Available Akin Studios across Toronto!
Hello artists, makers, inventors, and creators! Here’s a snapshot of some of the move-in ready studios that Akin has available across the city.
If you see anything you like please reach out to info@akincollective.com and we’ll connect you with the Studio Manager for a tour of the space. Please share this post if you know anyone in need of a space to work!
Akin Niagara - 289 Niagara Street
With a prime, central west-end location (and its own private outdoor patio!), Akin Niagara is just steps away from Queen Street West and Trinity Bellwoods Park. While there is no kiln on site, Akin Niagara members have the benefit of a ceramics firing pick-up and drop off service hosted by the kiln operator at Akin St Clair. You can have your ceramics picked up in your studio, fired at Akin St Clair, and delivered back to you. Akin Niagara is one of Akin’s more intimate studio locations with a supportive, tightly knit community of artists.
Akin Queen East - 429 Queen Street East
Your east-end creative space! Between Parliament St and River St, Akin Queen East is an entire three floor building of bustling artistic energy and a growing community of artists. The building itself is beautiful; an old, architecturally intriguing building with skylights that shine light all the way down to the lower level, due to its open concept design. Ceramicist members can fire their creations across the street at the Lost and Found Project Space with a 20% discount.
Akin Yonge-St Clair - 1 St Clair Ave W
Unique for its many private studio spaces, views of the cityscape and convenient mid-town location, Akin Yonge-St Clair is filling quickly! This studio is loaded with big windows, tons of natural light and a mix of open spaces and small, intimate rooms within a larger office building. With 5 units throughout the building (each with their own kitchen) there is a wide array of studio styles to choose from. Located right at the corner of Yonge and St Clair, this mid-town location is as central as it gets.
Akin Davisville - 224 Merton Street
At Akin Davisville, the artists have the whole three-storey building to themselves. With two large kitchens, six gender-neutral bathrooms, a big comfy common room, an elevator, parking, and huge windows, Akin Davisville is home to dozens of artists in the Mount Pleasant and Yonge-Eglinton area.
Shared Memberships at Akin Davisville provide access to two bright studio areas, one on the first floor and one on the second, providing space to work privately or alongside your studio mates. Members can leave their art supplies in the storage areas so no need to bring supplies back and forth from home. Plus, the Akin Davisville shared area boasts the biggest easel at Akin!
Shared Memberships are available at all of these locations for $80/month.
All prices include HST and all memberships include:
24/7 access
wifi
utilities
insurance
shared storage facilities
restroom and kitchen access
communal workspaces
common area cleaning
If you don’t see the size or style of studio that you’re looking for listed above there are more studios available at Akin's 8 locations ranging from 25 square feet ($191/month) to 382 square feet ($1,255).
Email info@akincollective.com for more information, or to book your tour today!
Akin Queen Open Studio: A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Community
On October 12th, we had the pleasure of opening our doors to the community for the Akin Queen East Open Studio, and we couldn't be more grateful to everyone who came and made the event such a success!
A huge thank you to our amazing Akin members for showcasing their work and welcoming visitors with such warmth and enthusiasm. The sense of community was palpable, and it was wonderful to see so many meaningful connections made throughout the day.
We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Nurielle Stern of Lost and Found Gallery and the artists from the 1-800-INF-ERNO exhibition for collaborating with us for the day. They truly added another layer of inspiration and we’re so glad to have shared this special occasion with them.
Lastly, a big thank you to all of our guests! Whether you’re an artist, an art lover, or simply curious about our space, your presence and support mean the world to us. It was fantastic to meet so many new faces, and we look forward to welcoming you again in the future— Until then, enjoy the photos from the Open Studio!
Image Descriptions: a slideshow of images showing artists and guests at Akin Queen East during the open studio. There are different people who are talking to each other, smiling, and looking around the studios. Artwork and art materials can be seen in the studio space including paintings, sculptures, and textile works.
List of participating artists:
As well as the artists featured in the 1-800–INF-ERNO installation at The Lost and Found Gallery: Micki-Lee Smith & Zakriya Bashir-Hill, in collaboration with Diana Lawryshyn, Pratap Mathews, & Yun Young Lee. Also featuring paintings by Diana Lawryshyn.
Thank you!
Love, Akin
Akin Queen East Open Studio Day!
On October 12th, the doors will swing open to one of our newest and most exciting studios, Akin Queen East! Located near Queen and Sackville Street, the studio is filled with over 60 ceramicists, painters, illustrators, writers, textile workers and more!
Read MoreMeet the 2024 Career Launcher Award Winners in their Akin studios
Image Description: Headshots of Shannon Sandwell and Meera Dinh. The text “2024 Akin Career Launcher Award Recipients”, the Akin and OCADU logos appear on the left hand side above a pink and blue background.
As our 2024 OCADU Career Launcher Award winners settle into their Akin studios, we caught up with them to learn a little more about them, and to see what they are working on.
The Career Launcher award is a collaboration between OCADU and Akin, which gives two graduating OCAD students $2,000 towards Akin studio membership and $450 for a booking at Akin’s Remote Gallery. This year's recipients of the award are Meera Dinh, who has moved into Akin Richmond-Bathurst, and Shannon Sandwell, settled into Akin Niagara.
Shannon Sandwell
Shannon Sandwell is a Canadian figurative painter based in Toronto. Their work focuses on community and connection intertwined with popular and sub-cultural imagery. Using a collage style of painting Shannon’s work creates narratives that exist out of regular time and space to emphasize platonic intimacy and the human desire to be close with one another.
