Akin Stockyards is Here!

We’re incredibly excited to announce the opening of our newest studio space in Toronto’s West end, Akin Stockyards! Akin Stockyards is located at 2231 St Clair Ave West (near Runnymede) and our team has been hard at work to make it ready with room for more than 70 members. Akin Stockyards opened on February 7, 2022 and we are looking forward to welcoming new members to join this budding community. 

There will be Shared Memberships available for $71/month, which includes access to shared working areas, shared storage, kitchen, dining area and bathrooms. There are also 60 Dedicated Memberships available (your own studio) with studios ranging from 30sf for $191 / month - 155sf for $597 / month. 

Akin Stockyards is located on the ground floor. There are no steps to enter the building and no steps throughout the building. There are two bathrooms for all genders, both bathrooms have grab bars, a 5’ turning radius, and 36” wide doors. Aisles and pathways between the studio spaces are between 3’3” and 5’ wide. There are 5 parking spaces for car parking, there is no on-site parking for bicycles. 

You can check out online documentation of the Akin Stockyards studios to get a sense of our space. The images are organized according to the studio code (example: STO-25, STO-26) which can be seen on the floor plan in each image folder. 

Priority for studios will be given to 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. 

We would like to acknowledge the support of our partners Marlin Spring and Greybrook for making this space available for our community. We’re excited to welcome you into this studio and we can’t wait for you to be a part of this new community.

Please email info@akincollective.com to learn more!

Love Letter to your Art Practice

Do you hold love for your art practice? How do you recognize it? How do you show it? A Love Letter to your Practice facilitated by Yasmeen Nematt Alla, invites artists, makers, and creatives to join us for a writing and meditation workshop to celebrate the love we hold for our art practices. For most of us, our practices have supported our passions, our livelihoods, and our mental health. We hope to spend time together gathering as we discuss ways to show care to the very things that push us forward.

This event will take place online on March 9th at 6PM to 7:30PM.

Please join the event with a writing or drawing utensil and some paper.

You can sign up in our link: http://ow.ly/eERM50I3TwH

Yasmeen Nematt Alla(she/her) is an Egyptian immigrant and settler living in Tkaronto, Turtle Island (colonially known as Toronto, Ontario). Her practice centres alienated collectivist narratives from an immigrant’s and an interpreter’s perspective. As someone who lives between cultures, she deciphers language barriers attached to togetherness through textiles, performance, and reactive sculptures that are often situated in social practice. She wonders how translation, experiences, and visuals intertwine with care, grief, and community building.

Akin Taxes for Artists Workshop

Tax season can be a particularly stressful and confusing time for artists, performers and other creatives. This workshop will help you get prepared! With decades of experience in accounting and taxation, Kelly Ross will spend an hour discussing some of the most important tax topics for artists including: tax preparation, deductions, tax deadlines, HST, how to handle grants, T4s and more. The session is suitable for artists who are new to filing taxes or those who are looking for a refresher. Please come prepared with your questions, or email them in advance to erin@akincollective.com . This session will be recorded, and Closed Captions available. An ASL Interpreter will be in attendance.

Date: January 25th

Time: 6PM-8PM

Place: Online

Accessibility: This session will be recorded, and Closed Captions available. An ASL Interpreter will be in attendance.

Facilitator: Kelly Ross is the Managing Director and CEO of Ross Professional Corporation. She is a member of CPA Canada leading with strength, knowledge and passion, having over 20 years of experience in accounting and taxation. Through her career she worked in a multi-national CPA firm, then moved on to be a subject matter expert for development of an accounting program at a college. Kelly’s interest and passion for accounting came from her mother whose career was in the accounting realm. Kelly has a love for the arts and entertainment industry, which stemmed from having a father who had talent and love for music. Kelly herself played the piano, trumpet and was a dancer through her early years. Now in her downtime, Kelly can be found around the hockey rinks supporting her daughter’s hockey team and following her nephews in their live band performances. She is truly a people person and has a special skill making everyone she meets feel special.

Akin Waterfront is Here!

Toronto, ON - January 18, 2022. Akin is excited to announce the opening of Akin Waterfront—a new studio marking a brand new year! Steps away from Sugar Beach, Akin Waterfront is located at 200 Queens Quay E, near Toronto’s city core.  

