June 25, 2021

Announcing the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan

Many members of the ArtStarts community share very ambitious hopes and dreams for the future of arts in education, such as arts integration for social justice, increasing government funding for the arts, and envisioning the intersection of arts and accessibility. 

As a 21st century arts organization that works with young people, ArtStarts has an important role to play in the creative ecosystem—from expanding our definitions of art, to advancing and strengthening the values of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

These values, commitments, and actions are encompassed in ArtStarts’ new four-year Strategic Plan, which re-iterates ArtStarts’ artistic mandate that everyone is creative, that arts in education is vital, as well as four strategic directions to achieve deeper mission impact: 

1. Expanding the role of art in education
2. Integrating Anti-Oppression
3. Influencing Systemic Change
4. Enhancing Organizational Capacity

To develop this Strategic Plan, ArtStarts has worked on a macro and micro level by taking a birds-eye view of our organization as a whole, as well as a closer look at our programs. We’ve overhauled many of our processes, undergone thoughtful long-term planning, and identified how we can apply an equity and decolonization lens to our work.

“Our 2020-2024 Strategic Plan was created out of visions shared by youth, artists, educators, and families. It outlines our commitment to cultivate creativity, build capacity for artists and educators, and facilitate impactful arts experiences for young people and their families,” says Interim Executive Director Winnie Tam. 

To centre young people in the process of carrying out this Strategic Plan, ArtStarts is keeping these three questions at the forefront: Does our strategy elevate the social empowerment of all young people equitably? Does our strategy foster creativity in young people in ways that encourage multiple ways of knowing and help them tackle the issues they are facing? Do the perspectives of and input from our communities really inform our strategy?

ArtStarts invites feedback and input about our Strategic Plan from the community members, donors, educators, artists, and parents who interact with the young people we serve. We look forward to working together with all of you in continuing to make the arts an essential part of young people’s learning and lives.   

Read the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan now.

Questions? Contact communications@artstarts.com

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