Opportunities for Artists, Summer Edition!

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This summer, discover more ways to bring your creativity to the world. To help you out, we’ve assembled a collection of hot opportunities with deadlines coming up this summer. Read on to find out more.

Image Description: Three people in formal dress stand in front of a mint-green background. They are smiling and are all wearing matching floral pins. 

 

Call for applicants: ArtworksTO: Newcomer Program

Deadline to apply: July 24, 2025 

More details here

This program provides newcomer creatives with training, mentorship, and a $5,000 paid work opportunities in media arts or arts education. The ArtWorksTO: Newcomer Program, funded by the TD Ready Challenge is designed to help 25 new Canadians build long-term careers in media arts and arts education. Through strategic partnerships with OCAD University, Work in Culture and industry organizations, participants will receive credentialed education, industry mentorship, and paid work placements to develop practical skills and build professional networks.

Image Description: A photo of seven people and an orange cat from Collective City: House Project, posed against a red background. A large white bird plume is held near the center-right of the group.

 

Calls for Submissions: Collective City Gallery Project

Deadline: July 31, 2025

More details here

Collective City Arts invites individual artists, artist collectives, and curators to submit a proposal for a 2-week show as part of our inaugural season in 2026. Successful candidates will receive rent-free access to the contemporary exhibition space at Dupont Rail Gallery in midtown Toronto. The Gallery Project will also provide a part-time sitting attendant, and promotional support for the show.

Image Descripion: A small rectangular swatches of knitted fabric on a bright blue surface. Next to it are spools of pink and purple wool.

 

Call for Submissions: Resistant Fibres Collaborative Textile Installation Project

Deadline: August 4, 2025

More details here

Weave yourself into a larger story in the Âjagemô Exhibition Space. Join makers across Canada to celebrate the power and joy of fibre arts in the Resistant Fibres exhibition! Contribute to the creation of a bold patchwork of textile voices to transform a central column in the Canada Council Âjagemô Exhibition Space.

Image Description: On the left are 4 graphic colours in warped diamond shapes, black, cyan, pink and orange. The image on the right focuses on a child holding a violin.

 

Call for Proposals - Culture Days at the Richmond Hill Public Library 

Deadline: August 5, 2025

More details here

Applications are currently open for performers, workshop leaders, and cultural organizations interested in participating for Culture Days festivities (Sept. 20) at Richmond Hill Public Library. 

It’s a great opportunity to give back to the community and showcase your work. Activities can range from play presentations/readings and artist talks, to demonstrations and workshops or any other creative idea. 

Image Description: An photograph the Tangled Art Gallery, with paintings hanging on the walls and a bright, illuminated rectangular sculptures in pink, orange and purple in the forefront. Text overlays the image which reads “Tangled Art and Disability” 

 

Calls for Proposals: Tangled Art Gallery  

Deadline: August 8, 2025

More details here

Tangled Art + Disability is now accepting applications to exhibit your artwork at Tangled Art Gallery. They invite submissions from Deaf, Mad, and Disability-identified artists and curators, as well as arts organizations and other cultural producers who practice Disability Arts and Curation. There are two different spaces you can apply to show your work: the main gallery space or the window vitrines.

Image Description: An photograph of an intricate mural by Chris Perez and Leyland Adams on the side of a building. The mural is of a blue sky and bright red and pink flowers. In expressive cursive, painted text of the mural reads ‘Guildwood”. On the bottom left corner of the mural are the tags of the artists @chrispperez and @leylandadams

 

Calls for Muralists: StreetARToronto Support Mural Program 

Deadline: Rolling deadline

More details here

The StART Support Program helps provide materials for the creation of graffiti art and street art murals on properties with a history of repeated vandalism on walls exposed to city streets. Applications are now open and on a rolling deadline, but projects must be completed by October 31st, 2025 

Wishing you a wonderful, creative summer. Don’t forget the sunscreen! 

Love, Akin

 

Akin Queen East is Almost at Capacity!

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Image Description: A photograph of the Akin Queen East Studio's two-story red brick facade, featuring multiple windows and a large bush in front. The background is pink, decorated with a blue checkerboard graphic and two yellow hearts with a smiling faces. The text reads, "Akin Queen East is Almost at Capacity!"