The studio features 17 dedicated studios ranging from 30sf to 300sf, a shared workspace and room for 15 shared memberships. It also features the Akin Waterfront Flex Space, a new initiative that offers a multi-use shared space dedicated to private showings, work documentation, and workshop presentations to meet the needs of our creative membership.    

The opening of Akin Waterfront comes at a vital time—allowing Akin to relocate members from the recently closed Akin Ossington into new spaces to replace their former studios. While Akin Waterfront studios are fully occupied, artists are encouraged to join the Akin waiting lists for future available spaces. 

A huge thank you to our community for filling out last year’s Waterfront Survey with over 65 responses. Your participation allowed us to shape the space in a way that works for our members. We’re so grateful for you and for our inaugural Akin Waterfront cohort who gets to celebrate and cultivate this new community in times when community is needed most. We would also like to acknowledge our partnership with Waterfront Toronto and the support they offered in making this endeavour possible!  

For any questions, please contact info@akincollective.com for more information.

In Response to Growing COVID-19 Changes

As COVID-19 continues to affect our community, we are determined to keep you informed on how these changes can impact Akin members. The Ontario government recently announced an Update to Public Health Measures in response to Omicron (COVID-19), temporarily moving to a modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen.

While Akin studios remain open at this time to members, we have revised our studio policies in response to the rapidly spreading and highly transmissible Omicron Variant, we continue to adjust our policies in order to protect Akin members and our community as a whole. Click here to view Akin's COVID-19 Protocol at Akin Studios.

Some additional changes in the Public Health Measures from the Ontario Government which may impact some Akin Members:

• PCR testing and contract tracing is no longer widely available in Ontario unless you are a "high-risk" individual. The full list of who is eligible for PCR testing and contract tracing can be found here. In addition, most individuals with a positive result from a rapid antigen test will no longer be required or encouraged to get a confirmatory PCR or rapid molecular test.

• If you have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19, or if you have COVID-19 symptoms, or have tested positive for COVID-19 with a rapid test, the government is advising that you assume it is COVID-19 and you self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days. 

• Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms who are vaccinated will be required to isolate for 105 days following the onset of symptoms. Their household contacts are also required to isolate with them. These individuals can end isolation after five days if their symptoms are improved for at least 24 hours and all public health and safety measures, such as masking and physical distancing, are followed. 

• Individuals who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised will be required to isolate for a minimum of 10 days. 

• If you have COVID-19 (or have symptoms or been in touch with someone who has) you should also notify your close contacts. A close contact is anyone you were less than two metres away from for at least 15 minutes, or multiple shorter lengths of time, without personal protective equipment in the 48 hours before your symptoms began or your positive test result, whichever came first. 

• Employers cannot threaten, fire, or penalize an employee in any other way because the employee took or plans on taking job-protected leave due to COVID-19, and doctors notes are not required for employees to use the leave. You can learn more about job-protected leave here.

If you require assistance while isolating, visit COVID-19: Support for people. You can also contact their public health unit for many isolation supports including:

• Use of isolation facilities;

• Referral to community supports and agencies;

• Mental health supports;

• Courier and delivery supports for food and necessities;

Additional resources available to support isolation through the High Priority Communities strategy.

Please don’t hesitate to email us with any questions or concerns at info@akincollective.com

We hope the upcoming days are safe and healthy for you and your loved ones,

Akin

Happy Holidays from Akin!

The year is coming to an end and we wanted to wish each of you a warm and safe holiday season. This was a year of recovery, reflection, and of supporting our community of artists. The past year marked many milestones with Akin and we wanted to take a minute to acknowledge said milestones and share with you some of the highlights of the 2021. 

A Growing Akin!

Image Description: 8 Akin members and staff are gathered together. They are smiling at the camera and are standing over some benches and the corner of a brick building.

We began the year with the introduction of our six new Akin Projects board members, and welcomed Tannis Nielsen as our Indigenous Studio Space Advisor. Throughout the year we also added three new Akin staff members to our growing team. 

