ABOUT THE PROJECT

"Joy is an act of resistance.”
_{- Toi Derricotte}

Happy Faece is a new face and body painting project that pops up at community events, festivals, schools, and fundraisers across t’karonto (Toronto).We create joyful, low-barrier spaces where people of all ages—kids, teens, adults, and elders—can explore self-expression, imagination, and play. We believe everyone deserves space to be colourful, weird, sparkly, soft, bold, and entirely themselves.Whether it's to celebrate community, or mark a moment, our pop-ups are designed to support fundraising initiatives with heart. We offer face and body painting as a way to draw people in and build energy around local causes.Our artists are emerging queer creatives who show up to listen, paint, and create small moments of self love.

Mission

To create an accessible playground for self expression—where anyone, of any age, can explore what it means to feel bold, soft, sparkly, strange, silly, or strong.To support emerging queer artists with paid opportunities that connect them to community, without asking them to perform or compete—just to show up with care, curiosity, and a brush.To help grassroots groups and schools raise funds through joy. Because community care can be playful.

Vision

A city where joy is accessible, self-expression is celebrated, and where everyone—from toddlers to elders—feels free to take up space in full colour.We believe in glitter as protest, paint as connection, and joy as community care.

WHERE WE LIVE & WORKHappy Faece operates out of the west end of t’karonto (Toronto), on the ancestral and ongoing territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples.We acknowledge that this land has been a site of storytelling, resistance, and care long before we arrived. We recognize the privilege of doing this work here and strive to be respectful stewards of the land and of the communities whose histories and futures are tied to it.May our work reflect the responsibility that comes with being on unceded and continually contested Indigenous territory.

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HOW TO BRING HAPPY FAECE TO YOUR NEXT EVENT

Hire Us!

Want to bring Happy Faece to your school, festival, fair, fundraiser, or block party? We’d love to join you.Our pop-up booth offers joyful, affirming face painting and body art led by each person’s imagination.We create playful moments that draw people in, raise funds for good causes, and make folks feel bright, seen, and celebrated.

WHAT WE BRING

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?We have a few different options your organization can offer face painting and body art with your community.The below options require a booking fee, paid by you or a sponsor, to cover artist time, materials, and setup.Here are some options on how to offer face painting and body art at your event:

Booking Fees

To book us, we use a community-first sliding scale model to keep Happy Faece accessible and sustainable.We offer the following starting rates to help meet your budget, funding capacity, or community goals.Starting rates below include the first hour and one artist.And, no matter the rate, we bring the same experience to every event.

$50+ | Supported Rate

For small organizations with limited funds, paying for just the essentials—we’ll bring the same heart and care.

$70+ | Sustaining Rate

Helps keep the project running by covering ongoing operating costs like this website, and other digital or admin tools.

$90+ | Solidarity Rate

For events with more resources. This helps subsidize low-cost and free events for underfunded schools and communities.

$175+ | Corporate Sponsorship Rate

If your company wishes to sponsor face painting and body art as a community service, I invite you to book at a flat rate of $175/hour. This rate helps subsidize free and/or low-cost offerings at schools and community events—extending the joy to those who need it most.

$0+ | Subsidized Rate

If your school or community group has zero funds and this feels like the right fit, please reach out. For every two events booked at the Solidarity Rate or Corporate Rate, we aim to offer one fully subsidized visit. All Happy Faece expenses are posted publicly on Open Collective. This helps everyone see where funds go and how solidarity bookings make subsidized events possible.

PRICING NOTES

DEPOSIT

To confirm your booking, we require a flat $50 non-refundable deposit.

HOW MUCH CAN WE RAISE?Read the f.a.q. section for support with the math.

Not sure where your event fits?
Let’s connect and see what we can work out.

UPCOMING EVENTS

EVENTS WE'LL BE ATComing soon to a community event in t'karonto (Toronto)!

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READY TO BOOK?

OUR AVAILABILITYCheck the below calendar to see if we're available, then complete the intake form below to request a booking.

Intake Form

Ready to book? Start with the intake form below.
Or, just curious and have a question? Then reach out by email.

