Volunteer Beyond the Studio Chapter Lead: Across Canada - Create Art & Gifts That Give Back!

Bring people together to create something that brightens someone’s day!

Hands & Canvas is a youth-founded, volunteer-led art initiative based in Toronto. Through Beyond the Studio, volunteers create artwork, handmade gifts, colouring and activity pages, and art kits to share with community organizations and the people they support.

We’re recruiting Chapter Leads across Canada to start small local teams and organize creative donation projects. Start a chapter at your high school, university, community space, or apply as an individual and build a team with our support.

You don’t need an existing team, a confirmed recipient organization, or professional art experience to apply.

WHAT YOU’LL DO: 

• Recruit and coordinate a small, dependable volunteer team.
• Choose creative projects with guidance from Hands & Canvas.
• Research and contact potential recipient organizations in your community.
• Ask organizations what would be useful and confirm their acceptance requirements before your team starts creating.
• Organize team meetings or creative sessions, divide responsibilities, and keep projects moving.
• Coordinate materials and agree on any costs with Hands & Canvas before making commitments.
• Review completed work and arrange an agreed drop-off, delivery, or digital handover.
• Track volunteer contributions, hours, and completed projects.
• Share progress and feedback with Hands & Canvas.

PROJECTS YOUR CHAPTER COULD ORGANIZE: 

• Original artwork and handmade gifts.
• Colouring sheets and creative activity pages.
• Art kits with agreed materials and simple instructions.
• Other creative projects developed with Hands & Canvas and a recipient organization.

Your chapter can start with one manageable project. What you create should reflect your team’s interests and what the recipient organization actually needs.

SUPPORT FROM HANDS & CANVAS

We’ll help you get started through an introductory online meeting, project ideas, planning guidance, outreach support, and ongoing check-ins!

For your first project, we’ll work with you to identify potential recipients, develop your approach, and plan the next steps. Leads are also expected to research opportunities, reach out to organizations, and build relationships in their own communities.

You do not need to figure everything out alone, but you should be willing to take initiative and follow through. Recipient placements, supplies, and funding are not automatically available in every location; arrangements will be confirmed before projects begin.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

We welcome high school students, university students, and adults across Canada who enjoy creativity, teamwork, and community service. Also, for those who want to earn lots of service hours! 

This could be a great fit if you:
• Want to start a school, university, or community chapter.
• Enjoy organizing people and turning ideas into finished projects.
• Communicate clearly and respond reliably.
• Are willing to approach local organizations with our guidance.
• Can help make a team welcoming to volunteers with different skill levels.

Experience in art, clubs, leadership, outreach, or event planning is helpful but not required. You don’t need to be the strongest artist on the team—helping people work together matters just as much.

School-based chapters should follow their school’s club and supervision requirements. Any visits or activities with recipient organizations must follow the host’s participation, screening, and supervision requirements.

LOCATION AND COMMITMENT

Open to applicants across Canada. On boarding and coordination with Hands & Canvas take place remotely. Your team may create together in person or coordinate remotely, depending on the project.

Physical projects require an agreed local delivery arrangement; digital projects can be completed remotely. Travel to Toronto is not required.

Suggested commitment: approximately 2 to 4 hours per week on average, with flexibility around school or work and additional time near project deadlines. We ask leads to complete at least one agreed project, from planning through handover. However, hours are flexible!

HOW TO APPLY

Apply through VolunteerConnector with a short introduction telling us:
• Why you’re interested in Beyond the Studio.
• Your city or town and province or territory.
• Whether you’re applying individually or with a team.
• Whether you hope to start a school, university, or community chapter.
• Your availability and any relevant experience or creative interests.
• Any project ideas or local organizations you might like to approach.

No existing chapter or confirmed recipient is required.

Learn more at handsandcanvas.com. You can also contact Founder & Operations Executive, Brian Lu, at brianlu086@gmail.com. Or, you can message us on Instagram @handsandcanvasorg.