Kick Start Arts!

Kick Start Arts! Igniting Creative Sparks ~ Multi-disciplinary Arts/Social Justice - Community, Schools, Professional. Founded by Sheena D.

Robertson (B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed) and Jen Johnson (B.Sc), our central mission is to use the arts to empower students, youth and adults to express themselves through the creative process, and in so doing, engage diverse communities in thought and collaboration. Kick Start Arts provides opportunities to explore multiple art forms, by producing new work, providing professional training, running Festivals, and offering projects in school and community settings. We utilize a co-creation process between professional artists, and participants, combining their experiences and perspectives with our expertise in the art form. Kick Start Arts has a particular interest in engaging the next generation of emerging diverse artists, and leaders, building their capacity to use a variety of artistic tools and approaches to tell their stories, and to use the arts for positive social change. Much of our work centers decolonized practices. We are a registered not-for-profit organization.

A few from this week’s Directing Intensive. What a pleasure to collaborate with these amazing creatives!
10/04/2026

A few from this week’s Directing Intensive. What a pleasure to collaborate with these amazing creatives!

This summer we tested the waters to see if there is interest in us offering adult classes. We still need to investigate ...
09/30/2026

This summer we tested the waters to see if there is interest in us offering adult classes. We still need to investigate further, but certainly fun was had by all - there was laughter, and community, and meaning - and hey we all need more of that! Here you see images and a song from visual arts and songwriting sessions explored with the Senior Shakers. Leslie Ashton and Michael O'Connell were our amazing facilitators. Thanks to City of Toronto for the funding.

We are playing with the idea of adding arts classes for adults/seni...

09/30/2026

We recognize National Truth and Reconciliation Day, and acknowledge that good work must be done every day throughout the year.

Sign up soon - spaces are limited!
09/15/2026

Sign up soon - spaces are limited!

Hey Folks - we’re offering directing intensive if anyone is interested! All emerging artists welcome!
09/12/2026

Hey Folks - we’re offering directing intensive if anyone is interested! All emerging artists welcome!

This fun, hands-on directing intensive takes place over one weeknight, and two weekend days and has been structured for emerging directors interested in honing their craft as it relates to telling your story, and exploring actors craft. Elements of pre production, production and prep for post produc...

We are offering more sessions for our Songwriting Circle October 7, 14, and 21st. Join us! It's fun, creative, and the s...
08/17/2026

We are offering more sessions for our Songwriting Circle October 7, 14, and 21st. Join us! It's fun, creative, and the songs written already have been amazing! Funds from these classes go towards our free programming for youth. Thx City of Toronto for the support in piloting this!

Here’s the experience of one of our participants:
Here are my thoughts about the songwriting workshop for adults: I had a really great experience with this workshop and I am really glad that I joined it. I didn't know what to expect and was hesitant at first because I don't read or write music and I have just been playing the guitar for a year, so I didn't know how that would go for me personally. Michael was terrific and put everyone at ease as soon as we met him. The group is for everyone at every level, so I would tell someone who was interested in the group, come as you are, just be yourself and offer what you have inside of you, for everyone has something to offer and Michael guided each of us to do this. I was interested in songwriting and I had written a couple of things in the past but because I wasn't playing an instrument, the lyrics would just sit in my notepad and I didn't work on them anymore. Now, after these sessions and from learning to play the guitar this past year, Michael showed me and taught me that I could put music and chords to the lyrics that I have written and make something of it no matter where I'm at with learning the guitar. He showed us how to just sit down and write something and also to just strum on the guitar and using instruments and sounds and my voice to come up with lyrics to go with them. I had a really great experience with these sessions and I highly recommend them to anyone at what ever level they are at. It's great for people who are beginning, just starting out or who have more experience and the group was fantastic and we learned from each other and motivated each other to learn, listen and do well. I'm really looking forward to the next sessions and happy that they are able to offer them.

This year (with funds from the City of Toronto Culture) we piloted ...

A few from the first day of our Arts-Education intensive. In which we had a lot of fun. Much learning was gained. And cr...
08/16/2026

A few from the first day of our Arts-Education intensive. In which we had a lot of fun. Much learning was gained. And creative ideas were a plenty! City of Toronto Soulpepper Theatre Company thank you for the support!!!

A little process video to give you a glimpse into our six day Creation Lab back in June. We'll be working this Fall to d...
08/10/2026

A little process video to give you a glimpse into our six day Creation Lab back in June. We'll be working this Fall to develop our play further so we can pilot it in schools in the spring. Thx to City of Toronto, Toronto Arts Council for supporting this initiative focused on the mentorship of diverse emerging artists. And Soulpepper Theatre Company for donating the space to create - how amazing for these young artists to be in your beautiful theatre!

Process images from our June 2026 Creation Lab.Emerging Diverse Cr...

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