About ArtHeart

ArtHeart is a stabilizing presence in Regent Park

For over 25 years ArtHeart has been a stabilizing presence in the community of Regent Park. We provide free visual arts education, programs, materials and a healthy snack to the children and youth, as well as a hot nutritious meal to adults and seniors living in Regent Park and the surrounding neighbourhoods.

Through the programs, ArtHeart provides participants with a supportive environment in which they can create and learn, build self-esteem and develop life skills. By putting their hands and imaginations to work, our participants are empowered to improve their quality of life.

Our Vision

To empower our participants to improve their quality of life.

Our Mission

Build self-esteem and self-reliance for children, youth, adults and families in the Regent Park Community by providing free community visual arts education, programs, materials and nourishment in an open, safe, warm, supportive environment.

What We Do

ArtHeart expands people’s horizons through exposure to arts and cultural opportunities, education and activities. We foster an environment that challenges participants to rise above the constraints of poverty and realize their potential.

ArtHeart provides free-of-charge, a year-round supportive art studio environment, ample creative materials, education, caring volunteers and a wide variety of art activities, innovative programs and projects and marketing opportunities. Additional benefits include an atmosphere wherein mentorship and positive role-modeling happens. High-quality creative programming, consistent and sensitive feedback and support, collaborative and insightful program monitoring and evaluation are also provided.

Here, participants can express their own creativity, develop educational and life-skills, find mental stimulation and put their hands and imaginations to work. Through this process, people are empowered to make some improvement to their quality of life and achieve greater participation in their community.

By working with the personal assets and resources that our participants bring to ArtHeart, we have created an integrated, diverse and dynamic forum for community development and growth. In a creative and artistic environment, ArtHeart works with issues of poverty, violence, substance abuse, social isolation, unemployment, school drop-out, poor health and self-esteem.

ArtHeart also provides meals and refreshments, a warm space, supportive programs and resources including access to telephone, computers, washrooms, books and art supplies.

Our Participants

Our participants range in age from children through to seniors. Many of ArtHeart participants live below the poverty line. Our adult participants often face issues concerning unemployment, intellectual or physical disability, mental health, homelessness, substance abuse, social isolation, discrimination, and newcomer challenges. Participants come from a variety of cultures, religions and backgrounds from around the world. The Regent Park community consists of many immigrants, the origins of which are continually changing, thus requiring ArtHeart to continuously evolve to meet the needs of this community.