Shannon Sandwell sits on a rolling chair in their studio. They have short blonde hair, tattoos and are wearing a white t-shirt and gray shorts with sandals. Behind them, large bright figurative paintings hang on the wall.
“I paint large-scale figurative works with acrylic. Collaging references from life and my communities with references from pop/subcultures to create new moments of connection that exist out of time and space while utilizing scale to defamiliarize these moments of platonic intimacy. The scale and cropping of the images in my paintings disorient the viewer- forcing them to engage and seek the connections within the compositions. This act of seeking allows the viewer to feel connected to the anonymous community before them. The collaging of images will enable me to work in complex compositions, steering away from the monolithic individual. I am searching for ways to bring visual sovereignty and joy to figurative work and seeking out ways in which humans seek connection with one another to survive.”
Several paintings of Shannons sit against the wall and hang above.
“I have been working on a collection of paintings for an upcoming show! It is smaller than most of my work, but I have enjoyed having the space to work on multiple 4' by 3' canvases simultaneously. The studio space to jump from painting to painting has been very helpful.”
Shannon Sandwell sits on a rolling chair in their studio. They have short blonde hair, tattoos and are wearing a white t-shirt and gray shorts with sandals. Behind them, large bright figurative paintings hang on the wall.
“I am very neurotic about using a fresh palette. I use only the primaries plus white and mixed while painting. This requires me to constantly reset and start fresh after my palette has gotten wild. Another ritual for my work is documenting community when I find myself in it. Constantly using my phone to take reference photos on the go. I am also asking consent of those in my communities that I end up photographing for paint reference.”
Find more of Shannon’s work here
Meera Dinh
Meera Dinh is a Vietnamese artist based in Toronto who specializes in oil painting. Her work delves into the complexity of female identity, transforming personal and external experiences into dynamic compositions rich with intimacy, eroticism, and transformation.
She completed her Honours BFA in Drawing and Painting at OCAD University in 2024.
“My work explores the deep connection between the soul and the psychological challenges that come with being in a female body. I’m fascinated by how these forces shape identity and the constant struggle to understand my own nature. My oil paintings focus on capturing that in-between space—the line between the conscious and subconscious mind—by blending personal symbols, memories, and a touch of the erotic.
Meera Dinh sits on a chair inside her studio. Meera has long black hair and is wearing blue jeans and a black and brown floral tank top. Beside her is a large easel holding a circular canvas. Behind her are drawings posted to the walls. The large window in her studio looks out to a cityscape. Books rest on the windowsill.
I often pull from my subconscious, letting spontaneous ideas and images surface, which I then transform into visual stories. My work involves a lot of introspection as I explore themes like societal expectations, emotional vulnerability, and the absurdities we all face in life. Each painting feels like a moment of confrontation but also liberation, a chance to express emotions I’ve been holding onto.
Stylistically, I love combining figurative realism with surreal elements, allowing me to play with the boundaries between control and chaos. I use oil paints to build layers that reflect the complexity of these ideas. Lately, I’ve been incorporating themes of female identity merging with animal forms to symbolize primal instincts and transformation.
At the core, my art is very personal. It’s a space where I can reveal my own vulnerabilities and challenge societal norms, inviting viewers into an intimate conversation about identity and self-expression.”
Meera Dinh sits on a chair inside her studio. Meera has long black hair and is wearing blue jeans and a black and brown floral tank top. Beside her is a large easel holding a circular canvas. Behind her are drawings posted to the walls. The large window in her studio looks out to a cityscape. Books rest on the windowsill.
“Since moving into my Akin Richmond-Bathurst studio, I feel incredibly fortunate to have found such an inspiring space. Located in the heart of Toronto’s most artistic area, the studio is everything I could have hoped for as a painter—housed in a charming brick building with serene views and surrounded by a vibrant community of talented artists. This environment has pushed my practice forward, allowing me to learn from others and grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated. It feels like the ultimate artist’s dream space, a sanctuary where creativity thrives.
This studio has given me the solid foundation to continue my artistic journey beyond graduation. It’s more than just a workspace; receiving this space has been a life-changing award. It’s given me the confidence that I’m on the right path and reminds me to keep going, no matter the challenges. The opportunity to work here has been a significant turning point, motivating me to push my work further and explore new directions.
I’m currently preparing for a group show at Remote Gallery with Ellie Hsu and Ariadna Mavila de la Rosa. Our exhibition, which will take place either later this year or early next year, explores the theme of female identity merging with animal forms. It’s a deeply personal project for me, and the space has given me the room to fully explore these ideas through oil painting, my primary medium. It has allowed me to experiment with new techniques and materials, bringing these concepts to life in ways I hadn’t imagined.
In addition to the upcoming show, I’ve also been applying for exhibitions and residencies. Thanks to this studio, I can develop new works and expand my portfolio in ways that will sustain my practice for years to come.”
Meera Dinh sits on a chair inside her studio. Meera has long black hair and is wearing blue jeans and a black and brown floral tank top. Beside her is a large easel holding a circular canvas. Behind her are drawings posted to the walls. The large window in her studio looks out to a cityscape. Books rest on the windowsill.
