Artwork by Akin Ossington Artist Amy McNeill at Volta Espresso until December 31

Amy McNeill is a Toronto-based artist who just recently went full-time when she joined Akin Ossington in August with her company Little Potje Ceramics. Amy is a ceramic artist but writes and creates paintings as well. Limited edition signed prints, original paintings and a limited selection of Little Potje Ceramics are now available for sale at Volta Espresso until Dec. 31, 2017. 

Volta Espresso
Open everyday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
866 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5R 3G3

Amy is motivated strongly by her personal experience of losing loved ones who made their livings as makers. Every pot, bowl and vessel she throws is dedicated to her family who raised her to have a strong work ethic and dedication to quality craftsmanship. 

In her fine art, Amy meditates on issues of fertility and reproduction. Trying to decipher what it means to be human rather than female, she's found that it's an identity mixture hard to separate and isolate at the best of times. 

Amy also enjoys writing arts and life pieces for news outlets, and working with small businesses as a copywriter and content strategist. She spends her spare time sailing, skiing and making terrible jokes at which her friends and family rarely laugh.

Programming Space for rent at Akin Sunrise!

Akin has a large open space at Akin Sunrise (100 Sunrise Ave) available for Akin members as well as members of the public to rent by the hour, day, or week for programming purposes. The space is bright and open, with the potential to host a variety of events and programming including meetings, workshops, exhibitions, rehearsals, photo shoots, film screenings and more. For more information or to book the space click here or email jeff@akincollective.com

Amenities:
- WiFi
- Parking
- Electrical outlets
- Natural lighting
- Tables and chairs (limited quantities available)

Rates:
$50/hour or $400 per day (members of the public)
$35/hour or $200 per day (Akin member price)

Accessibility:
100 Sunrise Ave is a 5 minute walk from the nearest public transit stop. If you are travelling by car there is on-site parking. 

There is step free access to the main entrance located at the side of the building parallel to the parking lot. The first door on the right hand side, once in the main entrance, is access to the studio. The studio entrance requires a key and there is no button to open the door, so someone may require assistance. There are narrow aisles and sharp turns to get into the gender-neutral washroom within the space. There are no grab bars in the bathroom and the toilet is not raised. There is a small lip on the floor upon entering the bathroom. Akin does have access to a wheelchair accessible gender-neutral washroom in the hall across from the Akin studio within the building. 

The space is not ideal for people with sensory processing issues, due to the white noise in the building.

Calls for Artists! Exhibitions, Residencies, Grant Programs and Professional Development Opportunities for you to apply to!

The John Willard Fibre Arts Residency at the Art Gallery of Burlington - Deadline December 15

John Willard (1939-2014) in front of one of his quilts, 2014

To celebrate the remarkable life of quilt maker, fibre artist, and community leader John Willard and to continue his legacy as a fibre art teacher, the John Willard Fibre Arts Residency Fund will enable artists access to one of the AGB resident fibre studios to develop a body of work for a solo exhibition. This exhibition will benefit from a small brochure including curatorial text, and will be presented in the RBC Gallery at the Art Gallery of Burlington.

The residency will provide a $2000 honorarium, a solo curated exhibition with publication, 10 days in one of the fibre studios (dates to be confirmed), as well as curatorial mentoring in person to the successful candidate from the beginning of the residency to the opening of the exhibition and potential invitation to teach in our hands-on program or a specific workshop.

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Trinity Square Video call for video art - Deadline December 15, 2017

Trinity Square Video is proud to announce the sixth annual juried student video screening event, Video Fever.

If you are or have been an undergraduate student at a Toronto or surrounding area post-secondary institution (as far out as London and Kingston) in 2018 and you make videos, you qualify. Submissions must be single channel videos under 10 minutes in length and will be selected for screening by the Video Fever jury. Videos will be judged solely according to their artistic merit: we are looking for works that offer conceptual and formal innovations in their investigation into video as a critical medium. This is a professional, juried screening and all chosen artists will receive a screening fee and a free one-year membership to Trinity Square Video.

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Toronto Employment & Social Services 'Art Connections' Professional Development Program - Deadline ASAP

Beginning January 2018, attend professional development workshops, connect with industry experts within the arts sector and participate in art exhibitions Learn about funding sources, The program includes information on grant writing, professional associations, creating online portfolios and more.

