Role of arts in newcomer settlement
At The Cross-Cultural Community Services Association (TCCSA), arts-based programming has become an important part of supporting newcomers’ social and cultural integration.
With projects funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the federal government’s New Horizon project, TCCSA uses multiple art forms to support newcomers as they navigate settlement, identity, and belonging.
Through painting, photography, and mixed-media works, nine newcomer artists featured in the visual arts exhibition Stains reflect on identity, memory, and the emotional traces left by migration.
While Stains showcased the work of practicing artists, another group of newcomers with varying artistic experience participated in a parallel photography workshop series. They exhibited images and words that captured hopes, challenges, and new beginnings, helping audiences understand the process of building a new home in Canada. This workshop series was designed to support participants regardless of artistic background, ensuring everyone has the tools and opportunities to tell their stories.
Participants also deepened their understanding of Canadian culture through guided cultural experiences. These tours began in the spring of 2025 with a visit to the Varley Art Gallery, exploring immigrant themes in the work of artist Karen Kar Yen Law, and concluded with a visit to the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, where newcomers were introduced to the work of the Group of Seven, Norval Morrisseau, and contemporary artists, many of whom also struggled through their journey to Canada. These works became a springboard for participants to learn about the country and to begin imagining their own place within it.
Kii Chan’s first gallery tour with the program was on a cold March afternoon to the Varley Art Gallery. “As a newcomer, simply getting by was a constant struggle,” Chan shared. “Most of my time and energy went into surviving day to day. Discovering this program reignited my passion for art, connected me with a community of fellow art lovers, and gave me a renewed sense of purpose.” Stories like this highlight how arts and cultural activities can restore confidence and connection during the often-overwhelming settlement process.
Music also became a bridge to local culture. Sing to Connect was a three-month workshop series that prepared participants to perform in the Stouffville Santa Claus Parade. While the stories behind ‘Christmas’ and ‘Hula-Hoop’ might escape many of the newcomers, performing these songs as they paraded down Stouffville Main Street, dressed in their handmade costumes, connected them to a local community celebration like never before.
Participant Jeremy Zhao, who took part in Sing to Connect and other art-based programs, shared that these experiences helped him discover new interests and build friendships, making it easier to adapt to life in Canada. His story reflects a broader truth: when newcomers are offered welcoming, creative spaces, integration becomes not only possible but meaningful and fun.
TCCSA’s community-based arts programs support more than creative expression, cultural learning, and social connection. They are also platforms for promoting physical and mental well-being. In the spring of 2025, newcomers collaborated in a participatory theatre project, sharing and reenacting immigration stories that were light-hearted, hopeful, challenging, and at times traumatic. The performances were deeply personal and created space to acknowledge both hardship and resilience among participants and audiences alike.
Beyond exhibitions and performances, workshops introduce art into everyday life through activities such as Zentangle drawing, quilling, pressed-flower crafts, and food-based art. These moments of creativity help participants find calm, meaning, and connection — resources that support them through the daily challenges of being a newcomer.
These programs are facilitated by community-engaged artists and TCCSA settlement staff, many of whom are immigrants themselves. Drawing on lived experience, they use the arts to create safe, supportive environments where participants can find strength and direction in their settlement journeys.
As Canada continues to welcome newcomers, programs like these remind us that integration involves more than employment, language acquisition, or navigating systems. It also requires spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Through exhibitions, performances, and community celebrations, newcomer artists are not only adapting to Canadian society but are also actively shaping it.
Looking ahead to 2026, TCCSA will continue expanding its community arts programs, offering more opportunities for newcomers to share their stories, build meaningful connections, and participate fully in community life.
The Cross-Cultural Community Services Association (TCCSA), a non-profit settlement agency, has four centres in the GTA, including one in Markham. To get the latest information on TCCSA’s services and programs, visit www.tccsa.on.ca.
Photo: Beyond exhibitions and performances, workshops introduce art into everyday life through a range of activities. These moments of creativity help participants find calm, meaning, and connection — resources that support them through the daily challenges of being a newcomer. (Supplied TCCSA photo)