“My creative process often begins in brief moments of detachment, where I drift away from the present reality. During these times, vivid and symbolic images emerge deep within my subconscious—like seeing myself on a steak plate or catching a distorted reflection of myself in the mud at a TTC subway station. These metaphorical visions communicate with me in ways I don’t fully understand, but I can sense their emotional weight.
When these images surface, I instinctively sketch them in my notebook without overthinking, almost like a child doodling. After this initial sketching, I take photos of myself as a reference for the paintings, using my own body to capture the forms and poses I want to explore further. At this stage, I feel the intensity of the images, though their meaning is still elusive. From there, I move into painting, which allows me to spend long periods with these images, slowly unravelling their deeper significance. Immersing myself in the painting process—often for hours—I engage with the forms I’ve created until their meaning becomes clearer. Along the way, I also research the themes and symbols that arise, drawing from journaling, music, poetry, philosophy, and literature that delve into the space between conscious thought and intuition. Inspiration often strikes when I’m in this liminal space, exploring and observing the images as they evolve. Through this process, my art starts to reveal naked truths I often hide behind the everyday roles and performances of life. In many ways, my art understands me better than I understand myself, and through it, I discover deeper layers of my identity.
Additionally, my cats, Bob and Moxie, are a huge motivation source for me. I always keep their picture in my studio; whenever I feel down or exhausted, looking at them lifts my spirits and reminds me to keep going.”
Find more of Meera’s work here
Chris Gardiner’s Three Favourite Things about being a member at Akin Niagara!
We took some time to chat with Akin Member Chris Gardiner about our newest West-End location, Akin Niagara. Continue reading below to find out Chris’ three fabourite things about being a member:
1. The enormous potential the outdoor space has. There seems to be room outside for almost anything: outdoor sculpture, plaster casting, working on a large canvas, using smelly solvents, cooking encaustic, spraying, pouring, etc. Safe outdoor use for Acrylic Paint: 1.7 degrees to 37.8 degrees Celsius!
Image Description: Outdoor patio with table and umbrella in the center, bbq in the back left and benches and window to the right.
2. The nearby area. It’s vibrant. There’s always a lot of energy, and things to see. I am also close to art supplies stores, hardware, groceries, etc.
3. Torin the Studio Manager. He's very friendly, and good at bringing us together as a community of artists. He's one of those magnetic personalities that you like to be around. I'm also a big fan of musicians that go through art schools.
Image Description: Image of the facade of the building that Akin Niagara resides in. It is a 5-storey building red brick on the right side and covered in white concrete on the left side. The photos os taken in spring so there are many green trees. a teal blue graphic border surrounds the photo with graphic pops if pink. The Akin logo live atop the image and the words “Akin Niagara!” sit below.
Chris’s studio at Akin Niagara
Image Description: Chris’s studio at Akin Niagara features a grey chair positioned against the left wall, beneath a thin shelf. The walls to the left and back are adorned with several paintings.
Chris Gardiner’s two-dimensional work combines elements of Geometric Abstraction, Neo-Dada, and Art Informel. Whether he focuses on a process of drawing that emphasizes spontaneous/gestural qualities of the artistic process; collage that creates unexpected juxtapositions, a sense of irony, or a disruption of the viewers' expectations; or in painting where precise shapes and forms are arranged in deliberate and structured ways. Gardiner’s work challenges viewers to question their assumptions about the nature of art, and invites them to engage with the work in unexpected and thought-provoking ways. In metaphorical terms it’s Free Jazz meets Professional Wrestling.
See more of Chris’s work at www.chrisgardinerart.net and @gardinerartdotnet
Chris’s paintings in his studio at Akin Niagara
Image Description: Several paintings hanging in Chris’s studio made of black, white or red lines.
Chris Gardiner, Bars and Toner 2023, Oil on Canvas, 32"x42"
Image Description: Painting with multiple vertical black and white bars, one small red horizontal bar in the lower right hand corner and several red strokes in the top left hand corner.
Akin Niagara is located at 289 Niagara Street just south of Queen Street West and in close proximity to Trinity Bellwoods Park. Akin Niagara features rooms with large windows which get ambient daylight and an outdoor patio space exclusively for Akin Niagara members’ use.
All memberships include taxes, 24/7 access, wifi, utilities, insurance, shared storage facilities, restroom and kitchen access, communal workspaces, common area cleaning, connection to a community of artists and more!
Shared Memberships: $78/month
• Access to shared working areas and storageDedicated Memberships (your own studio):
• Private and semi-private options
• Sizes range from 40 sqft at $252 per month to 117 sqft for $551 per month.
Visit www.akin.art for more info.
Link in Bio to view all currently available studios.
Contact us at info@akincollective.com to book a studio tour!
Image Description: The words "Introducing Akin Richmond-Bathurst Expansion!" appear on an image of an interior of a red brick building with a window and books and a plant on the shelf in the background.
Akin Richmond-Bathurst, Expanded!
This month has been exciting for Akin! We announced our newest West End location, Akin Niagara, then Akin Queen East in the East End, and now we’re thrilled to announce an expansion to our highly sought after, centrally-located studio, Akin Richmond-Bathurst!
Located at 579 Richmond Street West, Akin Richmond-Bathurst is in a beautiful brick and beam building with large windows which was originally a cloak factory, built in 1913. The studio is in a fantastic location for artists and creatives, in close proximity to Michaels, Deserres, and 401 Richmond and right across the street from Akin’s rental space, Remote Gallery!