Art Connections candidates must:
• be foreign-trained professional visual artists
• wish to pursue a creative career in Canada
• be able to communicate in English, and
• commit to a series of group meetings/workshops over a period of two months

Call Aleksandra Molnar: 416-392-2869 for further information.

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Fogo Island Arts Residency Program - Deadline December 21, 2017

Fogo Island Arts residencies provide opportunities for artists to live and work on Fogo Island for one to two months. Artists-in-residence are provided with a studio, accommodation in a traditional Newfoundland home, a vehicle for on-island use, and a weekly stipend to offset the costs of materials and day-to-day living expenses. Most travel expenses are covered. Artists-in-residence must give one public presentation, performance, workshop, or similar event during their residency.

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Glenfiddich Call to Canadian Artists for the Coveted 2018 Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Prize - Deadline January 25, 2018

This is an Open Call to Artists currently living and working in Canada to enter the internationally renowned competition for the prestigious 2018 Glenfiddich® Artists in Residence Prize. The three-month summer residency is valued at over $20,000 CDN per artist. Now in its 17th year, the program covers the cost of travel, living expenses and materials throughout the residency.

The Canadian winner will be one of eight artists worldwide to be awarded the coveted prize to live and work at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland. While living in crofts (traditional small Scottish farm houses), artists are encouraged to take inspiration from the unique setting in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The experience provides an opportunity unlike any other for artists to work in an international community, share in a dialogue with other artists and foster cross-disciplinary ideas.

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ArtReach 2018 Granting Program for Youth Art Projects in Toronto - Deadline February 1, 2018

ArtReach is a funding program designed to support youth arts initiatives in Toronto that foster youth engagement and provide high quality arts opportunities. $300,000 in grants are available to support youth arts projects, thanks to our amazing partnership with the Toronto Arts Council.

ArtReach aims to support meaningful engagement of Toronto youth (13-29), who have experienced and/or are experiencing exclusion from active participation in quality arts opportunities.

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Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition - Deadline March 6, 2018

Visual artists and makers in craft & design are invited to apply for the 57th Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition at Nathan Phillip’s Square on July 6 - 8, 2018! A perfect chance to showcase your work to over 115,000 art lovers and buyers at Canada’s largest contemporary outdoor art fair.

Grant Writing 101 Workshop with the Ontario Arts Council

January 11 / 6:30-8:30pm / Committee Room 2, Second Floor East Side, Toronto City Hall - 100 Queen Street West

PWYC (Suggested Donation $5 to help defray Akin’s costs) / Please RSVP at www.universe.com/grantwriting

Join Akin and the Ontario Arts Council to learn how to learn more about how to get grants from the people that give them! Tickets are selling out fast so reserve your seat online today! 

Writing grants is a significant part of many artist's careers- so let's learn how to do it properly! This interactive workshop will explore the process of planning, writing and submitting grant proposals to different governing bodies. As a major funder themselves, the Ontario Arts Council provides clear examples of the grant writing process and the various the dos and don'ts of everything from creating your budget to organizing your support material and work plan. Following this, there will be an extensive Q&A period.

Toronto City Hall is fully wheelchair accessible. Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can assist you. Email michael@akincollective.com by January 3, 2018 and we will do our best to accommodate you! Thank you. 

About the Presenter:
Maya Bedward is a filmmaker, arts educator and community-engaged artist from Toronto, ON. She is also the Information Services Coordinator at the Ontario Arts Council, where she helps artists and arts professionals navigate OAC’s many funding programs.

"All Are Welcome” by Akin Dupont member Bernadette Peets in the Akin Vitrine Gallery

Introducing our Akin Vitrine Gallery December exhibition, “All Are Welcome” by Akin Dupont member, Bernadette Peets.

“I have been thinking a lot about how recent immigrants and in particular refugees who come to Canada feel about us, this country and in particular what their experience is of our landscapes. 

Is Canadian society the open, warm and friendly culture that we like to think it is for these newcomers? Is our pristine landscape available to them? Does it represent a refuge or is it viewed as threatening due to its vastness and unknown dangers?