We celebrated our 2021 RBC Space Award Winners, BigArtTO Artists, Akin members at TOAF, and saw many more of you create around the city in new and exciting ways. Our ongoing series of @akinprojects Instagram Takeovers has featured the works and thoughts of our artists and makers.

You helped us support artists:

Image Description: On a white background is text that reads How have we allocated resources from the Akin Rent Relief Fund?. A pie graph breaks down three sections: the biggest slice in the darkest orange has text that reads $20,389 distributed out to over a 100 artists." The second slice in orange has text that reads, $1,159 Akin's admin, and the final darker orange slice has text that reads $1640 left in funds. In the right upper corner is the Akin logo.

Funded by artists and our generous donors, our Rent Relief Fund distributed $20,389 out to over 100 artists in the city of Toronto and continues to support our members. We’ve also launched our Friends of Akin Donor Program which helps bring to life our vision and mission to sustain and improve the art ecosystem in Toronto for the next generation of artists and communities. 

We said goodbye to spaces we loved; Akin X Collision Gallery, Akin Lakeshore, and Akin Ossington. Endings however are often signs of new beginnings because we also launched Akin Logan, and are looking forward to welcoming a new cohort of artists to the Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG as well as launching new studio locations across the city in the new year!

Despite the challenges of the year, we held a number of exhibitions, workshops, show and tells, and get togethers—some even in real life!—and through it we created, shared, and connected over our art practices. 

We're so grateful for YOU!

Image Description: A number of people gathered in a studio space that contains hung up art as well as tables and chairs. There is a person at the front speaking as the people look towards them.

Finally, a huge thank you to our studio members for being a part of our community! Akin would not exist without your passion, your dedication, your creations, your support and your presence. Thank you for sharing through these times with us and we are looking forward to another year together. 

Have a wonderful end of your year and here’s to brighter days ahead and a kind, healthy and joyful new year.  

With care and warmth, 

Akin

Ghostmoth by Claire Correia

Want to add some art viewing to your solstice? Check out our Vitrine Gallery featuring Ghostmoth by Claire Correia (@claire.correia)!

Correia writes, "Although giant cecropia moths still thrive in the woods of Ontario, and I look for them all the time, I’ve only ever seen one. In this artwork, a life-sized silver wire-formed cecropia moth resting on a radiant green leaf mandala forms a symbol of these reclusive and seldom-seen forest creatures.

Presenting the moth as a ghostly form both implies its elusive nature, and also suggests its vulnerability, as the important wild places where these creatures live are threatened by both climate change and blind commercial development.

I’m concerned about longevity in all of my pieces, hoping that the artwork will exist for longer than my lifespan. Many hours are spent on invisible but really important research and process experimentation, on behalf of that poor future conservator who may have to deal with the things I’ve put into the world! Making that piece was like making a magic spell; it felt as though the work was opening doors."

Check it out till January 30th!

Akin Show & Tell: Creative Seasonal Tips and Strategies

The winter season is traditionally very busy for creative makers and artisans. Winter Pop-ups and Sales are everywhere, featuring everything from handmade objects, prints, and cards. Many artists make the majority of the year's sales during this time of gift-giving and social celebration. Particularly this year, when many big markets are returning to action after the pandemic, this Show&Tell chat invites artists to exchange strategies and tips on how to best feature their products during the holiday season.

Do you have questions for other artists about what markets are worth applying to? Jump in online from 6:30 to 8pm on Tuesday December 15th, hosted by Akin facilitator Erin Candela. This group discussion focuses on ways artists can capitalize professionally, sharing packaging tips, marketing ideas, and discussing what opportunities are available for creators. Are you working on branding and sales this year? Show us what you got!

Automated Closed Captioning is available and the session may be recorded by request.

Make sure you register at our Eventbrite.

It's Giving Tuesday!

Today is November 30th, also known as Giving Tuesday! As the opening day of giving season, Giving Tuesday is a day dedicated to supporting your favourite organizations and the causes closest to your heart.

Our community supports us in countless ways and the past 20 months have cemented our belief in the transformative power of artists coming together when we need them most. We saw it in our Akin Rent Relief Fund, our virtual events, our studios, and amongst our very own members and team. 

