Imagine a world with no artists…where Oscar Peterson never played, Deepa Mehta never directed, Thomas King never wrote, Emily Carr never painted. Most Canadian artists persevere in the face of overwhelming odds, including incomes far below the national average.

Now imagine a world in which young artists have to start from scratch without a mentor or experienced advisor who could help direct them and potentially change their lives. The Canadian Artists Network encourages senior professional artists to continue their life’s work and, through initiatives such as our Artist to Artist Mentoring Program, helps prepare the next generation of Petersons, Mehtas, Kings, and Carrs.

CAN is committed to ensuring that senior professional artists live in an inclusive world where they can continue to pursue their careers and serve as role models for the next generation.

Land Acknowledgment

We would like to acknowledge that we live, work, create, and travel on the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples that have cared for this land, now called Canada, since time immemorial. We would like to also acknowledge this, as part of our covenant with all Indigenous nations, to share, respect and protect the land, in the spirit of peace and friendship, and to honour the future generations of all our nations.

CAN Events Calendar:

October 2024

Oct 22

22 October 2024

OnSalon

Click here for details.

Find out more

Oct 28

28 October 2024

Creativity Forever 24 - Chapter One

Our annual conference. Formerly Maintaining Creativity. Click here to find out more.

Find out more

Oct 30

30 October 2024

Creativity Forever 24 - Chapter Two

Our annual conference. Click here for details.

Find out more

November 2024

Nov 01

01 November 2024

Creativity Forever - Chapter Three

Our annual conference. Click here for details.

Find out more

Nov 12

12 November 2024

OnSalon

Find out more

Creativity Forever 24

Registration is now open for our ninth annual conference [formerly Maintaining Creativity] taking place on October 28th, 30th, and November 1st. Find out more and register here.

Nominate a Visionary Artist

CAN is now accepting nominations for the sixth annual Robert Johnston Visionary Artist Award. This year’s winner will receive $2,500. Find out more and submit your nomination here.

Lower taxes for artists!

CAN made recommendations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance regarding the federal 2025 budget. Our submission was supported by 5,786 artists and supporters who signed our petition.

Read the recommendations here.

The Globe & Mail Reports on CAN’s Budget Submission

Reach the article by the Globe’s Josh O’Kane here.

Age-Blind Casting

74-year-old Geraldine Page plays Rosalind in Shakespeare’s As You Like It. It may be a new trend in British Theatre, according to this article in The Guardian. Let’s hope it finds its way to Canada and the rest of the world.

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/article/2024/aug/14/age-blind-casting-geraldine-james

We have links to various services and programs offered by the Government of Canada, including a calculator that will help you determine what benefits you may be entitled to.

The Government of Ontario provides reductions in hydro bills for low income households. Find out more by clicking the button below.

The Distinguished Artists Who Advise The Canadian Artists Network

Artistic Advisory
Peggy Baker • Laurie Brown • Max Dean
Rita Shelton Deverell • Douglas Gibson
Lynda Hamilton • Evelyn Hart • Brenda Hoffert
Paul Hoffert • Thomas King • Jani Lauzon
Ranee Lee • Guy Maddin • Sheila McCarthy
R.H.Thomson • Mary Walsh • Paul Wong

In our Community's own words . . .

As is often the case, artists and the arts are ‘scouts’ – moving forward into cultural and social areas of exploration in significant ways that over time have broad societal resonance. The Canadian Artists Network is a focal point for awareness and support of activity by senior artists – with possible long-term implications as a model for seniors in other communities and areas of life.

The caliber of collective knowledge is superb. . The Canadian Artists Network is an amazing resource.

The Canadian Artists Network is demonstrating its value as a national forum for senior artists from all parts of Canada.

CSARN provides and reinforces a sense of artistic connection and prevents a sense of isolation. It’s a vehicle for education, both sharing and seeking. A wonderful resource.

The Canadian Artists Network is becoming an essential hub for senior artists of all stripes. Through an inventive strategy of conferences, workshops, referrals, newsletters, social media links, mentorships and an openness to other opportunities for outreach it can become a pivotal PASO (provincial arts service organisation) for 'artists in their prime.'

The Canadian Artists Network is a wonderful resource and source of support and nurturing for senior artists in all disciplines. Their workshops and conferences offer valuable information and contacts while helping us to develop much needed skills in what is an increasingly complicated technical world. They also offer practical advice and solutions to many obstacles that we face as we age.

Land Acknowledgment

CAN Events Calendar:

The Distinguished Artists Who Advise The Canadian Artists Network

In our Community's own words . . .

CAN Lead Sponsors: