Imagine a world with no artists…

Where Gordon Lightfoot never sang about Canada;
Where Christopher Plummer never acted;

Where Oscar Peterson never played;
Where Margaret Atwood never wrote;
Where Alanis Obomsawin never filmed.

Most Canadian artists persevere in the face of overwhelming odds,
including incomes far below the national average.

Now imagine a world where 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 Lightfoots, Plummers, Petersons, Atwoods, and Obomsawins.

Our Commitment

CAN is dedicated 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.

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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:

July 2025
Jul 08
08 July 2025

Register here

August 2025
Aug 05
05 August 2025

Info & Registration here

Canada Council Spotlights CAN Mentoring Program

The Canada Council profiles CAN’s Mentoring Program on its Spotlight page. 

Read it here.

Webinar: Artificial Intelligence for Artists

Worried or intrigued about the impact of AI on your work? A video of our webinar from April 24th is now available here.

CAN Artistic Advisor Talks About Our Mentoring Program

CAN Mentor and Artistic Advisor Guy Maddin talks to The Globe and Mail’s Barry Hertz about our program: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-how-guy-maddins-giant-brain-is-spreading-the-wisdom-of-senior-citizen/?login=true

CAN Board Member Dan Lyon advocates charitable donation tax extension

Dan Lyon co-authors an article in the January 23rd edition of the Globe & Mail that the deadline for having charitable donations apply to the previous tax year should be made permanent.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-extension-of-donation-deadline-due-to-postal-strike-should-be-made/

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
Charles Pachter
R.H.Thomson
Mary Walsh • Paul Wong

In our Community's own words . . .

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