight singers, with remaining production costs covered by the festival. |
| $800 | Inclusive Art Club: The Inclusive Art Club provides a safe and accessible space for artists with developmental disabilities to explore various art mediums and techniques. The grant will fund quality art materials and honorariums, aiming to reduce social isolation and foster a culture of encouragement and mentorship. |
| $800 | Accessible AAPI Music Showcase: This project proposes an accessible musical showcase featuring local AAPI artists as part of AAPI month. The event aims to address physical and sensory accessibility issues at music festivals, with funds used for equipment rental, performer fees, and promotional materials. |
| $800 | Moth Garden: Moth Garden is a public artist-made garden for nocturnal pollinators, created by Guelph-based artists Lisa Hirmer and Christina Kingsbury. The project seeks funding for maintenance, event materials, and artist fees to host nighttime moth viewing events, fostering meaningful relationships with nocturnal pollinators and highlighting their importance. |
| $750 | Audiopollination Guelph: Audiopollination Guelph is a monthly free-improvisation performance series featuring community musicians of all backgrounds. Funds will support project direction, sound technician fees, and promotional efforts, aiming to sustain and grow this community-building initiative. |
| $500 | Silver Drummers Activity Group: The Silver Drummers, formed in 2023, is an activity group with 21 regular attendees. They seek funding to purchase additional drums for new members, promoting social cohesion, reducing tension, and generating positive energy through drum circles. |
| $800 | Blackball Instrument Repair: Blackball, a music group with no institutional support and no fees, needs funding for significant repairs and maintenance of their well-used donated instruments. The grant will help cover these repair costs to support their young musicians. |
| $800 | Seussical Jr. Theatre Production: This project covers the high costs of providing a genuine theatre experience for young people, specifically hall and theatre rental. The grant will contribute to the rental of Guelph Little Theatre for their production of Seussical Jr. |
| $800 | Hip Hop String Quartet Adaptations: An emerging composer at the University of Guelph has adapted iconic hip hop songs for string quartet and seeks funding to hire musicians and rent performance venues. The project aims to engage the community with classical music through innovative adaptations. |
| $800 | Soulful Musical in Gujarati: The project aims to produce a Soulful Musical in Gujarati language for the growing Gujarati community in Guelph. The event will be free, with grant funds used for venue rental, supplemented by local sponsors. |
| $800 | Skateboarding as Contemporary Art: This project will introduce a “skateable” art sculpture in downtown Guelph, accompanied by skateboarding jam sessions with live percussion. The events aim to present skateboarding as a contemporary community arts practice, promoting inclusivity and creative expression. |
| $800 | Choir Composition Revision: The project requests $700 to commission Chris Kovarik for a new choir composition and an additional $300 to record the performance. The goal is to make the work accessible to those unable to attend the live performance. |
| $800 | Art, Nature, and Co-Creation Space: A new community space at the University of Guelph will host inclusive, participatory art and wellness events. The project involves a site-specific choir performance, with funds used for planning, promotion, and documentation, enhancing mental wellness and environmental appreciation. |
Neighbourhood recipients
| Amount awarded | How funds will be used |
|---|---|
| $500.00 | The Buttahfly Cultural Food Pantry: The Buttahfly Cultural Food Pantry aims to address food insecurity among African, Black, and Caribbean communities in Guelph and Wellington County by providing culturally relevant foods and spices. The funds will be used to consult with health professionals, create educational resources on healthy eating, and distribute these materials to community groups. |
| $500.00 | BIPOC Markets: Two BIPOC Markets are scheduled for July and August to celebrate and support BIPOC artisans, entrepreneurs, and community members. These markets aim to create inclusive spaces that highlight the talents and contributions of BIPOC individuals. |
| $500.00 | African Dance Workshop: A one-day free African dance workshop in Guelph will be led by three leading African dance choreographers from the GTA. The funds will cover instructor costs, transportation, studio rentals, marketing, and other miscellaneous expenses. |
| $500.00 | Night of Culture: This event will showcase the beauty of African culture through Afrobeats music and performances. The goal is to celebrate and leverage the growing popularity of Afrobeats to bring the community together. |
| $1,000.00 | Huron Community Garden Pizza Oven: The project involves repairing and protecting the existing pizza oven in the Huron Community Garden and hosting community pizza parties. The funds will be used to fix the oven, build a protective structure, and organize events that bring the community together. |
| $750.00 | Autism Spectrum Series: This grant will facilitate a series of workshops aimed at fostering acceptance, empowerment, and community for individuals on the autism spectrum. Participants will learn interview skills and share their journeys, culminating in a public storytelling performance that will be recorded and shared. |
| $750.00 | Kitchen Gear for Weekly Lunches: Funds will be used to purchase new kitchen gear, including larger muffin tins, a stand mixer, disposable food packaging, a folding table, and missing ingredients. This will support the preparation and serving of weekly lunches. |
| $500.00 | Outdoor Movie and Games Night: An event in September at GCVI will raise awareness and funds for women’s health issues through outdoor movies and games. The grant will be used to purchase materials for the games and help with setup costs. |
| $500.00 | NeighbourFit Program: NeighbourFit aims to foster confidence and enhance fitness levels for adults in the community through accessible and inclusive drop-in workout sessions. The grant will cover simple equipment, instructor honoraria, and session scaling based on available funding. |
| $500.00 | Cooking Program: This program will teach valuable life skills related to home economics, including foundational cooking skills, kitchen safety, budgeting, shopping, and healthy eating habits. The grant will fund space rental, lesson plans, partnerships, and sustainability practices. |
| $1,000.00 | Music and Art Collaboration Event: This event will bring together local musicians and artists to create art inspired by live music. The audience will be provided with art materials to participate, and the grant will cover musician fees, venue rental, materials, and advertising. |
| $500.00 | Tech Literacy Workshops: A series of workshops aimed at low-income communities will teach basic to intermediate tech literacy and accessibility skills. The grant will fund space rental, snacks, USB thumb drives, and the workshop coordinator’s fees. |
| $500.00 | Community Fair: A fair featuring a speaker on racism and black culture, along with student performances in drumming, dancing, spoken word, and sports. The grant will cover the speaker’s fee and supplies for the event. |
| $500.00 | Stitch Together Community Mending Project: This DIY clothing repair and sewing program will offer free drop-in sessions and workshops at various locations around Guelph. The grant will fund workshop supplies, advertising, refreshments, and volunteer support. |
| $500.00 | Art Workshops for International People: A series of art workshops designed to connect international individuals with the local community through creative activities. The grant will cover space rental, art supplies, an event photographer, and refreshments. |
| $1,000.00 | Somali Community Events: The grant will fund community gatherings and cultural celebrations to showcase Somali heritage and foster connections within the Guelph community. The funds will cover refreshments and supplies for these events. |
| $500.00 | Fireflies on the Fringe Festival: A performing arts festival for children during the Guelph Fringe Festival, providing free, high-quality performances in community-based settings. The grant will cover artist fees and theater tech time. |
| $500.00 | Block Party: A block party in the South End of Guelph to promote community connections and reduce feelings of isolation. The grant will fund food, beverages, printed posters, activity materials, supplies for organized games, and event equipment rentals. |
| $500.00 | Outdoor Adventure Group Equipment: Funds will be used to purchase first aid kits, sunscreen, bug spray, ice cleats, and hiking poles to ensure the group’s events remain accessible and financially inclusive. All events are offered at no cost to participants. |