AKIN RICHMOND-BATHURST
579 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Y6
Akin is expanding this studio by welcoming two more units on the third floor, units 301 and 303. These new units provide 37 new dedicated studios (i.e your own studio) ranging from 29 square feet for $205/month to 136 square feet for $613/month. We also have a new shared membership area which will welcome up to 20 shared members for $78/month. Monthly prices include taxes, insurance, wifi, utilities, 24/7 access and the use of shared shelving units, washrooms, communal working areas and a kitchen.
Our new Shared Membership workspace in Unit 303 has a light table, counter space, tables, chairs and is in close proximity to the utility sink and clean-up area.
There is a flight of stairs leading up to the elevator. The new units on the third floor have two gender neutral bathrooms which are accessible by key, a kitchen and a common area.
The extended studios of Akin Richmond-Bathurst is expected to reach capacity quickly, so please reach out soon to secure your spot. Priority will be given to current Akin members and individuals on our waiting lists. However, we'll strive to accommodate anyone interested in this new location.
If you’re interested in a membership please email
info@akincollective.com and let us know what you are looking for!
Image Description: The words "Introducing Akin Queen East" appear on a mustard yellow background along with two squiggly graphic shapes in peacock blue and the Akin logo on the top right hand corner.
Introducing Akin Queen East - our newest East End studio!
Akin is proud to present our newest studio offering for our beloved East End artists! Located at 429 Queen Street East, Akin Queen East is near the intersection of Queen St E and Sackville Street.
Located near Cabbagetown, Regent Park, Riverdale Park and the Distillery District, this new studio is the ideal spot for East End artists!
AKIN QUEEN EAST
29 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5A 1T5
As the studio is right on Queen street, the closest TTC stops are the 501 Queen Streetcar at Sackville St, both east and westbound.
Inhabiting all three floors of the building, the studio includes 39 dedicated studios (i.e your own studio) ranging from 25 sqft for $187/month to 130 sqft for $590/month and 20 shared memberships available for $78/month. There are both private and semi private dedicated studios at Akin Queen East. Monthly prices include taxes, insurance, wifi, utilities, 24/7 access as well as use of shared shelving units, washrooms, communal working areas and kitchen. The studio features two gender-neutral bathrooms. There are steps leading to the entrance, second floor, and basement where the bathrooms and kitchen are located, with no ramps or elevator available.
The studio itself is architecturally interesting, a long skylight stretches the length of the building, with light reaching down to all three floors thanks to the open concept layout. The studio is in a lively neighborhood, with close proximity to delicious food and local cafes and the camera store Vistek, is just across the street.
Akin Queen East is expected to reach capacity quickly, so please reach out soon to secure your spot. Priority will be given to current Akin members and individuals on our waiting lists. However, we'll strive to accommodate anyone interested in this new location.
If you’re interested in a membership please email
info@akincollective.com and let us know what you are looking for!
Image Description: The words "Introducing Akin Niagara" appear on an image of a large six story building of aluminum and brick with colourful graphic shapes in pastel pink, yellow and blue.
Introducing Akin Niagara - our newest West End studio!!
Our newest studio location is here! Introducing Akin Niagara, located at 289 Niagara Street, just south of Queen Street West.
Steps away from the south end of Trinity Bellwoods Park, Type Books and the White Squirrel Cafe, Akin Niagara is a prime location for West End artists!
AKIN NIAGARA
289 Niagara St., Toronto, ON M6J 3P3
Situated in the lower level of an apartment building, Akin Niagara hosts large windows and a private outdoor patio.
Akin Niagara has 27 dedicated studios (i.e. your own studio) and private and semi private studios ranging in size from 40sf ($252/month) to 115 square feet ($541/month). We also have 10 shared memberships for $78.00/month.
Monthly prices include taxes, insurance, wifi, utilities, 24/7 access as well as use of shared shelving units, washrooms, communal working areas and kitchen.
Akin Niagara is expected to reach capacity quickly, so please reach out to secure your spot. Priority will be given to current Akin members and individuals on our waiting lists. However, we'll strive to accommodate anyone interested in this new location. We're thrilled to expand the Akin community in the West end of the city. Keep an eye out for more studio updates later this month!
If you’re interested in a membership please email
info@akincollective.com and let us know what you are looking for!
Introducing the Flex Space at Akin Davisville
Akin Davisville proudly introduces our latest offering: the Flex Space! The Flex Space is a 200sf private room designed for creatives and professionals seeking a versatile workspace. The Flex Space can be booked for $15/hour.
The Flex Space is available exclusively to Akin Davisville members and members in other Akin locations. To join Akin Davisville please email info@akincollective.com
Akin Davisville Memberships start at $78 for a Shared Membership (access to communal workspace). We also have Dedicated Memberships (your own personal workspace) ranging from 25 square feet at $187/month to 135 square feet at $610/month.
Monthly prices include: taxes, insurance, wifi, utilities, 24/7 access as well as use of shared shelving units, washroom, communal working areas, and kitchen.
Akin Davisville is here!
Located at 224 Merton St, between Yonge Street and Mt Pleasant Rd, Akin Davisville is an entire building consisting of three floors which can accommodate seventy two Shared and Dedicated studio members.
If you’re interested in membership please email info@akincollective.com and let us know what you are looking for. We can’t wait for you to see this fabulous space!
Akin Davisville is just north of Mount Pleasant Cemetery and the Beltline Trail. It’s located near Davisville Subway Station.