[Image Description: On a white background is text that reads How have we allocated resources from the Akin Rent Relief Fund?. A pie graph breaks down three sections: the biggest slice in the darkest orange has text that reads $20,389 distributed out to over a 100 artists." The second slice in orange has text that reads, $1,159 Akin's admin, and the final darker orange slice has text that reads $1640 left in funds. In the right upper corner is the Akin logo.]

Our Akin Rent Relief fund is our pride and joy, supporting over a 100 artists and counting. Providing Akin artist members with anonymous one-time emergency grants towards their studio membership costs, the fund provides short term financial aid in unexpected situations or times of financial instability.

For the next 24 hours, we are hoping to reach a goal of $5000, funds that will allow us to support at least 5 artists per month for the next 5 months. These funds will be placed directly in the hands of our artist studio members.

Image Description: Text that reads Help us reach our goal! $5000. This amount can support 5 artists for the next 5 months. Akin’s logo is at the top right.

This Giving Tuesday, we are asking you to give to artists; to support their practices, their work, and to join us in our determination to make space for them in our city.

We’re grateful for you, and for the effort you put into showing us how essential it is to uplift each other during times of need.

Goodbye Akin Ossington

After 5 years of creation, community building, and holding space for artists, most recently, through an ongoing pandemic, Akin has said goodbye to Akin Ossington. Our studios closed permanently on September 30, 2021.

Located at 888 Dupont St, Akin Ossington contained our first studio dedicated to providing workspace for light industrial art making. With over 70 studio workspaces in total, ranging from 20 square feet to 250 square feet, this space allowed for both shared and private studios for artists as well as thoughtful creative programming to complement its creative members. 

This century-old historic building, used by many artists over the years was significant in many ways for the city, but also for Akin, from being one of Akin's most populated and active spaces, to holding Akin’s very first Community fridge, Akin Ossington created space for artists to gather, create, and connect with one another. Like many other spaces, Akin Ossington was heavily affected by the COVID 19 pandemic. With the support of TAS, the owner of the property, Akin was able to mitigate the rent costs and allow our artists some financial relief towards their studio spaces during a period during which artists and creatives were hit the hardest.

“It’s so disheartening to let go of a space that we’ve loved for so long. Having conversations about losing one of our studios in the middle of a pandemic showcases how much organizations like Akin need long-term spaces in the city.” - Oliver Pauk, Akin’s Founder and Director 

Since opening its first modest space in West Queen West 13 years ago, Akin has endeavoured to make being an artist an affordable and viable vocation in our city. Now more than ever, we feel Akin’s role is an important one for Toronto's cultural community and artists, as we ensure that there is always space to create, to build, and to work.

A space filled with people standing in the background. In the foreground are two people holding guitars and playing. One is wearing a blue jacket and the other is wearing a lilac sweater. Around them are speakers and guitar cases.

Instead of mourning however, Akin chose to celebrate the memories created together. TAS, Manual Arts, and Akin partnered together to bring the Akin Community a goodbye party featuring drinks, friends, and live music. Moreno Zulu, MOMxW¥FE, and Bingo Day were some of the local artists that brought their talents to 888 Dupont one last time.

Akin Ossington members were supported during the studio closure by Akin staff and team. Many of the artists have relocated their studio to our existing other Akin locations, or have been added to waiting lists for Akin’s two upcoming new studio locations in the East End.

Akin wants to thank the Akin Ossington studio members from the last five years for their creativity, collaborative spirit, patience and for contributing to the vibrant artist community in the building, and in the city. We also want to thank Berat OĞUR for capturing and putting together our Akin Ossington tribute video.

Although it is sad to say goodbye to Akin Ossington, it is exciting to look forward to the future and Akin is excited to be opening new studio locations in 2022. 

For more information, waiting list inquiries,  or to share ideas, please get in touch with info@akincollective.com. Please note that all our studios are at capacity at this time, but we are happy to share info with you and to add you to one of our waiting lists. 

Happy National Philanthropy Day!

It’s National Philanthropy Day and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank our donors, supporters, and community for another year of uplifting Akin! As we recover from the last 18 months of a global pandemic, we are thankful to be surrounded by a community that comes together to ease the burdens of artists and art workers in the city of Toronto.

