This page documents the 2026 pilot cycle of KIMI (Knowledge Incubator & Mentorship Initiative). Applications for this cycle are now closed.
KIMI (Knowledge Incubator & Mentorship Initiative) is a pilot program from ReDefine Arts that creates opportunities for artists, arts workers, and community organizations to connect with experienced mentors, share knowledge, and develop creative work that makes a social impact.
The program prioritizes artists and arts workers from equity-seeking communities, as well as community organizations that engage equity-deserving communities, including those who are Deaf, disabled, trans/queer, racialized, and/or from rural communities.
KIMI builds on ReDefine Arts’ 20-year history of supporting emerging and equity-seeking artists through paid internships, tailored mentorships, and collaborative learning projects. The initiative also grows directly out of insights from The Countdown Public Art Project Evaluation Report (2024). Artists and organizations involved in The Countdown project (2020–2023) identified a critical need for structured, supported mentorship opportunities that meet artists where they are in their careers and practices—particularly artists working with and/or identifying as Deaf, disabled, trans/queer, racialized, and/or from rural communities.
The first KIMI mentorship cycle is taking place from February to May 2026.
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HOW KIMI WORKS
ReDefine Arts assembled a roster of professional artist-mentors from equity-seeking communities, including mentors who are Deaf, disabled, trans/queer, racialized, and/or from rural communities.
Through an open call process, artists, arts workers, and community organizations were invited to apply to receive one-on-one mentorship from a mentor on the roster.
Mentorships are flexible and responsive, and may focus on goals such as:
- Developing or advancing artistic or community-based projects
- Building accessibility and inclusive practices
- Sustaining long-term community-engaged arts work
Each mentorship is co-designed by the mentor and mentee as a customized 14-hour mentorship program, supported by ReDefine Arts.
ReDefine Arts provides administrative and access support to mentors and mentees, including resources such as mileage, ASL interpretation, and creative enablers, as needed.
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2026 KIMI MENTOR ROSTER (ARCHIVE)
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WHO KIMI WAS FOR
KIMI was designed for:
- Artists and arts workers working in any medium, with experience or interest in community-engaged or socially rooted creative practice, who would benefit from mentorship to deepen their practice and expand their toolkits.
- Community organizations using the arts to engage, uplift, and/or connect their communities, who would benefit from mentorship to strengthen their arts-based approaches.
- KIMI prioritized artists, arts workers, and organizations from equity-seeking communities, including those who are Deaf, disabled, trans/queer, racialized, and/or from rural communities.
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PROGRAM TIMELINE (ARCHIVE)
- Program design focus groups: Summer 2025
- Program design: Summer and Fall 2025
- Mentee Open Call launched: Fall 2025
- Drop-in Q&A sessions with program directors: December 17, 2025 and January 7, 2026
- Mentee Open Call closed: January 14, 2026
- Mentorships: February–May 2026
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KIMI (Knowledge Incubator & Mentorship Initiative) was made possible by the financial support of the Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario, City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, and the Toronto Foundation.