Call for Proposals: 2027 Community Activation Programs at Toronto History Museums

Toronto History Museums Call for Proposals
Ideas from artists, speakers, community groups, workshop facilitators and cultural organizations are now being accepted

Submission Deadline: September 4, 2026 at 4pm
Submit a Proposal

The City of Toronto Museums is now accepting 2027 Community Activation Proposals under the theme Nourish.

We’re looking for bold ideas that spark connection—from workshops, presentations, performances and exhibitions to hands-on activities and community programming. You can also apply for free or discounted access to museum spaces for meetings, workshops, celebrations and other community gatherings.

Whether you’re showcasing Toronto’s stories or creating space for your community to connect, we’d love to hear from you.

Artists, Creatives, Facilitators & Cultural Organizations

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

Toronto History Museums is inviting artists, creatives, workshop leaders, facilitators, cultural organizations, and community groups to submit proposals for programs and events under the 2027 theme “Nourish.”

We are looking for engaging, community-focused ideas that nurture connection, creativity, learning, and shared experiences across our museum sites.

Eligible Applicants

We welcome proposals from:

• Traditional, contemporary, and community-based artists working in a range of disciplines, including visual arts, performing arts, crafts, storytelling, music, dance, and cultural practices.
• Dancers, choreographers, movement-based artists, and creative facilitators interested in engaging communities through active and participatory experiences.
• Workshop leaders, educators, and makers offering hands-on learning experiences, demonstrations, and creative skill-building opportunities.
• Cultural organizations, community groups, and collectives interested in sharing knowledge, stories, traditions, and creative practices with the public.
• Fitness leaders and movement professionals interested in offering accessible movement programming, such as yoga, introductory strength training, seated movement, walking groups, or other community-focused activities.

Eligible Proposals

Examples of welcomed proposals include:

• Public programs, classes, workshops, and demonstrations.
• Performances, artist talks, and cultural presentations.
• Art and cultural experiences hosted within museum environments.
• Community-led activities that encourage participation, connection, storytelling, and knowledge sharing.
• New and innovative ideas that Toronto History Museums has not explored before.
• Proposals that highlight Reconciliation, equity, accessibility, creativity, collaboration, and community connection are especially encouraged.

Under the theme “Nourish,” we welcome ideas that cultivate belonging, celebrate diverse perspectives, strengthen relationships, and bring Toronto’s stories, traditions, and communities together.

How to Propose an Idea

Eligible artists can propose their idea using the online form below. The deadline for submissions is September 4, 2026 at 4pm.

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 September 4, 2026 at 4pm.

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.

City of Toronto
Toronto History Museums
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