Mission:
To ally with high priority communities and empower marginalized children and youth by engaging them in hands-on, community and school based arts education programs that respect existing cultural and community activities, resulting in participatory action and social awareness.

Mandate:
To engage young people living in priority neighbourhoods in high quality and accessible arts education programming that is meaningful, relevant and collaboratively developed with community and education partners. Through art-based involvement, AFCY’s programs are grounded in skills development, hands-on arts-based learning, mentorship, self-expression and social awareness. AFCY positions arts programs in schools and neighbourhood venues as a means to build community, and empower marginalized children and youth as decision makers who can realize their full potential as social contributors.

Program Summary:
AFCY has, to date, provided over 40,000 children and youth from low-income areas in Toronto with high-quality, innovative arts experiences in visual arts, dance, drama, and music. Today AFCY reaches approximately 9,000 children and youth per year through priority schools, community centres, hospitals and Toronto Community Housing buildings; AFCY programs are taking place in 77 locations in the 2008-2009 program year. Because these multi-disciplinary programs are tailored to the venue and the community, they enjoy an impressive success rate.

Values:
In how we operate organizationally and in how we deliver programs, these values guide what we do: Accessibility, Accountability, Commitment, Collaboration, Innovation, Respect, Relevance and Excellence.