Winner of the 2022 Arts for Youth Prize

thanks and gratitude

We are so overwhelmed with gratitude to have won the 2022 Arts for Youth award from the Toronto Arts Foundation t this year’s Mayor’s Lunch! Thank you to the Toronto Arts Foundation, and this year’s esteemed judges for shining your light on what we do at Never Gallery Ready, as well as our fabulous fellow finalists.

To shine a light on what we do at Never Gallery Ready is to shine a light on the importance of media and digital literacy, which includes information literacy, algorithmic literacy, social and visual literacy, and all the ways in which messages are manipulated and aim to manipulate us.

As technology becomes increasingly complex, opaque, and intertwined with every aspect of our lives, helping young people navigate synthetic and digital environments is paramount to all of our futures.

Young people needed our support before the pandemic and luckily more folks are aware of the size of the problem because they need us now more than ever. We need to meet them where they are at, never diminishing their online lives and social dynamics. But rather supporting them in creating social justice frameworks, cultures of consent and ethics in tech.

I’m here today with two brilliant creatives, our nominator Eli Carmona (They/Them) who I have known for 2 years thanks to the Toronto Arts Council, and Hayley Landry, one of the first youth I ever had the pleasure of working with 15 years ago at the Children's Peace Theatre. If you are not already aware of the visionary things they manifest, don’t worry, you will be!

Thank you to #scarborough ’s many communities and frontline workers supporting youth. You have always shown us so much love, and the feeling is mutual. Thank you to all the city workers, school teachers, librarians, and youth-serving networks. The trust you build with communities creates entry ways for us, without which we would not have the impact we have had/continue to have.

Thank you to Keiona Broderick and Atina Ali for your touching letters in support of this nomination, and to ALL the families and participants who have worked with us over the years. So many of your faces have been running through my mind these past weeks. Thank you for showing up, pushing back, for your infectious enthusiasm, and for your endless thanks and praise.
The pride you take in your creative expressions gives me life!

About: The Toronto Arts Foundation Arts for Youth Award is a $20,000 cash prize, with finalists receiving $2,000. The award celebrates an individual, collective or organization that has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to engaging Toronto’s youth through the arts. Established in 2007, the award is supported by Martha Burns, Jim Fleck, and Sandra and Jim Pitblado. The finalist prizes are supported by Diana Bennett and Spencer Lanthier. The Arts for Youth Award is part of our Signature Awards, presented every year at our Mayor’s Arts Lunch.

More on the Award

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