Call for Proposals: Movement-Based and Community Programming 2026 at Toronto History Museums

Call for Proposals: Toronto History Museums
Ideas from artists, community groups and organizations are now being accepted

Submission Deadline: December 7, 2025 at 11:59pm ET

The City of Toronto is calling on local movement artists, community groups, and organizations seeking space to come together, collaborate, and create as part of the 2026 Toronto History Museums theme: Gather in Toronto.

We’re inviting proposals for ideas that move, connect, and uplift our communities, offering three unique streams of opportunity for you to engage: support for movement-based artists, community heritage activations, and dedicated space for community use.

If you’re ready to create, collaborate, and inspire in 2026, we want to hear from you. Submit a proposal by December 7 at 11:59pm.

Movement Artists

Bring your ideas to life through classes, workshops, performances and creative explorations of movement in museum spaces!

Dancers, choreographers, movement-based artists and fitness leaders who are interested in engaging with our community are encouraged to submit proposals for programs and events under the 2026 theme of “Gather in Toronto”

Eligible Artists

• Dancers and choreographers, including individuals or groups working in contemporary, traditional or community-based dance practices
• Movement-based artists and creative facilitators interested in engaging with community in active and participatory ways
• Fitness leaders and movement professionals interested in engaging with community through accessible movement programming, e.g. yoga, intro to strength training, seated movement, walking or running groups, etc.

Eligible Proposals

Some examples of welcomed proposals include:

• Public programs, classes or workshops
• Art and cultural events hosted within museum environments
• Other ideas Toronto History Museums has not tried before.

Proposals that bring to the forefront Reconciliation, equity, access, creativity and collaboration are very much welcome.

How to Propose an Idea

Eligible artists can propose their idea using the online form below. The deadline for submissions is December 7 at 11:59pm.

Community Heritage Groups

Bring Toronto’s diverse histories and stories to the forefront with an idea for a collection of artifacts, an exhibition, installation, public program or participatory experiences.

Eligible Applicants

• Groups and organizations currently working in partnership with Toronto History Museums
• Community-based organizations, collectives and groups
• Indigenous governments, tribal councils or community leaders
• Not-for-profit cultural or arts organizations
• Equity-deserving groups and organizations rooted in community
• Unincorporated groups or individuals working in partnership with eligible organizations
• Artists, makers or creatives of any discipline (visual, written, media, etc.) interested in community engagement.

Eligible Proposals

Some examples of welcomed proposals include:

• Cultural programs or workshops led by your community
• Community events hosted within museum environments
• Collaborative exhibitions or installations
• Intergenerational storytelling, cultural heritage sharing or creative activations
• Other ideas Toronto History Museums has not tried before, as long as they are community-led and culturally rooted.
• Proposals that bring to the forefront Reconciliation, equity, access, creativity and collaboration are very much welcome.

Already-funded ideas seeking a public-facing space, as well as projects seeking space and funding support, can be submitted.

How to Propose an Idea

Eligible applicants can propose their idea using the online form below. The deadline for submissions is December 7 at 11:59pm.

Space to Come Together (Rolling deadline)

Community groups and organizations are invited to request free or discounted access to museum spaces for meetings, workshops, programs, celebrations and community care activities.

Grassroots organizations, Indigenous, Black or equity-deserving community led initiatives, and groups in need of welcoming and accessible space to meet are encouraged to request space for community meetings, informal workshops, healing circles or strategy roundtables.

Eligible Applicants

• Grassroots and community-based organizations
• Cultural and heritage groups
• Informal collectives or planning groups
• Indigenous, Black or equity-deserving community led initiatives
• Groups in need of welcoming, accessible space to meet, connect or plan.

Eligible Requests

Some examples of welcomed requests include:

• Community meetings or planning sessions
• Intergenerational gatherings
• Informal workshops or info sessions
• Healing circles or peer support meetings
• Dialogue groups or strategy roundtables
• Other ideas Toronto History Museums has not tried before.

How to Request Space

Eligible applicants can request space using the online form below. Applications are received on an ongoing basis and reviewed monthly.

How to Submit

For more information and to submit, please visit the Call for Proposals.

For questions or accommodations, please contact James Booker, Project Coordinator, by phone at 647-338-0660 or email at james.booker@toronto.ca.

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Image Descriptions:
1. Dancer dancing in a sequin dress with feather fans in front of an audience.
2. People outside sitting on the ground watching a movie playing on a screen in the evening.
3. Three children painting a mural outside.