MANDATE
MUSE Arts (Sick Muse Art Projects) is a Canadian registered charity dedicated to advancing social inclusion, equity, and community well-being through the transformative power of the arts.
Our mandate is to increase equitable access to creative opportunities for individuals and communities experiencing systemic barriers, with a particular focus on women, newcomers, refugees, immigrants, youth, seniors, and racialized communities.
We use arts-based education, cultural programming, leadership development, and community engagement to foster creativity, belonging, civic participation, and economic opportunity. Through workshops, mentorship, festivals, artist residencies, exhibitions, and professional development programs, we strengthen participants’ skills, confidence, social connections, and pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
A core priority of our work is supporting women and youth facing multiple barriers to economic participation. We create safe, inclusive environments where one can develop creative and leadership skills, build professional networks, gain paid artistic and facilitation experience, and increase their financial independence.
Our programs recognize the intersection of gender, migration, race, language, disability, caregiving responsibilities, and socioeconomic status, and are designed to reduce barriers while promoting equity and inclusion.
MUSE Arts also strengthens the broader arts and cultural sector by supporting emerging artists, facilitating cross-cultural collaboration, and creating opportunities for community dialogue on issues such as social justice, human rights, peace-building, and inclusion.
We believe that arts and culture are powerful tools for individual empowerment, community resilience, and social change.
Our work is delivered through collaborative partnerships with community organizations, educational institutions, artists, funders, and public agencies, ensuring that our programs are responsive to community needs and create lasting social and economic impact.
ABOUT US
MUSE Arts is an artist-run, community arts organization focused on creating spaces and engaging communities meaningfully and actively in hands-on, high-quality arts education integrated to issues of social justice. Our organization supports emerging artists from equity-seeking groups to showcase their work and access opportunities for professional development.
We aim to:
- Foster and build a connection among artists and other community partners to promote art work and art education that engages communities in issues of Social Justice and Community Development.
- Increase the visibility of newcomer and refugee artists in the artistic scene in Canada.
- Promote international cooperation among artists and engage in cultural and artistic knowledge and skill exchanges. Engage artists in local, national, and international opportunities that promote professional development in their individual practices and in community-engaged arts.
MUSE Arts (a.k.a. Sick Muse Art Projects) is run by refugee, immigrant, and newcomer artists. Through the ARTS, we build and inspire the communities we envision.
FUNDERS
Our projects are made possible thanks to the financial support of