I often use wild animals in my shadow boxes to represent the vulnerability of the human characters in the narrative. In this case, the deer with the bullseye carries the symbol of the 'hunted' while at the same time acting as a warning to these individuals. The orange screen across the front is meant to slightly obscure the scene so that the viewer must look even closer to be able to see it completely. The screen says "All Are Welcome" but also acts as a barrier or an enclosure reminiscent of a refugee camp. The scenes on the side walls remind us of the origins of the travellers and the reflective surface creates a way for all of the scenes and characters to merge.

I think that we still need to go some distance in our understanding of how these newcomers may be feeling in their new reality and how we might bridge the gap between viewing them as 'other' and more as part of our communities.” 

Bernadette was born in Toronto where she currently lives and works. Her studio is in the Akin Collective at 1485 Dupont Street. She graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1996 where she majored in Drawing, Painting and Art History. She lived in Florence Italy for two years (1987–88 & 1994–95) where she continued to study Art History and develop her craft as a painter.

She has explored many themes over the past 20 years of her art practice and while she has mainly used painting as her medium she has also included three dimensional installation work as well as other pictorial devices that include shadow boxes, photographs, drawing and printmaking.

Her subjects of interest have been rooted in her political, social and aesthetic ideals. Whether she is using her work as a platform for a discussion on topics as diverse as the female body image to issues relating to the Indigenous Nations in Canada, her approach is always connected to her strong sense of design, colour and technical precision.

Craft is important to her as an effective means of communication. She believes that having a high quality of execution in her work facilitates a more effective communication of her intent.

‘All Are Welcome' 
Mixed Media
Variable Dimensions

The Akin Vitrine Gallery is located at the Clock Factory Building at 1485 Dupont Street (entrance on Campbell Avenue). Find Akin Studio 215 on the second floor and follow the sign into the hallway around the corner.

The building is open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, or to arrange a viewing outside of those hours please contact the artist: bernadettepeets1@gmail.com

www.bernadettepeets.com
Instagram: @b_peets
#AkinVitrine

You're Invited to the Akin Holiday Party & Open House!

Akin invites you to join us on Saturday December 16 at Akin Lansdowne for an afternoon of good cheer at the Akin Holiday Party! We want to celebrate with you! Everyone is welcome!

In 2017 Akin collaborated with some amazing partners, and opened four new studio locations and welcomed many more artists to the studios. This party is a celebration for members from all seven Akin studios, as well as our neighbors, community partners, friends and family and anyone interested in celebrating with us! 

Studio 101 will be open from 12-5pm. Come and stay for a while. Mingle, enjoy the pot luck and browse the market featuring art and objects by Akin members! 

Dress festive, fun or fancy! Children of all ages welcome, but please no pets. Non-alcoholic drinks will be provided but feel free to BYOB. Food and snacks for the pot luck are welcome! Please provide labels for any common allergens. 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Getting there:
By TTC:
Akin Lansdowne is walking distance from Lansdowne Subway Station and is accessible by the Bloor­/Danforth subway line (Line 2) and the 47 Lansdowne Bus.

By car:
There is no reserved onsite parking but there is street parking on Wade Ave, Paton Road, and Lansdowne Ave - please check the street signs for hours. For after hours parking there is a Green P lot located at 695 Lansdowne Ave.

Accessibility:
Akin Lansdowne is not currently wheelchair accessible. Akin regrets this barrier to access.

When you arrive at Akin Lansdowne's entrance at the north side of the building, there are 6 steps into the building to access studio 101. There are two steps into the main floor gender-neutral washroom. There are no grab bars in the washroom and the toilets are not raised. The washroom on the second floor is level.

Support Akin Projects 2018 Programming Schedule this #givingtuesday

Today, Giving Tuesday, Nov. 28, you can help support our city's artists.

Your contributions to Akin Projects provide vital funding for our ambitious programming calendar of activities and initiatives. Throughout the year our community work, workshops, exhibitions and educational programs provide free or low-cost opportunities and services for artists and creatives across the city- including paying professional artist fees to Canadian artists.

Akin Fundraiser T-Shirts designed by Billy Franklin of Akin Dupont and Cierra Frances of Akin Sunrise

This #GivingTuesday we ask you to consider supporting our community programming by donating or making a contribution through a purchase in our fundraising online shop! We have limited edition artist designed fundraiser T-Shirts for sale ($20 each, see below!) as well as amazing deals on our artist made colouring books, 'Akin' enamel lapel pins and our Benefit Edition Prints!