There are Shared Memberships available for $78/month, which includes access to shared working areas. There are 46 Dedicated Memberships in the building (i.e. your own studio), including private and semi-private options ranging from 25 square feet at $187/month to 135 square feet at $610/month. Both membership types include HST, 24/7 access, cleaning, WiFi, contents insurance, as well as use of shared shelving units, washrooms, a kitchen and communal area.
Akin Davisville is an entire building with studios in the basement, main and second floors. There are no steps to enter the building, and an elevator in the main entranceway which travels to each floor. There are two gender neutral bathrooms on each floor, one of which is wider to accommodate wheelchair access. None of the bathrooms have steps leading towards or into them. There is no free onsite parking for this building, but there is paid parking on the street right outside the building.
Priority for studio memberships will be given to folks who have been on an Akin studio waitlist for 6 months or more, as well as those who identify as a member of one or more of the Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Groups (Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIAP). That being said, there is plenty of space in this new studio and we will do our best to provide studio space to everyone who is interested.
We are also in the process of trying to secure other new studio locations to accommodate folks in need of studio space. Hopefully more on that to come soon.
Akin Davisville. 224 Merton St, Toronto, ON, M4S 1A1
We’re so excited to welcome you into this fantastic new space, and to further grow our incredible community!
Email info@akincollective.com to learn more about becoming a member at
Akin Davisville! Or click here to book a tour and become a member!
Akin Open Studio!
Join us at the Open Studio Day for a peek into what the talented artists at the Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG have been creating during their residency. Whether you're an art enthusiast, or simply looking for a unique afternoon, this event is the perfect way to enjoy Culture Days Ontario, an annual celebration of arts, culture and heritage taking place each fall across the province.
Read More
The Akin logo and the words "Introducing... Akin Richmond-Bathurst" appear on an image of a large window surrounded by a brick wall and a desk with chairs on both ends.
Introducing... Akin Richmond-Bathurst
Akin is thrilled to announce our newest studio, Akin Richmond-Bathurst! Located at 579 Richmond Street West, Akin Richmond-Bathurst is on the fourth floor of a beautiful old office building, with an open-concept layout, plenty of natural light, exposed brick walls and beautiful hardwood floors throughout the space. This new studio location has room for 10 Shared Memberships starting at $73/month, as well as 46 Dedicated studios ranging from 25sf for $174/month to 155sf for $597/month. Monthly membership fees include taxes, insurance, wifi, utilities, 24/7 access as well as use of shared shelving units, washroom, communal working areas, and kitchen.
579 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Y6
Akin Richmond-Bathurst was set up as a replacement studio for Akin Stockyards members whose studio closed at the end of June. When a studio closes we always try our best to give the artists a space to relocate to and we are so glad to have had this exciting new space lined up for them! We are also giving priority to Akin Bloor-Yonge Members and Akin Waterfront members, as both of those studios have also closed over the last couple months.
Once our current members have been relocated, we’ll still have room for new members! If you’re interested in a space at Akin Richmond-Bathurst, email info@akincollective.com to be added to the waitlist. We will be offering any available studios to folks on the Akin Richmond waiting list, which is right across the street. Priority will be given to people who are on the waiting list, as well as those who have self-identified as belonging to our priority equity-deserving groups (Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQ+)
Email info@akincollective.com to learn more about becoming a member at Akin Richmond-Bathurst!
We would like to thank our workspace partner, Allied, for this beautiful space.
We couldn’t have done this without them.
The Akin logo and the words "Akin Young-St Clair is here!" appear on an image of a brick and concrete wall with yellow flowers below.
Akin Yonge-St Clair is Here!
Akin is incredibly excited to announce the opening of our newest studio in Toronto’s Midtown, Akin Yonge-St Clair!
Located at 1 St Clair Ave W, right at the corner of Yonge Street, Akin Yonge-St Clair has room for 50 members in our 4 units in this large office building. Our team has been hard at work to get it ready! Akin Yonge-St Clair opened on May 15th to the first group of members who have relocated from Akin Bloor-Yonge. We are looking forward to opening the doors over the coming weeks and welcoming more members from our Akin Stockyards location to this bustling midtown location!
Beautiful light on the 11th floor!
Wide Hallways!
New Kitchenettes!
There are Shared Memberships available for $73/month, which includes access to shared working areas, shared storage, kitchen, a communal gathering area and bathrooms. There are 39 Dedicated Memberships in the building (i.e., your own studio), including private and semi-private options ranging from 35 square feet at $212/month to 243 square feet at $829/month. Both membership types include HST, 24/7 access, WiFi, contents insurance, as well as use of shared shelving units, washrooms, a kitchen and communal area.
Akin Yonge-St Clair is located on the 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 11th floor of the building. There are no steps to enter the building and no steps throughout the building. All of the floors are accessible by elevator. There are men’s and women’s, and wheelchair accessible gender-neutral bathrooms on each floor. There is no free onsite parking for this building, but there is paid parking located down the street.
Priority for this studio has been given to Akin Bloor-Yonge Members, whose studio is closing permanently this month, and Akin Stockyards Members whose studio will be closing in June. Priority for any remaining studio memberships will be given to folks who have been on an Akin studio waitlist for 6 months or more, as well as those who identify as a member of one or more of the Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Groups (Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIAP). That being said, we will do our best to provide studio space to anyone who is interested so we encourage you to join the waiting list as we hope to expand in this building as more space becomes available.
