Markham Arts Council

Markham Arts Council is an arms-length, not-for-profit charitable organization in of the City of Markham that serves the residents of City of Markham and broader York Region. It was founded in 2004 with the aim of connecting local artists with broader opportunities while promoting and leveraging various forms of arts and culture for community development. Our Mission: To enrich Markham residents' lives through diverse arts and cultural programming, fostering community wellbeing, economic growth, and equitable opportunities for local artists and vulnerable groups. Our Vision: To enrich the lives of Markham residents through arts and cultural programming and activities. Our goal is to leverage arts and culture to enhance the community’s overall wellbeing. Our programs focus on providing the following benefits to artists and the community at large. 1. Supporting local small businesses by leveraging the arts for economic development. 2. Working with the community to identify gaps and providing relevant and meaningful support to vulnerable groups such as seniors to assist with physical, mental, and emotional well-being 3. Supporting local programs and events and designing meaningful activations to assist with tourism growth 4. Create jobs and work opportunities for artists locally providing equitable opportunities to artists from vulnerable populations including BIPOC artists, artists identifying as LGBTQ+, artists from rural regions and artists from lower economic backgrounds Our Values: • Inclusivity: Embracing diversity and ensuring equitable access to arts and culture for all residents of Markham. • Innovation: Encouraging creativity and new ideas in all our programs and initiatives. • Collaboration: Building partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations to enhance the impact of our work. • Sustainability: Promoting sustainable practices in all our operations and programs.