Akin Projects would like to extend a huge thank you to those of you who supported our programming initiatives throughout 2017. To everyone who attended an event, bought Akin merchandise, or donated funds to our non-profit: your support means the world to us! 

We hope to see you at the  Akin Holiday Party on December 16 at Akin Lansdowne from 12-5pm where you can drop off a donation to our clothing drive, pick up merchandise and artist's work (and have a couple of mugs of mulled wine).

Click Here to Visit the Online Shop

Click Here to Donate Now

Click Here to RSVP to the Akin Holiday Party

Interested in supporting Akin and our community programs in other ways? Learn more here or get in touch by emailing michael@akincollective.com

Thank you!
Love, Akin

Where to find Akin Members at the One Of A Kind Show this week!

This time of year we start to feel a robust urge to get cozy and spread the love to family and friends. From baking cookies to decorating and spending quality time together, the cold makes us want to connect with each other, and for those who are organized it also means the beginning of the gift-giving season!!

So why not buy from our very own local hand-makers at Akin?! You'll get an opportunity to see some of the products Akin members make on December 16th at the Akin Holiday Party Market (there's still time to apply!). But there are many Akin members at the One Of A Kind Show this year as well! Check out these amazing makers: 

KAROLINA-ANNA HAJNA: Akin Ossington          OOAK Booth A23

Karolina Hajna is currently an Akin Ossington member who makes beautifully delicate cast spheres which are then hand-carved and drilled, or otherwise altered. Her forms often play with the shadows cast by lights shone from within or without. Check her out at booth A23 at the furthest West Wall. 

A23

Karolina-Anna Hajna

JANET HINKLE: Akin Ossington          OOAK Booth P22

Janet Hinkle is the star behind Hinkleville Handmade, a super trendy and ultra sweet little company that has taken Toronto by storm! Lovely soft colours and speckled clay with stenciled shapes are trademark techniques, as well as her popular sleepy-eyed pots.

P22

Hinkleville Handmade

LEORA ISRAEL : Akin Dufferin          OOAK Booth C52

The Otter Potter is Leora Israel from Akin Dufferin. She is in the Rising Stars section this year, offering a variety of gorgeous glittery treasures from cute christmas tree and cat pins to the most adorable mini marbled vases. Visit her at Booth C52 to take one home!

C52

The Otter Potter

ALLIE CROZA: Akin Ossington          OOAK Booth D63

Allie Croza runs Your Pal, Al and works out of Akin's Ossington and Dupont location. Her elegant but accessible concrete planters and cacti are a great gift for anyone and everyone. Each piece is slightly different and affordable for all budgets. Go visit her against the far wall near the Flavours section.

D63

Your Pal, Al

KATE MIOR: Akin Dufferin          OOAK Booth Q45

Currently operating out of a store front on Queen West, Kate has been a tenant at Akin for 5 years. Her business Bone & Busk (previously named Totally Waisted) has steadily grown and she is now operating at full production for custom and off-the-rack corsets and couture. Visit her in the Fashion District at OOAk Booth Q45 at the North end. 

Q45

Bone & Busk

Ceramics Show & Tell at the Gardiner Museum

Akin Projects is excited to present special ceramics edition of the ‘Show & Tell’ for artists at The Gardiner Museum led by artist and Akin Studio Manager, Erin Candela.

Informative, supportive and fun—this is a time for artists to show completed works or works in progress and get friendly feedback and answers from their peers in a casual (this time a museum!) setting. Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two or just bring yourself. Come for the conversation about art, or just to meet other artists and makers.

Attendance is free, but please register to attend: 

This is a free program part of Ceramic Change: How to Make It, a one day workshop intensive for emerging artists and makers in the expanded field of ceramics in conjunction with the exhibition Steven Heinemann: Culture & Nature, This one-day workshop intensive will focus on the nuts and bolts of professional survival and enabling skilled connections. From building your own DIY wooden kiln to local clay harvesting, these presentations, workshops, and conversations will dig deep into what it means to pursue a sustainable maker practice in Toronto today.