We would like to acknowledge the support of our partner Slate Asset Management for making this space available to Akin and our artists. We’re excited to welcome you into this studio and we can’t wait for you to be a part of this new community.
Email info@akincollective.com to learn more about becoming a member at Akin Yonge-St Clair!
Image description: Akin logo on the left hand side followed by the words “Akin Art Studios in Scarborough and North York: a feasibility study” the words live on a forest green background with two large pink graphic asterisks.
Akin Art Studios in Scarborough & North York: a feasibility survey
Akin is looking to expand our reach with two potential new studio locations in Scarborough and North York. Before we can proceed we need your input! We’ve created a feasibility survey to assess the needs of Scarborough and North York artists, designers, makers and creators. Are you interested in a monthly studio membership in these areas? Let us know! The deadline for the survey is May 17, 2023. Continue reading for all the details or click the button below to answer the survey now!
Scarborough
Our location of interest in Scarborough is at 3730 Kingston Road (Kingston Road and Scarborough Golf Club Road), located near the Clark Centre for the Arts. Its closest TTC station is Kennedy Station. This location is on the second floor with no elevator access. It has private and semi private workspaces, as well as co-working shared memberships. Access to parking is available. The studio will include shared storage, a kitchen, and bathroom as well as WiFi, insurance, and opportunities for community building and networking with other artists and creators. Monthly studio membership fees will likely range from 30sf for $196/month - 150sf for $593/month. Shared memberships will be available at $73/month.
North York
Our location of interest in North York is at 2 Tippett Road, (Allan Road and the 401), located near Wilson Station. This location will be the third floor of an office building with elevator access and a ramp up to the building, as well as automated doors. There is a large kitchen, bathrooms, shared storage, WiFi, insurance and the opportunity to be part of a larger creative community. As it was formerly an office, this space will have access to private and semi private studios as well as co-working shared memberships. Underground parking is available. Monthly studio membership fees will likely range from 30sf for $196/month - 150sf for $593/month. Shared memberships are available at $73/month.
While Akin Studios are able to accommodate a broad range of artists, some practices will not be suitable for these spaces, we will not be able to accommodate space for woodworking, stone carving, aerosols or spray paint, spaces for performance, or to host rehearsals, workshops or classes.
If you are interested in a Dedicated Membership (your own studio space) or Shared Membership (access to shared work space and storage) please fill out our Akin Scarborough and North York Community Survey by May 17th, 2023. We are currently building a waiting list for the studio spaces and will be in touch with those on the waiting list in the summer with more information, hopefully news that we're moving forward with these locations. We are grateful for your input and we’re thrilled to hopefully begin expanding our network together.
Akin’s mandate holds the needs of our community in high regard and we appreciate your effort and engagement.
Here is the link to the survey: https://forms.gle/JfBVSqokEd6sJSCXA
Please share widely!
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out. Email info@akincollective.com with your comments or queries.
Thank you for your time,
The Akin Team
Image Description: A person stands in an empty studio space with hardwood floors and white walls. They’re holding a large photo showing images of three studios spaces, each smaller than the last, stacked on top of one another, the final image is of the exterior of a four story building, situated on a Toronto street corner with traffic lights.
What happens when an Akin studio closes?
To our studio members and friends,
At Akin we are always saddened to hear that a studio will be closing. This year two of our studios, Akin Bloor-Yonge, and Akin Stockyards will be closing permanently. Both of these studio locations have been exciting and important studios for Akin. Akin Bloor-Yonge has a quiet atmosphere, and is inhabited by so many incredible artists. Built originally as an office space, it’s host to many private studios that artists were itching to get into. We were grateful for the opportunity to provide private workspaces to folks once again. Akin Stockyards is a big, bright, gorgeous community of artists working together in what was once a halloween store, and before that a pharmacy.
Although a studio closure is always sad, in both of these cases it was expected, as we knew we only had a limited time in each building before the redevelopment plans for the sites were ready to move forward. This method of occupying space on an interim basis in the city is intentional and allows Akin to host artist workspaces in key areas of the city that would otherwise be unaffordable to so many of us.
At Akin we value transparency, and today we thought we’d take this opportunity to take you behind the curtain and let you know what Akin does once we find out a studio will be closing.
When Akin staff receives official notice from the property owner to vacate a studio, the first thing we do is inform our staff and our members. Usually we are able to inform everyone within 24 hours of receiving the notice.
Meanwhile, we have normally already begun the search to find another studio space as close by as possible for those members to move into. We like to refer to this as a relocation and not a closure, because we aim to move the community of artists to a new space to keep the connections folks have made in the studio intact. Closing a studio and opening a new one is an all hands on deck situation. We care about our members and we do everything we can to make this transition as smooth and simple as possible.
When we're signing a lease for a new space we always negotiate with the property owners to receive as much notice as possible when it is time to vacate - this is usually a minimum of 3 months. Sometime we are granted an extension as well to give everyone more time and minimize stress for everyone involved.
What’s next is a crucial and busy time for the Akin Staff. We’ve done many relocations before and are not strangers to the process. We launch a survey to our members at the closing studio, asking if they’d like to move to a new location. We place a hold on all available studios at other Akin locations to accommodate the relocating members. Our aim is to leave no member without a studio who wants one. There are always logistical roadblocks, but we do everything in our power to make that happen. It’s always our first priority to accommodate our current members, to find them a new studio as quickly and easily as possible.