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GALLERY

PAINTING MENU

EVENT PHOTOS

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MEET THE TEAM

LUCY MINHYE SONG
FOUNDER & ARTIST
_she/theyLucy works as a creative communications professional with a background in art, design, education, and community engagement. She's taught art and design at Seneca College, and is the author of Awesome Art Activities for Kids, a book filled with playful prompts that nurture creativity, confidence, and connection. They've also developed hands-on programming through her grassroots initiative, Raising Little Allies. For their full work history, feel free to visit her Linkedin._{Lucy proudly identifies as corean (Korean), queer, non-binary, and neurodivergent.}

SABRINA BENOIT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LEAD (VOLUNTEER)
_she/herSabrina brings the energy, the heart, and the magic to Happy Faece. As our Community Engagement Lead, she makes sure everyone feels seen and welcomed and helps spread the word about what we’re all about. Sabrina helps hold the connective tissue between our artists, our guests, and the communities we serve. When she’s not keeping things joyful and organized here, Sabrina is a creative mixologist, event-maker, and managing partner @acegolfbar where she continues the work of building spaces where people feel like they belong.

YOUR NAME HERE
ARTIST
_{pronouns here}We're Hiring! Keep reading below.

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JOIN US!

CALLING ALL EMERGING QUEER ARTISTS

If you’ve got a steady hand, a big heart, and love being around community, we’d love to paint with you.You don’t need to be a professional face painter or body artist—we’ll provide a kit and help you learn and grow.You just need:

This is paid work, and it’s designed to support your art practice—not replace it. Our gigs are flexible, community-based, and queer-affirming.

• Apply Here

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F.A.Q.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Is Happy Faece a not-for-profit organization?

Legally, it is an informal, unincorporated not-for-profit association based in Toronto, and operated by our founder Lucy Song. We know—that’s a mouthful. Here’s what that means: we’re not a registered nonprofit or charity (so we can’t issue tax receipts), and we don’t have a formal board. We’re also not a business or social enterprise.Instead, we’re a grassroots project focused on community care. All funds go directly toward covering project costs and keeping this joy-based fundraising community service accessible.So, why are we set up this way? To stay nimble, keep overhead low, and grow intentionally. We’ve set internal milestones to help guide when we might formalize. These include: surpassing $30,000 in annual revenue (a CRA reporting threshold), consistently engaging 5+ active volunteers, supporting 10+ paid artist contracts per season, and booking over 30 events annually. We may also register when funding opportunities (such as grants), risk management, or administrative complexity exceed our current capacity. Until then, our focus remains on staying sustainable, transparent, and responsive to the community we serve.We may register formally in the future, but for now, our goal is to stay transparent and accountable to the community we serve.Our financial records are available through our Open Collective.

• Who's getting paid?

This project is rooted in community care—and that includes care for our team. There’s a reason not-for-profit work is dominated by white folks: **it’s a privilege to work for free.** As Dan Pallotta said in his TED Talk, the way we think about charity and justice work is broken. We expect people to fix the world without being resourced to do it—and that system burns people out, especially those of us who are already carrying more.At Happy Faece, our Community Engagement Lead works as a volunteer, and the Artists are paid to model that not-for-profit work can balance fair pay and good deeds. We aim to practice what a sustainable justice-based economy can look like. Staying financially resourced helps us stay aligned with our values, and to keep showing up—with heart, integrity, and rainbow magic.

• What kind of paint and glitter do you use?

Only professional, hypoallergenic, FDA approved face/body paint and glitter are used. MSDS sheets are available upon request.

• How do you keep everything clean and safe between guests?

We use professional-grade, skin-safe sanitizers and follow a standardized three-dip brush cleaning process:Dip 1: Clean off paint in waterDip 2: Sanitize with a brush bathDip 3: Rinse in waterBetween each guest we also:Use a cosmetic sanitizing spray on brushes and paint palette.

• What does 'sliding scale' mean?

Those with access to more resources pay more—so that those with less can still access joy. It’s a small act of economic justice and a big help in keeping this project sustainable and fair.

• Are you insured?