During this time, we began our Akin Rent Relief Fund which has raised over $23,000 and supported over 100 artists and counting. 66% of all funds raised came directly from artists, designers, writers, and creatives within the Akin community. We were supported through forgiveness of property rents by our partners Castlepoint Numa, Kultura, Percy Ellis, QuadReal, Toronto Arts Council, and TAS, allowing us to reduce our studio membership fees for four months in 2020 and to sustain ourselves through these difficult times.

These donations and relief also helped us maintain an important connection with our communities through our programming initiatives such as Taxes for Artists, Work in Progress Show & Tell, Card Making Party, and our Indigenous Community Consultation.

These past couple of years have provided us with more evidence than ever that there is a need for organizations like Akin to advocate for artists and the need for artist spaces in our city. We’re so grateful you believe in us and the mission we continue to carry each day.

Thank you for donating to us, sharing our news, volunteering with us, and even cheering us on from the sidelines. We could not be doing any of this without you!

Akin is coming to Regent Park!

Toronto, ON - November 11, 2021. Akin is thrilled to announce that we are opening a brand new studio location, Akin Regent Park. We are looking forward to creating a space for our artists in Canada’s largest and oldest public housing neighbourhood.

Akin Regent Park studio members will have access to the space for a minimum of 3 years. There will be approximately 6 Shared Memberships available for $71/month, which includes access to shared working areas, shared storage, kitchen, and bathroom. There will also be approximately 16 Dedicated Memberships available (your own studio) with studios ranging from 30sf for $191 / month - 112sf for $485 / month. There are no completely private studios at this location, or studios over 112sf. 

Located at Akin Regent Park at 658 Dundas Street East which is on the Dundas 505 streetcar or Dundas 505 bus route and near  the 501 Queen streetcar route, 65 Parliament bus route, 365 Parliament Night bus and the 301 Queen Blue Light Night Route. 

The closest wheelchair accessible stop is Dundas St East at Regent Park Blvd, Stop ID: 15873, which is 210m  from the studio and the closest Dundas St East at River St, Stop ID: 2126 which is 110m from the studio.

You can view a map of the location at this link: 658 Dundas Street East, Toronto, ON

After years of planning, Akin Regent Park will be opening in the heart of a community that is known for its creativity and its resilience. While Akin’s nomadic nature has served it for many years, we are excited to occupy a new space where Akin artists are at the forefront of the planning process from the space’s very conception. 

A Toronto map of Akin studios in grey lines in the background. In the foreground is text that reads in black, "Deadline: Nov 25, 2021" In red text it reads, "Community Survey." with a large dot leading to a cylinder shape with a black outline and text that reads, "Akin Regent Park." On the bottom right is Akin's logo; a decagram star shape with the word akin in its centre.

In efforts to create a space that compliments the community that will occupy it, we’ve created an Akin Regent Park Community Survey to inform us of the needs of the artists that this space will be serving. We want to hear artists’ thoughts about spaces, programming, and other essentials: What do YOU want to see? What kind of programming will enrich your future community and excite you into building this new creative studio? Please fill out our Akin Regent Park Community Survey by November 25 to help us create the best space possible! 

We cannot wait to hear your thoughts and needs in our survey and we are looking forward to sharing this space with you soon! 

You can share our survey on our Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. 

For any questions please contact info@akincollective.com for more information.

Call for Applications: Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG 2022

Craving a space to grow your art practice? An opportunity to surround yourself with artists and other creatives? The Akin Studio Program applications are open and ready to accept our 2022 cohort!

The Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG (158 Sterling Road) is a unique and publicly open opportunity for art practitioners, curators and writers to lease shared studio space within the historical Auto Building at 158 Sterling Road in Toronto. In addition to a studio space throughout 2022, selected artists will be immersed within a community of peers, offering various opportunities for engagement. Studio members will be encouraged to develop and expand their individual practices while playing a role in the artistic community within the studios itself.

Studio Membership Program Start Date: January 7 2022,
Studio Membership Program End Date: December 31, 2022.