Then, we celebrate! We want to hold space for all the connections, all the energy that was shared in a studio for the time we were in it. It’s always bittersweet to leave a studio and move to new ones, but it’s also a chance for new connections, new experiences. In our fifteen years of operation, Akin has said goodbye to eight studios from 2008-2022. Is it sad to move studios? Yes! Does it destroy our community? No! In fact, the opposite, our community is the strongest it’s ever been. We can, at once, mourn the loss of a closed studio and be excited about what’s to come. At the closing party, with any luck, it's not goodbye, it’s see you soon
A huge thank you to Akin’s Real Estate Advisory (AREA), an initiative set up to help ensure Akin evolves in a healthy and sustainable way while continuing to support our growing community long term. We’d also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our real estate partners; without whom, none of this would be possible. In the cases of the studios we're moving out of soon, Akin Stockyards is in partnership with Marlin Spring and Akin Bloor-Yonge is in partnership with Capital Developments.
Thanks also to our fantastic, hard working staff and lovely studio members. Please feel free to direct further questions to info@akincollective.com. We welcome your feedback anytime!
Image Description: A slide show of the ten Akin Studios that have opened and closed.
Akin Waterfront Member Highlights - Meet the artists: Marcia, Vicky & Niki!
As spring approaches we want to take the time to highlight the creative work and community spirit of some of our Akin Waterfront Members. Introducing Marcia Bianchi, Vicky Vyas, and Niki Nazhand! Click “READ MORE” below to continue reading and learn more about these artists, their art practices, and why they love working in an Akin studio!
Read MoreAkin 2022 Year at a Glance
As the year comes to a close, we’re looking back to what turned out to be an exciting year for Akin. We opened three studio locations, expanded our Team with the addition of 7 new staff members and 4 new studio assistants, hosted dozens of events and exhibitions at Remote Gallery, supported artists in need with over $5000 from the Akin Studio Rent Relief Fund, and were thrilled to offer a variety of programming including more in-person events (while still maintaining lots of virtual programming options as well). We’ve got lots in store for 2023, but first, we thought we’d take a moment to recap all that’s happened in 2022.
Three New Studios Opened in 2022!
Images above: Five photographs of various artist studios at Akin Stockyards, Akin Bloor-Yonge, and Akin Waterfront. The photographs show artist workspaces and works in progress.
Akin Stockyards
Akin Stockyards is currently our largest studio space, host to over sixty artists. Since its opening, Akin Stockyards has shaped into such a wonderful and vibrant community. Highlights include the huge opening party with live music, games and food. Looking for a studio in the new year? Akin Stockyards still has some Dedicated and Shared Memberships available space left, email info@akincollective.com for more details.
Akin Bloor Yonge
Right in the heart of downtown Toronto, Akin Bloor Yonge opened to much excitement, and filled up quickly! (email us to be added to the waiting list). With Akin Bloor Younge we were happy to be able to start offering private studios again, which we have not been able to do since we closed our Akin King location.
Akin Waterfront
Nestled in Waterfront Toronto right near the lake, Akin Waterfront has become an exciting new studio location for us and our members! Akin Waterfront boasts many interesting features, like the Spray Booth, ventilated to accommodate indoor spray painting, and the large flex room for our members to book when they need some extra space to meet a client or photograph their work. We are looking forward to adding more amenities at Akin in the coming years!
Interested in an Akin studio in 2023? Click here to see what is currently available!
Art programming for everyone! Open Studios, Exhibitions, Workshops and more!
Financial Literacy Workshops for Artists
We kicked off the year with a jam packed, sold out webinar explaining how to do taxes as an artist. The talk, given by accountant Kelly Ross, gave attendees helpful tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your returns, keep records, and write off expenses for your business. We followed that with a series of workshops with WealthSimple on subjects such as Financial Planning, and Budgeting Tips & Tricks If you missed these, don’t fear! Stay tuned in 2023 for more financial literacy workshops from Akin!
Public Open Studio Events
After two challenging yeards during the pandemic where we had to keep our spaces close to the public, we were so thrilled to be able to host visitors at our studios again in 2022! We had multiple Open Studio Events throughout the year where our artists had an opportunity to show their works, and visitors got a chance to check out the studios.
Image description: A group of people are exploring the Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG. The image centres on the aisle of the studio where many people are wandering around and looking at the studios.
Artist Wellness Workshops and Talks
In March 2022, artist Yasmeen Nematt Alla hosted ‘A Love Letter to your Practice’ a virtual writing workshop and meditation to celebrate the love we have for our own art practices. Together, we took a moment to slow down and reflect on how important practice is, how it is a home for our passions, our livelihood, and our mental health. We followed that with a series of online conversations on Mental Health for Artists with artist and psychologist (and Akin member) Kim Foster Yardley. We hope to bring you more wellness workshops in the new year!
Akin Art Crawl, Toronto Biennial Edition
Akin has been hosting Gallery Crawls since the very beginning, almost fifteen years ago. In the spring of 2022 Akin went back to its roots! Friends and studio members met at the Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG and headed out to view all the work on display for the Toronto Biennial. Did you miss this one? There will be more art crawls in the future!