About the Gardiner Museum:
The Gardiner Museum is Canada's national ceramics museum. It was founded by George and Helen Gardiner in 1984 to house their collection of ceramic art. Its permanent collection of over 2,900 pieces, includes works from the Ancient Americas, Italian Renaissance, English Delftware, Chinese and Japanese porcelain, European porcelain, and a contemporary gallery. In addition to the permanent collections, the museum mounts three temporary exhibitions per year as well as a variety of community programming. For more information visit www.gardinermuseum.on.ca

Getting There:
Subway/Bus: From Bloor-Danforth Line — St. George Station is the closest fully accessible stop to the Gardiner’s main entrance. Take elevators to street level at the Bloor Street and Bedford Road entrance. Go south on Bedford to Bloor. Then east along Bloor to Queen's Park. The Gardiner is just south of Bloor on the east side of Queen's Park. From Yonge-University Subway Line — Museum Station is the closest subway stop to the Gardiner's main entrance. This stop is not wheelchair accessible.

Accessibility: 
The Gardiner Museum is fully wheelchair accessible. The wheelchair ramp is located on the south side of the entrance. Click here for more accessibility information.  Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can assist you. Email michael@akincollective.comat least one week before the event and we will do our best to accommodate you. Thank you.

Art Propagandha Show One

Akin S. Clair member Stanislav Plavic's group show 'Art Propagandha Show One' Opening Saturday, November 25, at 5pm 2017, Party from 7:00 PM - late, 2381 Dundas Street West.

Paralia Newcomer Arts Network - Support for newcomer and refugee artists

Paralia supports and promotes newcomer artists as well as encourages their self-sustainability by providing them with the skills and resources needed in order to establish an artistic presence in Canada.

Toronto Arts Council has announced two new granting programs for newcomer and refugee artists. Individual artists working in any discipline can apply to develop their arts practice with the help of a mentor through the Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship program. Organizations and collectives that are engaging newcomers and refugees through the arts can apply for funding through the Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement program. For more information about these programs, visit: torontoartscouncil.org/Newcomer

Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship
For individuals
The total grant is $10,000. $5,000 is paid directly to the applicant and $5,000 is paid directly to the mentor.

Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement:
For organizations and collectives
The set grant amount is $20,000. This grant may cover up to 100% of project costs.

Contemporary Art Bus Tour on November 19

CONTEMPORARY ART BUS TOUR
Sunday, November 19, 2017 | 12–5 PM | FREE

The tour picks up at Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West) then departs for Blackwood Gallery, Oakville Galleries, and Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery.

To RSVP: email blackwood.gallery@utoronto.ca or call 905-828-3789 by Friday, November 17 at 5pm.

The City of Toronto StreetARToronto 2018 Information Session on November 16

StreetARToronto (StART) is a proactive program that aims to support and increase awareness of street art throughout the city. StART's mission is to see Toronto as a 'living work of art’ by creating partnerships (between the City, residents, businesses, and the creative community), reducing graffiti vandalism, encouraging civic discussion about public art, using art to foster place making, and providing funds, materials, and mentorship opportunities.

StART will be holding an Information Session, Photo Exhibit and Workshop Series beginning November 16. If you would like to know more about StART programs including how and when to apply in 2018, please RSVP here: http://bit.ly/2yMOimQ and attend one or more of the following events:

INFO SESSION
November 16, 2017
4pm - 5:30 pm
Pia Bouman School, 6 Noble Street
RSVP (requested but not required): http://bit.ly/2yMOimQ

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT & NETWORKING
November 16, 2017
6pm -8 pm
Northern Contemporary Gallery, 1266 Queen St W (Across the street from the Info Session – enter off of Noble Street)
Photo exhibit runs from Nov 16 - Nov 24.
RSVP (requested but not required): http://bit.ly/2yMOimQ

WORKSHOPS
All workshops will be held at Northern Contemporary Gallery
1266 Queen St W (entrance is on Noble Street)
Workshop space is limited, RSVP required: http://bit.ly/2yMOimQ

NOV 20
2pm-4pm
Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being: Interpretation of Land and People
With Philip Cote

NOV 21
2pm-4pm
Outside the Box: What Makes a Good Application? Hands on Workshop
With Bareket Kezwer

NOV 22
2pm-4pm
Indigenous Cultural Competency Training
With Michael Etherington

NOV 23
10am – 12 Noon
Working with Communities Through an Equity Lens
With Neighbourhood Arts Network

NOV 24
2pm-4pm
The Art of Persuasion: Working with Property Owners and Scaling Up Your Portfolio
With Artist Jerry Rugg (of Akin Dufferin)

Save Inspirations Studio!