While the focus for selected artists will be to use their studio spaces for independent practice, research and development, this is an inclusive, shared studio environment where artists will benefit from insight provided by not only their studio peers and guests but also through occasional opportunities as part of the broader Akin community. 

Selected artists will be encouraged to participate in four, quarterly/seasonal public ‘Open Studio’ events that will occur across the studio program space(s) throughout 2022. This may include opportunities to present a workshop or artist talk at one of these specific events, for those that are interested.

Full application details are available at www.akin.art/call

Deadline to apply: November 22, 2021, 5:00pm EST

We're so excited to receive your applications! Please visit our Akin Studio Program Frequently Asked Questions for any questions or email us at info@akincollective.com and we'll be happy to support you in any way we can.

Share this call as widely as you can on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! 

🪁Banafsheh Erfanian, Fly Your Burning Kite🪁

🪁Banafsheh Erfanian, Fly Your Burning Kite🪁

We're so excited to present Banafsheh Erfanian from our RBC Space Recipients Exhibitions! The RBC Space Award is a partnership between Neighbourhood Arts Network and Akin. This award provides access to space for professional artists to grow their practice.

A little bit about the show from the artist:

‘Fly Your Burning Kite’ is my visual interpretation of the post-1979 revolution era in Iran. This solo painting exhibit is a contribution to the suffering my people are going through. It addresses the ongoing cultural issues Iran has been dealing with since the revolution. Iran has been experiencing crucial cultural and political changes. The use of symbolism and surrealism has been a strong tool for me to portrait this bizarre chain of events taking place in my country of origin and the destruction that has been left behind from the revolution and war. Rigidity crawled into our daily routines when we were sleeping and we became believers in ghosts more than ever. In the Middle of the East, we are chained. In the middle of the perpetual night, we are burning. Nevertheless, are we collecting ashes from which we will be reborn. Our children will fly their burning kites of dream. From the fire, clouds will be created.

The clouds will cry so loud for the ones who do not have a voice. Then the clouds will burst into tears and wipe out all this darkness. We will see once again the time when dogs were not slaughtered and crows did not migrate. It was when the wind blew into girls' hair."

We're excited to invite you to attend Fly Your Burning Kite from October 23rd to the 30th!

Check out The Echoes of Community featuring Akin Artists and their City Wide Projections in Partnership with BigArtTO!

Akin is thrilled to be partnering with BigArtTO as part of ArtworxTO to present 12 current and past Akin artists responding to the theme of “The Echoes of Community”. These projections around the city address our questions around notions of community: How do collective and community rooted experiences radically reimagine art practices? How does ancestral knowledge of the past and the future inspire our making? What is revolutionary about community ties and how do we utilize those connections to upend oppressive systems? 

Here’s when and where you can check out the works! 

Summerville Pool (1867 Lake Shore Blvd E) 

Wednesday October 6th - Saturday October 9th, 7:15pm - 10:15pm

• Afifa Bari (@_fiffs)

• kaya joan (@kayajoan)

• Rebecca Jane Houston (@rebeccajanehouston)

• Stephanie Avery (@stephvonawesome)

Etobicoke Civic Centre (399 The West Mall)

Wednesday October 13 - Saturday October 16th, 7:00pm - 10:00pm

• Walter Segers (@waltersegers)

• Hatice Erdoğan (@heart.pottery)

• Destinie Adelakun (@destiniestyles) 

• Franziska barczyk (@franziska)  

Piccininni Community Centre (1369 St. Clair Ave W)

Wednesday October 27 - Saturday October 30th, 6:30pm - 9:30pm

• Annwin Arts (@annwinarts)

• Hamid Mohammadi (@hamidxvi)

• Kyle Yip (@kylepyip)

• Diego Gutierrez (@gutierrez.gallery)

Tag us @akinprojects during your visits to the works and we’ll make sure to share it!