Scarborough Winter Arts Market and Exhibition
We finished off the year with a bang, hosting a (nearly) month-long Winter Arts Market and Exhibition at the brand new Clark Centre, Scarborough. With over 60 artists participating, there was art on the walls, tables filled with handmade art, and music in the air! A huge thank you to everyone who made that event such a success.
Image: Artwork hanging in a brightly lit gallery space.
Thank you!
We are incredibly grateful to our community; our studio members, friends, neighbors, programming and studio partners, staff, advisors, supporters and board of directors. Thank you for making this year such a fantastic one. We loved every minute of it, and can’t wait to spend 2023 with you.
Stay tuned for what we have in store in 2023. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter, follow @akinprojects on instagram, Akin Projects on Facebook, or visit our website for up-to-date information on events, updates, and studio news as it rolls out in the new year!
Community Check-in: AREA
Since its inception, Akin's mandate has centered around one main goal: securing suitable work spaces for artists in order to enrich and ensure the stability of artistic practice- in the city of Toronto. Over the course of nearly 14 years, our organization has developed a partially nomadic nature, a necessary reality for us and our community, to endure the challenges of Toronto’s real estate market. Adding a pandemic to the mix, one that forced many of our studio members into difficult financial decisions, Akin has become actively interested in engaging with the broader community to continue developing novel and innovative methods of considering and maintaining creative space in the city.
Akin collectively asked itself, “How do we help support healthy artists and organizations while reducing barriers to creative spaces in a continuous real estate dilemma?”
Thus AREA was born. AREA stands for Akin Real Estate Advisory, an initiative set up to help ensure Akin evolves in a healthy and sustainable way while continuing to support our growing community long term . Akin has convened experts in Toronto’s development and real estate industry who care to see artists thrive and who share feedback with us as we plan for the future. In recent months, Akin has been focused on stabilizing our administrative processes in order to advance our role, connecting artists and arts organizations in need of space with property developers and building owners eager to invigorate the arts and culture community through activation of space.
Akin’s founder, Oliver Pauk comments “It’s exciting to witness how a group of people, with a common goal of enriching Toronto’s creative scene in the long-term, can come together to build language and ideation around mixed use spaces. These spaces are the future of urban growth in Toronto. Building art and artists into the earliest stages of the development process, as a fundamental component of the city’s structure, gives us the ability to ensure the richness and well-being of communities.”
“We are looking forward to continuing to partner with Akin and to support them with their real estate strategy. The AREA committee strongly believes in the work Akin is doing to support the arts in Toronto, and we are proud to lend our expertise to expand their reach even further” said AREA Board Member, Heidi Tibben.
Monthly and on a volunteer basis, Pauk is joined by Jonathan Peretz (JLL), Katie Fong (Slate), Heidi Tibben (Carttera), Liza Stiff (TAS), Ashley Wedlock (Kingsett Capital), Ayelet Klaczkowski (Kingsett Capital), and Joshua Mitchell (University of Toronto) for a chance to strategize around Akin’s recovery and ongoing search for relevantly located, suitable spaces (both short- and long-term). AREA is also advising on the development of a system for creating creative work and exhibition opportunities with property owners, a valuable collaboration building structure for mutually-valuable relationships across Toronto.
We are grateful for the support of the AREA team and are excited for the insights they will share that shine a light on opportunities ahead of Akin to further our work in advocating for artists and creative spaces in the city of Toronto.
For any questions or concerns, please email us at info@akincollective.com.
Our 8th Studio is here: Introducing Akin Bloor-Yonge!
Akin is thrilled to announce the opening of a new studio location in one of Toronto’s most bustling intersections; Akin Bloor-Yonge! This space is located at 717 Church Street, north of the Bloor St W and Yonge St intersection, making it a great addition to a lively and cultural Toronto neighbourhood.
This studio is Akin’s 8th studio in the city, marking a slow but sure recovery from the necessary closures occurring during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic. Akin Bloor-Yonge will bring with it 28 dedicated studios —12 private, 10 semi private, and 6 regular studios along with 8 Shared Memberships.
Our Akin Bloor-Yonge Shared Memberships will be available for $71/month, which includes access to shared working areas, shared storage, kitchen, and bathroom. The 28 Dedicated Memberships available will be ranging from 37sf for $216/month to 179sf for $662/month including 12 completely private studios (four walls that go to the ceiling and a door that closes) and 10 semi private studios (three or four walls that go to the ceiling, but no door - just an entranceway) as well as some regular dedicated studios (partitions or walls). The Private and Semi Private studios range from 95sf for $440/month to 179sf for $662/month. Just like at all of our studio memberships the monthly fee includes HST, 24/7 access, insurance, WiFi, contents insurance, cleaning and maintenance service, and access to all common areas.
Priority for studios has been given to current Akin members from other studio locations, artists who have been on the Akin waiting lists for 6 months or longer, Akin members from our former Akin studio locations which closed in 2020 or 2021, as well as those who identify as a member of one or more of the Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Groups (Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIAP). That being said, we will do our best to provide space at this new location to anyone who is interested in the future.
We would like to acknowledge the support of our partners Capital Developments for making this location available for our community and a special thank you to our community for uplifting our efforts to return our spaces back to the city.
Akin is looking forward to you joining us in building this space together and carving out more affordable working areas for our artists in similarly appealing spots. This studio currently has a limited number of private, semi-private, and regular studios available ranging from 110sf for $576/month to 179sf for $662/month, as well as Shared Memberships which are $71/month.
Please email info@akincollective.com to learn more.