Image: Ica Pas, Multiple personalities, 1970. Lithograph on yellow paper.

MEET OUR 2026 AWARD RECIPIENTS

Leeay Aikawaya, Bindu, 2024. Pine needles, found object, cotton thread. Image courtesy of the artist.
Leeay Aikawaya, Bindu, 2024. Pine needles, found object, cotton thread. Image courtesy of the artist.
Leeay Aikawa
Michael Alemayehu, Meskel Demera Celebration, 2024. Coloured pencil on bristol paper. Image courtesy of the artist.
Michael Alemayehu, Meskel Demera Celebration, 2024. Coloured pencil on bristol paper. Image courtesy of the artist.
Michael Alemayehu

The “Ica Pas Artist Scholarship Award” has been created by Barbara Pascaluta in partnership with Toronto Community Housing (TCH) Revitalization Team and Workman Arts with the purpose to celebrate artists who use their art to overcome challenges.

It was inspired by the life and legacy of Ecaterina Pascaluta “Ica Pas” who was also a decades long TCH tenant, with the intent of uplifting and honoring artists by helping to utilize the power of their art to highlight and overcome injustices, challenges, and barriers. This scholarship looks to provide artists facing systemic barriers with some finances, training, and showcasing supports to further advance their artistic journey and practice.

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE ICA PAS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED.

This award is dedicated to Ica Pas and all the other artists in TCH buildings who may fight silent battles and use their art to overcome and make it through another day.

This scholarship award supports Toronto Community Housing tenant artists’ in further developing and advancing their artistic practices by providing the following support:

– $200.00 cash prize award.
– Membership training at Workman Arts.
– Inclusion of one (1) artwork in the annual juried Being Scene exhibition 2026.

To be eligible to apply applicants must:

  • Be a tenant at one of the Toronto Community Housing buildings.
  • Use art to move through challenges and barriers.
  • Have an ongoing art practice (emerging, mid-career, established artist).
  • Submit images of your artwork and a complete application form.

Ecaterina Pascaluta “Ica Pas” was born in Iași, a Moldovan region of Romania on January 28, 1931. She grew up in the Romanian capital of Bucharest where she began her art journey.

Throughout her studies and practice at the Fine Arts Institute in Bucharest, Ica was inspired by many art forms, artists, and cultures, though her biggest inspiration was drawn from the Dada Art Movement and many events of the times.

Ica Pas never stopped creating art in various forms until her final days, a true artist who often used her very limited funds on art materials, books, and trips to the museum, immersing herself in the creation of art to make sense of the world and overcome internal and external struggles.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT:
FATMA HENDAWY
VISUAL ARTS MANAGER
fatma_hendawy@workmanarts.com

Special thanks to our collaborators on the Ica Pas Artist Scholarship:

IN CRISIS?
Distress Centre:
416-408-4357

Sign up for our newsletter: SUBSCRIBE

IN CRISIS? Distress Centre: 416-408-4357

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Workman Arts would like to acknowledge the Indigenous land on which we are presently located; Toronto comes from the Kanien’kéha word Tkaronto, which can be translated as “where the trees meet the water.” It is part of traditional territories of many nations: the Huron Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, and the Anishinaabe and the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Workman Arts recognizes this is an ongoing dialogue; we are grateful to live and work on this land with all people—those Indigenous to Turtle Island and those from all over the world.

ANTI-OPPRESSION STATEMENT

Workman Arts values inclusivity, anti-oppression and safety at all levels. Everyone has a role to play in maintaining that spirit. Please see our full statement and code of conduct here.

CONNECT WITH US

1025 Queen Street West, #2400, Toronto ON M6J 1H4
+ 1 416 583 4339

OFFICE HOURS

Our offices are open Monday - Friday 12 - 5 PM

© 2026 Workman Arts, All Rights Reserved

Website by Coeffect Creative