Dear Friend of TOAF,

Art Encounters — A little context and story:

TOAF is a charitable, not-for-profit organization and a co-op at heart. The artists we serve are creative entrepreneurs who invest in their participation, allowing us collectively to produce a high-quality art fair, attract 170,000 visitors, and generate more than $2 million in commission-free sales.

Within that, we reinvest in artists through logistical support, professional development, knowledge sharing, and our uniquely Canadian awards program.

We also believe no barrier — financial, geographic, disability, or otherwise — should keep exceptional artists from the table. So we’ve built programs to help make that possible.

This year, 77 artists are participating through the Art Encounters Access and Outreach program—individually and in partnership with five organizations, and 25 artists are receiving Travel Bursaries. What began with just five artists and the early vision of the Lindy Green Family Foundation has grown into one of TOAF’s most meaningful initiatives. Their support helped establish a proof of concept that later inspired funding from TD Ready Commitment and expanded opportunities for artists across Canada.

Along with the Lindy Green Family Foundation, Lead Patron of Art Encounters since 2016, we are also grateful to the Clearview Foundation for helping grow the Travel Bursary program, and to Element Event Solutions for its generous in-kind support year after year. Additional thanks to Guardian Partners Inc. and individual donors for their trust in our work.

Most rewarding of all is seeing artists who first participate through Art Encounters go on to exhibit independently, win awards, and build successful careers.

Neltje Green is one recent example. Last year, she participated through Art Encounters and received a Travel Bursary before going on to win the inaugural United Contemporary Award and her career took off. Stories like Neltje’s are why we do this.

With joy, 

anahita & TOAF Team

---

Art Encounters Artists

---

Art Encounters Partnerships

---

Travel Bursary Recipients

---

The Story of Neltje Green

“The Trip was Totally Worth it”

From her first participation at TOAF to an almost sold-out exhibition at United Contemporary — watch the story unfold.

This Video was made possible with the support of the Lindy Green Family Foundation.

Videography by Pinknet Studio.

---

Accessibility Forward Art Tours

CCSD X Tangled: A Deaf & Disability Led Art Tour

Join artists and cultural organizers from Tangled Art + Disability and the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf (CCSD) for a guided tour celebrating Deaf and disabled artists at TOAF65. Explore works at the Tangled and CCSD booths and discover exhibiting artists whose practices are shaped by Deaf and disability culture and who are reshaping the arts ecology through access, community, and cultural innovation.

Tour offered in Spoken English and ASL. Visual description available upon request.

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 3:30 PM

Location: Nathan Phillips Square – Booth #E550

The Best of the Best with Josh Heuman

Join Josh Heuman, Head of Artistic Engagement at Koffler Arts, for an insider’s look at this year’s award recipients. Meet the artists, hear about their practices, and discover what set their work apart in the eyes of the judges.

Tour offered in Spoken English and ASL.

Date: Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 10 AM

Location: Nathan Phillips Square – Stage