Inspirations studio is a unique hybrid social enterprise/self-employment program for women who have been impacted by poverty, trauma, homelessness, mental and physical health or addiction issues. Through the making and selling of their pottery, members gain stability, a sense of community, supplemental income, a creative practice and a new way to see themselves.

We are heartbroken to share that Inspirations Studio is facing imminent closure.  For 23 years, the ceramics-based program has supported hundreds of low-income women who have been impacted by poverty, homelessness, addiction, trauma, and mental health issues. Please consider supporting Inspirations Studio on their CandaHelps fundraising page: 

The fundraising campaign will raise funds for rent and studio supplies so the members can continue to access a creative space, generate income and maintain a sense of meaning and purpose. Inspirations Studio is a one-of-a-kind program and has provided scores of women with a lifeline for 23 years. It would be a tragedy to let it come to an end in such a short time.  Thank you for your support and for spreading the word!

In the Round opening reception this Thursday

Graven Feather presents In the Round V opening this Thursday from 7-10pm at 906 Queen St West. Featuring hundreds of new original works by local and international artists including Rebekah Andrade, ClayGirl Ceramics and Erin Candela of Akin Dufferin. Laura Elliot, Julianne Ess, and Jen Pilles of Akin Lansdowne. Bernadette Peets of Akin Dupont and Renee Castonguay of Akin Sunrise. 

In The Round is an open call art exhibition that encourages artists to work in any medium yet on the same platform. Each artist is given three 6" rounds on which to create their work. The result is a collection of work which is varied and each piece is spectacular in it's uniqueness. The rounds will be sold directly off the wall so for the best view of the show be sure to arrive early!

Exhibition Runs Thursday, November 16th - Sunday November 26th

About Graven Feather:
Established in 2011, Graven Feather is an arts space committed to working with emerging artists. Starting 2017 we made a big change from our West Queen West location.  We have started a nomadic year and will be leading events and workshops throughout the city.  We have also launched residencies and classes from our new cozy studio in the Junction Triangle.  

Last Show & Tell of the year - Nov 29 at Akin Dufferin

Wednesday November 29 / 7-9pm / Akin Dufferin - 444 Dufferin St, Unit E / FREE

On the last Wednesday of every month Akin host’s a relaxed and fun ‘Show and Tell for Artists’ at one of the Akin Collective studios. This is a time for Akin members and other Toronto artists to show completed works or works in progress and get friendly feedback and answers from their peers in a casual studio setting. 

Please note: There will not be a Show and Tell in December, but we will resume in the new year! 

Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two, bring snacks or drinks or just bring yourself! Come for the conversation or just to meet other artists and makers. This is FREE public event - everyone is welcome!

This month we are meeting at Akin Dufferin in Unit E at 444 Dufferin St. See you there! 

Accessibility:
Unit E is on the ground floor. It has step free access through main entrance, though there is a small lip at the entrance and there are two doors to pass through. The doors are not automated. There is a ground level accessible gender-neutral washroom. There are no grab bars in the washroom and the toilet is not raised. The floor is at ground level throughout the studio and there is a loading dock that allows for vehicle access.

Walnut's 10th Anniversary party next Saturday!

Walnut Studios is celebrating their 10 year Anniversary and opening its doors to the public for their annual Holiday Art Exhibition and celebration! 

Walnut Studios is a collective art studio in the King West Village, housing 55 artists working in a variety of disciplines including painting, jewellery, fashion design, sculpture, photography, graphic design, and installation.

Established in 2007, Walnut is a hub of creativity, inspiration, and collaboration.

On November 18th, Walnut will open the doors of the warehouse studio to allow the public to come in for a holiday celebration of art and share in the creative process.

Saturday, November 18th, 7-11pm
PWYC at the door
Reception • Cash bar • DJ

Please join us and support local artists in the community!

PUBLIC ART: Why should we care? A Conversation - This Wednesday!

Partners in Art in partnership with The Power Plant presents a free public event this Wednesday November 15, 6:30 pm

PUBLIC ART: Why should we care? A Conversation

Bring your curiosity. Bring friends. Bring your questions.
Public art is a powerful vehicle that stimulates conversation, changes perspectives, and can delight or provoke us. Join leading Toronto-based thinkers in an inspirational conversation about the possibilities of excellence in public art.

