tdsbCREATES is a board-wide Arts initiative connecting local artists with classrooms through Mentorship and Residency Programs to help foster creativity while exploring visual arts, dance, drama, spoken word, film, music and multidisciplinary arts. This Program focuses on process and engagement through the Arts, while celebrating student voice, powerful ideas and creativity for all.

This program is funded by the TDSB Arts Department and the Toronto Arts Council and presented in partnership with Prologue Performing Arts.

tdsbCREATES runs throughout the year in two programs:

Residency
Grades 1-8 Core classes
October - January
2 Teachers in school apply together

Recommended for:

Core classrooms (not prep coverage or rotary schedule)
Grade or panel teaching partners
Newer and/or experienced teachers interested in exploring the arts

This artist in the classroom program engages students in the creative process through a series of half day sessions in core Gr. 1-8 classrooms in Dance, Drama, Spoken Word, Music and Visual, Media & Integrated Arts.

Two teachers from your school in the same grade range are invited to partner together and collaborate with a professional artists through this initiative.

Artists visit on 5 full days between Oct. and Jan. and spend half a day with each teacher's class.

Participating teachers will document the creative process (images, video, notes, conversations) and share their pedagogical documentation in January 2027.

Teachers who are selected for Residency must attend a full day Residency Launch on October 20th, 2026 for professional learning and planning day at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.

*Residency Application will be available soon!

Mentorship
Grades 7-12 classes or extra-curricular
January - May
Teachers in a school apply separately

Recommended for:

Arts classes (drama, dance, music, visual, media & integrated arts)
Extra-curricular/student groups exploring the arts
Teachers with some comfort teaching or leading in the art form
Teachers looking to benefit from the perspective of an artist

Culminating in a Performing Arts Festival and an Art and Film Exhibition Celebration in Spring 2026, this program provides artist mentorship to help students realize their creative goals both in the classroom and in extra-curricular groups or clubs.

This year there is no set theme, in order to center student voice and choice!

tdsbCREATES Mentorship Pre-Application Information Session 7-12

Mentorship Launch is on January 20th for selected Grade 7 & 8 Teachers; and January 21st for selected Secondary Teachers (both sessions will be at Arts Reach inside Downsview Secondary)

*Mentorship Application will be available late Fall

Performing Arts Festival:

May 11-13, 2027 at Northview Heights SS

Visual Arts & Film Exhibition:

Free & open to the public

Daniels Spectrum
585 Dundas St. E.

Date TBD!

Exhibition Opening Celebration:

Date TBD!

This program is funded by the TDSB Arts Department and the Toronto Arts Council and presented in partnership with Prologue Performing Arts.

tdsbCREATES runs throughout the year in two programs:

ResidencyGrades 1-8 Core classesOctober - January2 Teachers in school apply together

MentorshipGrades 7-12 classes or extra-curricularJanuary - MayTeachers in a school apply separately

Program Retrospective

Residency
Grades 1-8 Core classes
October - January
2 Teachers in school apply together

Mentorship
Grades 7-12 classes or extra-curricular
January - May
Teachers in a school apply separately