By KASY PERTAB
The Danforth Mosaic BIA has launched its events grant program for a second year.
The program, officially titled as the Events, Arts and Activations Funding Program, reached an outstanding level of success in 2018. It funded a total of nine separate local events throughout the year.
These included Monarch Park Movie Night, NookFEST, Danceforth, DECA Festival of Lights, the Reading Line Danforth, Ontario Craft Beer Week (Ladies Pub Strut), Magic on the Danny (Neighbourhood Escape Room), the Ethiopian Cultural Festival and East York Canada Day.
Oliver Heirlihy, manager at Danforth Mosaic BIA, explained that the organization created this program to expand Danforth’s culture by collaborating with events.
“For us as a single organization to put on a bunch of high-quality events ourselves is quite difficult,” Heirlihy said. “So instead we’re looking to work with the community to help people bring their creative ideas to animate our neighbourhood and make it a vibrant, excellent place for us to live.”
The program allows events in the community to receive up to $5,000 in funding. To apply, organizers go through the process online to make sure they are eligible. The events would need to fit the standards of a few regulations, including being within 500 metres of the Danforth area.
Heirlihy added that the events are chosen by how well it would do in the community.
“We’re just looking at the merit of the event. How many people will it bring, how will it show vibrancy in the neighbourhood, and how those running it will benefit,” he said.
He also added that the program isn’t just for events. The Danforth Mosaic BIA welcomes individuals looking to host public events, art projects, and even public space activations.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be an event, it could be public art installations too,” Heirlihy explained. “If you wanted to do something interesting and weird that draw people in, we’re all for it.”
The program offers two rounds of funding for the grants.
The first application is due by March 31 before 5 p.m., and the second is due by July 31 before 5 p.m. After community groups fill out the applications, the process for eligibility begins.
To access the applications, please visit https://www.thedanny.ca/events-funding-program/
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