Arts for Children employs professional artists for our Outreach and Professional Development programs across Toronto. To become involved, please contact Julie at (416) 929-9314 ext. 102.

Monique Bergeron

Monique Bergeron is a Toronto-based dance artist and performing arts educator. She has recently performed at the Toronto International Dance Festival, the Bata Shoe Museum, and the Capitol Event Theatre. Over the past thirteen years, Monique has trained dancers from all across the city of Toronto in jazz, tap, ballet, acrobatics, hip hop, creative movement and musical theatre. Her extensive teaching experience encompasses numerous dance studios, theatre companies, and academic institutions including Claude Watson School for the Arts, where she was on the artistic staff for five years. Monique has been with AFC since 1995.

AFC Programs/Workshops: Hip Hop, Creative, and Percussive Rhythm Dance

Affiliations/Links: Claude Watson School for the Arts

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Linda Blix

Linda Blix is a professional printmaker, arts educator and muralist. As a graduate of the Ontario College of Art's printmaking program, she has worked extensively as an arts educator with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), as well as the Toronto District School Board, the McMichael Canadian Collection, and the Haliburton School of Art. Her work with AFC includes working in many schools across the GTA. Creating large-scale murals and beautiful collographs printed by children of all ages. Linda is involved with Open Studio and has received many Ontario Arts Council grants for Artist in Education programs. Linda is well-loved veteran artist with AFC.

AFC Programs/Workshops: Printmaking and Mural-Making

Affiliations/Links: Linda Blix

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Jennifer Chin

Jennifer Chin holds an Associates Degree in Visual Art from the Ontario College of Art and Design and a Master's Degree from the University of Windsor. As an artist of mixed cultural heritage, her practice has been concerned with the metaphoric potentials of the in-between and transformation, often employing dissimilar materials with experimental processes. Through her investigative approach to art-making, she has gained a wide breadth of material experiences and proficiencies ranging from traditional bronze and plaster works to painting, printmaking, digital photography and video. Jennifer has been working with AFC since 2003.

AFC Programs/Workshops: Mural-making, Mask-making, Clay, Digital Discoveries, and Printmaking at Jane-Finch and Lawrence Heights.

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Cathy Clark

Cathy Clark is a painter and mixed-media artist, who combines collage, photo transfer and printmaking with drawing and painting. She graduated from York University and the Ontario College of Art. For the past 14 years, Cathy has worked as an art educator for both the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). Working with AFC since 2003, Cathy has delivered a variety of programs, which allow teachers/students to explore and experiment while developing art-making skills, art appreciation and critical thinking.

AFC Programs/Workshops: For the past 3 years, Cathy has been teaching art to students in the Eating Disorder Program at North York General Hospital. Last year she presented a Media Literacy Workshop at Ryerson Public School and was involved in a mural project this summer at Humber Summit Community Centre.

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Karietha Cooke

Karietha Cooke is a modern/contemporary dancer whose training combines West African dance, the Martha Graham, and Katherine Dunham techniques. Karietha has worked with the Collective of Black Artists (COBA) for four years and is currently the lead choreographer and dance instructor at The Children's Dance Theatre. This is her first year working with AFC.

AFC Programs/Workshops: African, Folk and Modern Dance at Parma Court.

Affiliations/Links: COBA, The Children's Dance Theatre

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Barb Lilker

Barb Lilker graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at University of Toronto in 1995. She is presently partner in the design firm Lilker Hecht Design Studio, which concentrates of small-scale residential and commercial projects. As well, Lilker has written and implemented an architecture program for both middle and elementary schools. This program ties together the arts, science, and social studies objectives of the Ontario curriculum. Lilker has worked with AFC for the past 2 years.

AFC Programs/Workshops: At Parma Court Community Centre (Spring 2006-07), Barb led a 7-week architecture course for children, ages 7-12, where each child designed their own space using model-building and drawing. In 2007, at St. Thomas Aquinas, she used architecture as a vehicle to study the human impact on the environment and to explore environmental literacy. Each student designed and built their own treehouse, which was put together with the class to form a green community.

Affiliations/Links: Mother Earth News

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Audrey Mah

Audrey Mah is a ceramic artist who has been working with clay for over 15 years. She also teaches at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art, Avenue Road Art School, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and the Ontario Arts Council. Audrey has been working with AFC for 4 years.

AFC Programs/Workshops: Clay and Mixed Media

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Sharron McLeod

Sharron McLeod is a jazz composer, vocalist, performer and writer who has shared the stage with Jane Bunnett, Archie Alleyne, Salome Bey, Jimmy Lovelace, Jackie Richardson, and many others, as well as a vocal and music teacher for grade school students. This is her first year working with AFC.

AFC Programs/Workshops: Parma Court Youth Choir

Affiliations/Links: MySpace.com/SharronMcleod

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Ibrahim Rashid

Ibrahim Rashid has a BA from the Academy of Art, Baghdad University. He has taught art classes in Sweden and Iraq. Ibrahim has exhibited his work in several museums and galleries throughout Scandanavia, Europe and the USA. His public art pieces have been awarded several prizes and grants in Sweden. He has been working with AFC for 2 years.

AFC Programs/Workshops: The Cultural Chain, Meals on Wheels Art Program, Drawing and Painting Workshops

Affiliations/Links: Maha-Ibrahim.com

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Joseph Romantini

Joseph Romantini has created a brand of contemporary realism that has been part of the Toronto art scene for the past twelve years. His paintings have been exhibited in reputable galleries throughout Toronto and New York. He completed his formal studies at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD). Joseph has been working with AFC for one year.

AFC Programs/Workshops: Pop Art and Graffiti Art

Affiliations/Links: JosephRomantini.com

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Allycia Uccello

A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), Allycia Uccello is an experimental multidisciplinary artist who owns and operates a summer arts camp for children in Campbellville, Ontario. As an artist whose work has exhibited internationally, her artwork has become part of several collections and she has been commissioned for both private and public spaces. Paralleling her career in art has been the interest in sharing her ideas and energy teaching young people throughout Ontario with various boards of education and community centres. She has been working with AFC since 2002.

AFC Programs/Workshops: Mural-Making in Central Toronto and Jamestown

Affiliations/Links: Allycia Uccello Studio

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More Artists

Cindy Ashton, Trayon Baksh, Allison Beula, Sherri Brass-Haas, Jim Bravo, Caroline Cloutier, Luke Davis, Cristina Delago, Lois Dellert, Mai Duong, David Lapp, Yale Massey, Hart Massey, Steven McCabe, Brenda McDonald, Jamie Miranda, Eva Ormut, Andrea Pillar, Judy Pisano, Sandy Pool, Rami Posner, Daniel Sadavoy, Pamela Schuller, Elizabeth Snell, David Straus, Susie Whaley, Quammie Williams

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