What is YES?

YES (Youth Engagement Scarborough) is an exciting new grant program designed to empower youth to lead dynamic, community-driven arts projects in Scarborough! Through this program, you'll receive funding to cover project costs, one-on-one mentorship from a working artist, and hands-on project management training. If you're a passionate young leader eager to inspire and connect with your community through art, this is your chance!

For our inaugural cohort, we’re looking for writers! Whether you've been writing for years or are just starting your journey, we want to support you. If you have a story idea or a creative project you've been dreaming about, this program will give you the funding and mentorship to bring it to life—all while collaborating with and engaging other youth.

The program will culminate in an exciting YES Showcase, where you’ll have the opportunity to share your project with an audience in a way that is meaningful to you and your community.

We are accepting applications!

What You Get 

  • A grant between $1,000 – $5,000 to fund your project

  • Mentorship from a professional artist

  • Hands-on project management and creative training sessions

  • A chance to engage your community & connect with other young artist leaders

  • A showcase to share your artistic project

Timeline

  • Info Session: Monday, March 10 (Evening) 

  • Applications Close: March 21 @ 11:59 PM

  • Program Orientation: Monday, April 14, 2025 (Evening)

  • Showcase: Saturday, May 31 (All Day)

Who Can Apply?

  • Youth (ages 15-30) with a connection to Scarborough

  • Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and youth with a granted refugee status

  • Arts-based projects that engage multiple youth in the community

  • No prior professional writing or project management experience needed—just passion and creativity!

  • Priority will be given to:

    • Indigenous youth

    • Visible minority/racialized youth

    • Youth with disabilities

    • 2SLGBTQ+ youth

    • Newcomer youth

    • Youth from official language minority communities (OLMC)

    • Youth living in rural or remote areas

    • Youth from low-income households

Not sure if you qualify? Reach out! ✉️ outreach@guildfestivaltheatre.ca

What Kind of Projects Does YES Support?

YES supports youth-led arts projects that incorporate themes of sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity. In the writing cohort, we are looking for poets, storytellers, playwrights, and other literary artists whose work engages the community and fellow artists. Projects that can be executed within a one-month period are ideal.

Note: The writing stream is for writing projects, community engagement through writing, and the writing stage of other mediums like theatre and film. Performance and digital media streams will open later this year for projects in those mediums.

Each project creates volunteer opportunities for other youth to gain hands-on experience in various artistic and community engagement roles.

Join the Movement!

If you're ready to use your artistic voice to inspire change and connect with your community, apply for YES today! This is your chance to turn your ideas into reality while gaining valuable skills and mentorship along the way.

Applications are due by March 21st at 11:59pm through the Google Form below.

Questions? Email program manager Ganesh Thava at outreach@guildfestivaltheatre.ca