We are a Canadian youth-led nonprofit organization, with two primary branches in Mississauga and Edmonton. We encourage youth to express what's on their minds.
Our Story
When it comes to the arts, youth are not exceptionally well-represented. For aspiring business students, there are many clubs and programs designed to develop relevant skills. There are pitch competitions and startup incubators. For science-oriented students, there are science clubs, contests, and fairs. But how many opportunities are available to students interested in creative writing, visual art, and photography?
The answer is: not many. This is precisely the problem that Ink Movement Canada seeks to remedy. We want to bridge the gap between youth and accessible, fun, engaging arts programming. At the same time, we want to shine the spotlight on deserving youth artists. Because talent deserves to be recognized, and Ink Movement Canada is a platform for that to happen.
“Arts in general seem to be going a little bit by the wayside with computers … but it’ll come back. It’s part of our being and we can’t go without it for long.”
Achievements - At a Glance
Mississauga:
We've published 8 print books of youth prose, poetry, and photography. Now shipping nationally!
We organized the first youth arts conference in Peel Region, with free and exciting programming offered by 20 established artists.
We’ve put on a youth poetry slam in Mississauga for four years straight.
In total, we've provided experiential arts programming for over 1500 youth in Mississauga, Hamilton, and Montreal.
Edmonton:
We’ve published 4 print books o youth prose, poetry, photography, and original music (published in the form of QR codes) since our founding in 2020!
We’ve put on art markets, open mics, and workshop series for youth in YEG and surrounding areas every year.
Our annual events, aside from our anthology projects, include our launch event, our May Mayhem creative workshop series, and our summer chalk event.
We’ve published over 200 youth creatives in YEG and surrounding areas!
Funding highlights:
$4900 - 3 x United Way of Peel Region Youth in Action Grant
$2000 - Hazel McCallion Foundation for the Arts, Culture & Heritage Grant
$5000 - Samuel, Son & Co. Grant (via Art Gallery of Mississauga)
$2000 - City of Mississauga Culture Division
$1500 - McMaster University Forward with Integrity Grant
$2000- United Way of Peel Region 2015 Youth in Action grant
$1100- United Way of Peel Region 2016 Youth in Action grant
$3350- Global Youth Empowerment Fund