SKETCH and The Drake team up to showcase emerging culinary artist!

TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2017 /CNW/ – SKETCH, a non-profit community-arts initiative engaging homeless and marginalized youth through the arts, is proud to partner with Drake Commissary to shine the spotlight on SKETCH artist Krystal Whyte and her culinary exhibition at the SKETCH Supporter Holiday Celebration, Thursday, December 7 at 6PM at Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St., Toronto, in the Mezzanine.

Krystal Whyte, left, working with Chef Andrew Eade at the Drake Commissary (CNW Group/SKETCH)

Krystal’s tantalizing tasting will be the outcome of her training in SKETCH’s own Culinary Arts program and her autumn-long intensive internship at the Drake Commissary, working alongside Chef Andrew Eade. Krystal’s internship is the first in this pilot collaboration, designed to give marginalized youth with big culinary ambitions–but little access to formalized education–a chance to work and learn in a professional setting.

Krystal enjoyed the internship, dubbed “The Drake x SKETCH”, and credits the opportunity to enhancing her culinary skills, “Working in the Drake Commissary alongside a professional staff and Chef Andrew was a wonderful experience,” said Krystal. “It was the perfect hands-on, pressure-cooker venue for me to hone the culinary skills I’d learned at SKETCH.”

SKETCH Executive Director Rudy Ruttimann says the partnership with the Drake Commissary is a strategic response to the lack of paid internships in the food industry that accommodates youth living homeless or marginalized who are not in school. “A lot of creative young people at SKETCH are explicitly asking us for arts-based employment training and this internship program really bridges the gap between Toronto’s culinary industry and community service. Krystal is building hard skills, industry competency and connections, and future employment opportunities for herself.”

Ana Yuristy, Executive Director of Corporate Services at Drake Hotel Properties, says the partnership was a terrific fit for their community Initiative. “The Drake has been a proud partner of SKETCH over the years and we have always sought out ways to work together to support youth and the arts in our community. The launch of Drake Commissary and Drake Catering this year opened up the opportunity to collaborate on an internship program with SKETCH youth in the Drake kitchens, something we had been discussing for some time. We have been thrilled to have Krystal work with the team.”

The press are invited to attend the SKETCH Supporter Holiday Celebration, photograph the event, enjoy the tasting, and interview:

Krystal Whyte on her culinary journey with The Drake x SKETCH;
Rudy Ruttimann on how SKETCH develops corporate partnerships to create training opportunities for youth;
Ana Yuristy on the Drake Hotel’s SKETCH partnership and its other community initiative.

WHEN
Thursday, December 7, 2017
6PM to 7PM SKETCH Supporter Holiday Celebration, photography permitted
7PM to 7:30PM interviews available
7:30PM to 9PM press invited to learn more about SKETCH’s impact by attending Open Studio, SKETCH’s open house of arts exhibitions, performances and vending, in the building’s Lower Level.

WHERE
SKETCH
Artscape Youngplace, Mezzanine
180 Shaw St.
Toronto, ON
M6J 2W5