1 compelling idea + 4 unique thinkers = A Great Conversation

Rebecca Carbin, Public Art Program Manager, Waterfront Toronto
Elle Flanders, Filmmaker and Artist, Public Studio
An Te Liu, Artist
Marianne McKenna, Architect and Founding Partner, KPMB
Moderated by Gail Lord, President and Co-Founder, Lord Cultural Resources

Each speaker will present their personal views on the power of excellent public art. We will then have an open conversation on the myriad possibilities. RSVP REQUIRED! Please email events@partnersinart.ca to RSVP

6:30-7:15 - Reception
7:15-8:15 - Conversation
8:15-9:00 - Post-Talk Reception

Harbourfront Centre's Fleck Dance Theatre
207 Queens Quay West
3rd Floor, Queen's Quay Terminal
Venue is accessible

Gardiner Museum: Request for Proposals for the Community Arts Space 2018

Application Deadline: December 1, 2017 at 5 pm
Exhibition Dates: Summer 2018
Information Session: November 15, 2017 from 2 - 4 pm

Since the summer of 2016, the Gardiner Museum’s Community Arts Space has acted as an incubator for arts-based community projects. Inspired by the transformative aspects of ceramics, both real and metaphorical, the Community Arts Space initiates dialogue and the hands-on creation of equitable and inclusive cultural initiatives that engage and give voice to local communities.

The Gardiner’s 307-square-metre third-floor special exhibition hall and outdoor plaza are open to proposals for the summer of 2018 from July 3 to August 31. We’re inviting applications from cultural and community organizations, collectives, presenters, artists, curators, designers, makers, architects, organizers, and producers that outline what they would do in the space that relates to our Community Arts Space theme over a two-week period.

The possibilities are endless—dance, music or theatre performances, workshops, community arts outreach, installations, performance art—our space is yours for the taking!

Theme: Recent Histories
Ceramics have played an important role in our understanding of cultures throughout history. From a ritual Maya plate to a souvenir coffee mug, these domestic clay objects reveal both our public and private daily rituals: how we eat, drink, celebrate, and experience place. As a public institution, the Gardiner is keenly aware of our responsibility to be an active force in the community and truly reflect the histories, lived experiences, and traditions of our publics. What then is the role of a museum in cultivating the so-called lived and living memory? How is cultural knowledge passed on or performed? Within certain marginalized communities, how are these histories preserved and communicated across generations?

The Gardiner has a podium and we want you to use it.

Community Partners:
This year, we have partnered with The 519 and Akin Collective, who will be involved in the selection process and will offer off-site workspace, free studio time, and other resources toward the shaping and delivery of specific projects.

About the Gardiner Museum:
The Gardiner Museum is a vital cultural institution and an innovator within Toronto’s cultural landscape. The Gardiner celebrates the creativity of clay and the beauty that ceramics bring into our lives in so many ways. Clay is real, remarkable, and relevant in today’s society.

The Museum has collections of international importance, including but not limited to objects from the Ancient Americas, eighteenth-century European porcelain, and contemporary ceramics, particularly the work of great Canadian artists.

The Gardiner is an institution rooted in its community, which helps artists take risks and inspires diverse audiences through clay.

Apply Now for 2017 Artist Residencies at the Khel Centre for Creativity & Inner Peace

Nestled amongst 10 acres of nature, Khel Creative & Meditative Arts Centre Artist-in-Residence program offers creative development opportunities for emerging and mid-career, national and international artists, designers, art educators, writers, journalists & researchers. This is a self-directed, non-instructional program. Khel welcomes those from diverse disciplines especially interested in creating work with, or inspired by Canada and nature. 

Khel's mission is to provide artists with a live & work space so that they can have undisturbed time to research, develop and further their creative pursuits. Artist residencies run from 2 - 14 days. You get full 24 hour access to your 300 sq. feet art studio, private accommodation and resources to help you in your creativity. At Khel , mindfulness and meditative arts are offered as a part of your stay, if you choose. There are simple meditation sittings daily, in the evenings. Khel's view is that meditation is a tool to calm the mind and can help further your creative potential.