CICAF MISSION

Our Mission is to provide a public outlet and platform for Asian-Canadian children and youths to develop a comprehensive cultural art learning journey so they can not only share their talents and heritage but also embrace their cultural identity and inspire others to improve personal and collective well-being.

Our Board of Trustees, Executive Director and team members consist of professional Asian artists and new immigrants that have faced or observed systemic racism and unconscious biases toward racialized Asian immigrants in their daily lives. Therefore, they are driven to develop youth-led, youth-serving programs to empower children and youth to break the cycle of racism and build a better and brighter future via art. We also have been conducting intergenerational art and recreational events to gather seniors, children and youths and bring happiness and joy to all while promoting mental health and well-being through artistic approaches.

Because Asian cultural art comes in various forms, we integrate it into multiple art training programs, including visual arts, performing arts, sculpture arts, literature, and graphic arts, as a one-stop art learning hub. We also encourage Asian-Canadian children to learn aboriginal and Western art so they and other multicultural children can learn, connect, engage, and appreciate different cultures and value their social identity.

Our diverse training programs empower children to express themselves in artistic ways to inspire Ontarians at the annual Canada International Children Art Festival as well as through exhibitions and books that we help them prepare.

Thanks to the significant influence of the 20-year-old art Festivals, we are able to bring both cultural heritage and economic benefits to Canadians while keeping individuals and populations mentally healthy.

We also connect and help disabled/special needs children to encourage them in their art learning to build self-esteem, express themselves creatively, develop a journey for success with improved personal, family and community well-being.