 

Newly opened in the Spring of 2024, Akin Queen East is a vibrant example of the spirit and talent that Toronto’s East-End artists have to offer. Now, just over half a year later, Akin Queen East is almost at full capacity for dedicated memberships. Our studio members include painters, fashion designers, sculptors, installation artists, writers, and more. There are only a few studio memberships remaining - read more below and email info@akincollective.com to inquire about membership!

Akin Queen East consists of the whole building at 429 Queen Street East, close to the intersection of Queen and Parliament. The studio has three floors: a lower level with large private studios, a ground floor that includes a sunny shared membership area, and a second floor with a long skylight which shines light on all three floors of this open-concept space. 

Members at Akin Queen East enjoy community-building events and programming like the Akin Queen East Open Studio event that we hosted last autumn, and the Akin Crit Night which happened in the studio on February 5th. Members working with ceramics have kiln access and a 20% discount on kiln firing services through Lost and Found Project Space which is just down the street from the studio.

All memberships include 24/7 access, wifi, utilities, insurance, restroom and kitchen access, communal workspaces and common area cleaning. Prices include HST.

Akin Queen East, 429 Queen Street East

 

There are only five available studios remaining- learn more below!

QUE 18 - 2nd Floor: 77sqft for $415/month

This studio has two 6’ high plywood partition walls and one structural wall. It is located in a row of dedicated studios on the west side of the ground level. All of the studios receive natural light through the skylight above in the center of the space. It is close to the shared workspace, which has multiple tables that can be used for working on larger projects when available.

Image Description: Akin Queen East’s 2nd floor studios. Built in wooden shelving runs along the railing in the centre of the room. A skylight runs along the ceiling, and at the back of the room are private studios behind an orange-red wall. The background is pink, decorated with a blue checkerboard graphic and a yellow heart with a smiling face.

 

QUE 36 - 2nd Floor: 75sqft for $406/month

This studio has two 6’ high plywood partition walls and one structural wall. It is located in a row of dedicated studios on the west side of the second floor. In addition to the natural light from the skylight above in the center of the space, this studio has an additional small skylight directly above.

QUE 18 - Ground Floor: 77sqft for $415/month

This studio has two 6’ high plywood partition walls and one structural wall. It is located in a row of dedicated studios on the west side of the ground level. All of the studios receive natural light through the skylight above in the center of the space. It is close to the shared workspace, which has multiple tables that can be used for working on larger projects when available.

QUE 10 - Ground Floor: 39sqft for $252/month

This studio has two 6’ high plywood partition walls, plywood divider walls and one structural wall. It is located in a row of dedicated studios on the east side of the ground level. All studios receive natural light through the skylight above on the ceiling in the center of the space. It is close to the shared workspace, which has multiple tables that can be used for working on larger projects when available.

Image Description: A view of Akin Queen East’s ground floor, including the shared membership area and available studio QUE 10. A long white worktable in the middle of the room sits under overhead sunlight. Behind the tables are studios divided by plywood partition walls. The background is pink, decorated with a blue checkerboard graphic and a yellow heart with a smiling face.

 

QUE 10 - Ground Floor: 39sqft for $252/month

This studio has two 6’ high plywood partition walls, plywood divider walls and one structural wall. It is located in a row of dedicated studios on the east side of the ground level. All studios receive natural light through the skylight above on the ceiling in the center of the space. It is close to the shared workspace, which has multiple tables that can be used for working on larger projects when available.

QUE 4 - Lower Floor: 455sqft for $1276/month

This private office is on the lower level of the building. It has bright overhead lighting, generous built-in shelving along one wall, and is completely private. It does not have windows. It is located on the same floor as 2 other private studios, a communal kitchen, washrooms, and a utility sink for washing up.

Shared Membership: $80/month

We also have shared memberships available! Shared memberships allow you to work in two bright, spacious designated shared workspaces in the building. One is located right under the skylight with great natural light, large and medium-sized tables, and has a more open-concept feeling. The second shared workspace is more private and incorporates a large built-in desk and shelves for shared storage.

Our studios can accommodate a wide range of creative practices. If you are interested in a space at Akin Queen East, now’s the time! Please contact info@akincollective.com to book your tour.