Sometimes! At many events—like school fairs—we’re considered guest artists or community volunteers and fall under the event’s existing insurance.If your event specifically requires us to carry our own liability coverage, we can secure one-day insurance for about $25 and include it in your estimate.Not sure what your event needs? No worries—just let us know, and we’re happy to ask on your behalf before confirming a rate.

• Do you have a background check?

Yes. All Happy Faece artists and volunteers who work directly with children and youth are required to have a Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC)—often requested by schools, community centres, and public institutions.We’re happy to provide documentation upon request.

• Do you do private parties or corporate events?

Generally, no... Happy Faece is a community mutual aid project—not a face painting business. We don’t do birthday parties, weddings, or most corporate gigs.We focus on school fun fairs, grassroots fundraisers, and community events that align with the project’s mission and vision.That said, we occasionally make exceptions—when the invitation serves a broader purpose. For example, a business might sponsor us to bring joy to a seniors' residence, a community shelter, or a free block party.

• Can you paint more than 10 people per hour?

Can we? Yes. Will we? No. We typically paint 5–10 people per hour, per artist. We’re not in the business of pumping out work like a fast food chain. We greet each person with presence, meet them where they are, and nurture their autonomy and sense of self. That kind of human connection takes time—and it’s part of what makes this project meaningful. If your event requires serving more folks, we recommend booking additional time or additional artists.

• How much can we raise in an hour? How much should we suggest for donations?

For a two-hour Sustaining Rate booking with one artist (at $70 start rate), to break even, you can suggest:$5 per personTo cover the service fee and raise funds, I recommend:
$10 per person. This will raise a total of ~$100, depending on guest turn out.For context, face painting at major attractions like Canada’s Wonderland, the Toronto Zoo, and the CNE typically costs $18–$24 per person. So at $10, you’re still offering something less expensive that still feels like a special treat.Just as importantly: face painting is often one of the most popular attractions at community events. It draws folks in and adds to the joyful atmosphere. When paired with raffles, food, or silent auctions, it strengthens your fundraising efforts!

• How do I calculate how much funds we’ll raise?

Glad you asked! It depends on your goals and expected turnout.Here’s a formula you can use:(Starting Rate + $30(# of additional hours)
+ $30(# of additional artists × total hours)]
+ (Desired Fundraising Amount)
÷ Estimated Number of People
= Suggested Donation Per PersonFor example, let’s say you’re booking the Sustaining Rate ($70 base) for 3 hours, with two artist, and you hope to raise $100 total:
_{Starting Rate = $70
Additional Hours = $30(2) = $60
Additional Artist = $30(1x3) = $90
Desired Fundraising = $100
Estimated number of people = 50}
($70 + $60 + $90 + $100) ÷ 50 = $6.40 per personYou’d suggest $6.50 per person to break even and raise $100._{Tip: Rounding up makes it easier to collect donations—and offers a buffer in case of shorter lines or fewer participants.Note: For planning purposes, please cap estimates at 10 people per hour, per artist, regardless of turnout.Actual results will vary based on event size, weather, and how you structure the activity (free, ticketed, or pay-what-you-can).}

• What can we do to raise more money?

The longer you book, the more cost-effective it becomes—and the more potential you have to raise funds. That’s because the set up and coordination cost is front-loaded. Once we're set up, each additional hour adds minimal extra cost, but gives more time to serve more folks.For example:
A 2-hour booking might help you break even or raise a little.
A 3–4 hour booking gives you a better chance to raise $100–$200+, especially if attendance is steady.If your goal is to raise as much as possible, booking more time can make a difference—especially when paired with other fundraising efforts._{Note: If booking a longer day, the artist(s) will require an unpaid 30 min break between 4 hour bookings.}

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DONATE

SUPPORT HAPPY FAECE

Happy Faece is powered by community support. Every dollar helps us provide free, affirming face painting at school fairs, festivals, community events, and grassroots fundraisers across t’karonto (Toronto).Donations support:

Whether it’s $2 tip or a major gift for community sponsorship, every contribution helps keep this project going.Become a Supporter on Open CollectiveTogether, we can keep joy accessible and bring community care to your village.

• Make a Gift

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CONTACTWant to bring some colour to your event?
Start with the intake form.Just curious or have a question? Read our frequently asked questions, or reach out below!

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