Who We Are
What we do
Toronto Friends of the Visual Arts is an independent non profit organization founded in 1998. The organization gives financial support to the visual arts in the greater Toronto area and provides an educational program for members. TFVA promotes knowledge and understanding of traditional and contemporary art, architecture, landscape architecture and decorative arts and design through lectures, museum visits, gallery and studio visits.
TFVA, a member of the Toronto Community Foundation, presents three annual financial awards: The $10,000 Artist Prize is given to encourage an artist showing exceptional talent. The Achievement Award acknowledges a person who has, over time, made a significant contribution to the visual arts community in Toronto. The third award supports visual arts projects. These awards are presented at an annual Tribute Night. SInce 2001, we have given over $332,000 to artists, mentors, projects and students.
At TFVA’s 10th anniversary celebration, Richard Rhodes, editor of Canadian Art Magazine, paid this tribute "Over the years the Toronto Friends have been good friends. I enjoy the people, their energy and their ongoing generosity to Toronto's art scene. In a changing art world, their name too should give us pause for a moment. The art world can always do with a bit more amity. Toronto can also do with a reminder that the art world begins not in New York, or London, or Berlin but on its doorstep. Over the past ten years, the Toronto Friends have embodied this attitude and acted on it with annual awards, classes and studio visits to the city’s artists. The Friends hands-on approach to art and art appreciation is something that we need."
To contact us send an email to: info@tfva.ca.
TFVA does not respond to letters of inquiry, unsolicited nominations or funding requests.