Announcing the 2020-2021 Akin Collective Career Launcher Award

The Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce the return of the Akin Collective Career Launcher for Drawing & Painting, Indigenous Visual Culture and Material Art & Design students in their graduating term. 

Students are invited to apply for this opportunity and one successful applicant will be awarded $ 2,000 in credits to go towards a studio space at Akin’s inspiring shared workspaces in 2020-2021! In addition to the $2,000 studio credit, the recipient will receive $450 credit for use at remote Akin Gallery space at Richmond and Portland. Remote provides the opportunity to exhibit work, host workshops / artist talks, or other activities relevant to early career growth.

This is an amazing opportunity to become part of a larger creative community and gain access to the excellent multidisciplinary facilities that Akin Collective has to offer. Applications will be juried during GradEx. Candidates will be invited to meet the jury as part of their selection tours.

Deadline to apply: April 12th 2020 at 11:59pm

Introducing Akin Collective Career Launcher Award Winner Natalie King! →

Congratulations to Natalie King, recent OCAD University Drawing & Painting graduate and winner of the 2018 Akin Collective Career Launcher award! We look forward to having Natalie join us at the studio! Natalie will receive a free 50sqft foot studio space for a 4-month period at one of Akin's shared workspaces in 2018-2019.

The Career Launchers are unique, high-profile opportunities for graduating students of OCAD University, developed in partnership with industry organizations such as Akin in order to help new graduates start their professional practice after school. 

Currently based in Toronto, Natalie's work is influenced by colour, form, shape and identity. Her practice ranges from drawing, painting, print-making and installation. Centered through a queer lens involving portrayals of femme identities. Natalie King’s works are about embracing the ambiguity and multiplicities of identity within the queer femme experience. King’s works are a portrayal of life with it’s both harsh realities and the resilience of the human spirit.

De/Attachment Exhibition Featuring Akin Member Kathy Hong Zhou →

Saturday, March 17-27 / Narwhal Art Projects 2104 Dundas Street West / Opening reception on March 17 from 7-10PM / Tickets required for the opening reception.

The 2018 edition of De/Attachment features 9 emerging artists including Akin member and winner of the 2017 OCADU Career Launcher Award, Kathy Hong Zhou. Kathy is an interdisciplinary artist currently working out of Akin's River studios.

The exhibition theme focuses on the numerous dynamics between detachment and attachment in our lives. Artists have been asked to answer three questions in their work: Who are we? Who am I? Who are they? The collection of work will be united by a desire to try to break through institutionalized contrast, allowing new possibilities to take root.

Opening reception features a live dance performance. 

Live Dance Featured Artists:

Story / Mushtari Afroz

Concept, Choreography & Dance / Tamar Ilana (Flamenco) and Mushtari Afroz (Kathak)

Percussion / Ahilan Kathirgamathamby

The 2018 De/Attachment art exhibition is presented by Emerging Young Artists, a Toronto based non for profit organization dedicated to increasing appreciation for emerging and underrepresented artists’ work through artistic development and public exhibition.

Introducing Akin Collective Career Launcher Award Winner Kathy Zhou!

Congratulations to Kathy Hong Zhou, recent OCAD University Drawing & Painting graduate and winner of the 2017 Akin Collective Career Launcher award! We look forward to having Kathy join us at the studio! Kathy will receive a period of free studio space at one of Akin’s studios in 2017–2018, valued at $2000, as well as a $500 cash award.

The Career Launchers are unique, high-profile opportunities for graduating students of OCAD University, developed in partnership with industry organizations such as Akin in order to help new graduates start their professional practice after school. 

Kathy was born in Chengdu, China, in 1987. She currently lives in Toronto, Canada. She is an interdisciplinary artist with knowledge and practice in fine art, animation, illustration and graphic design. Zhou is focusing on experimenting materials such as wood and Leather. Find out about her work at http://kathyhzhou.format.com

OCAD U & Akin Collective Career Launcher Winner: Emma Aurelia

The Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is excited to announce that Emma Aurelia, a recent graduate of OCAD University’s Material Art and Design program, is the recipient of the first AKIN Collective Career Launcher! Emma will receive a period of free studio space at AKIN’s inspiring shared workspaces in 2016–2017, valued at $2000, as well as a $500 cash award.

The AKIN Collective Career Launcher is an amazing opportunity for graduating Material Art and Design students to become part of a larger creative community and gain access to the excellent multidisciplinary facilities that AKIN Collective has to offer. Applications were reviewed by AKIN's Directors, faculty members, and staff from the Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers.

Congratulations Emma! Check out some of Emma's work below, or visit her website www.emmaurelia.com

Into the Blue and Back (Again) Full Installation from Emma Aurelia on Vimeo.