Call for Submissions: Akin x BigArtTO The Echoes of Community CALL EXTENDED

Call for Submissions: Akin x BigArtTO
The Echoes of Community

Akin is thrilled to be partnering with BigArtTO as part of ArtworxTO this fall with three projections happening at Summerville Pool (1867 Lake Shore Blvd E at Woodbine Ave), Etobicoke Civic Centre (Burnhamthorpe Rd at The West Mall) and Piccininni Community Centre (St Clair Ave W & Lansdowne Ave). We intend to select four artists per site, to have their artwork projected onto these buildings. Akin is inviting all current or alumni Akin Members who live or work in the City of Toronto to submit one artwork for consideration responding to the theme of “The Echoes of Community”. We would love to know: How do collective and community rooted experiences radically reimagine art practices? How does ancestral knowledge of the past and the future inspire our making? What is revolutionary about community ties and how do we utilize those connections to upend oppressive systems? Existing work or sketches / renderings of proposals for new work will be accepted. Images of the final artworks may be included in marketing materials. Please indicate on your application if you would like to be considered for a specific projection site. Your location preference will be considered by the jury. However, the overall consistency of the selected projects will be prioritized. Artists will be selected for one of the three locations.  

Submission deadline: Friday September 3rd 2021 *Extended to September 7th 2021

There are three locations where these activations will take place: 

1. Summerville Pool (1867 Lake Shore Blvd E)  
   Wednesday October 6th - Saturday October 9th, 7:15pm - 10:15pm
   

2. Etobicoke Civic Centre (399 The West Mall)
   Wednesday October 13 - Saturday October 16th, 7:00pm - 10:00pm
   

3. Piccininni Community Centre (1369 St. Clair Ave W)
   Wednesday October 27 - Saturday October 30th, 6:30pm - 9:30pm  

Compensation: 
An artist fee of $800 CAD will be paid to each selected artist 

Timeline:
Application due by: Friday September 3rd 2021, 11:59pm *Extended to September 7th 2021
Artworks reviewed & selection: First week of September
Artists to be notified by:  September 10th 2021
Final artworks due: Date depending on location selected for 
*Artists will be required to invoice for payment 

To Apply:
Applications should be submitted by email to laura@akincollective.com with the subject  line “Akin x BigArtTO” no later than Friday September 3rd at 11:59pm

In a single PDF please submit the following:

1. A brief biography of yourself and your practice. (max 200 words)

2. A brief artist statement responding to the theme of “The Echoes of Community” (max 500 words)

3. Artist CV (max 2 pages)

4. 1-3 high quality images of the existing work or renderings of unique works you are submitting for consideration as well as any related links to your work online that you would like to share. (Weblink or social media link)

5. Contact information - including phone number, email address, website and Instagram username if available.
   

We welcome and encourage applications from members of all backgrounds and perspectives to apply. Adapting the Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Group Policy, applicants who self-identify as belonging to one (or more) of Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Groups (Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIAP) will all be prioritized. 

Applicants who require additional resources, support or time to complete their applications can request as such. Please request this assistance at least one week in advance of the submission deadline. To do so, or for additional information, please contact laura@akincollective.com

*Please note, the jury consists of: Alexander Robinson, Özge Aytekin & Yasmeen Nematt Alla

Successful applicants will be contacted by email no later than : September 10 2021

Akin is Hiring a Facilities Assistant! Deadline to Apply August 18, 2021

Akin is hiring a part-time Facilities Assistant!
There are some additional details about the role in this blog post, please visit our Jobs page for the full listing. Apply by August 18, 2021.

Job location: This position will work at all Akin locations, including future new studios across Toronto.

Introduction:
Hi, I’m Sally Hood Ranscombe and I am the Facilities Manager at Akin. I began working with Akin on a casual basis when we launched in 2008. In 2019 I started working part-time in a new role as the Facilities Manager supporting Akin in various ways with all of our facilities and supplies. I'm a freelance interior designer. I’m currently looking for a, contractual Facilities Assistant to support me on-site at Akin locations with facilities and supplies-related tasks.  

As the Facilities Assistant you should have your own set of hand power tools, access to a vehicle and a valid Ontario’s driver license. You should be comfortable driving a cube van or small moving truck (as we frequently rent these) and be able to complete physical tasks such as lifting up to 70lbs plywood sheets and climbing a ladder. You should have strong communication skills and be able to read basic floor plans and follow precise measurements. I am looking for someone with the ability to work independently to complete assigned tasks on-site. Experience with general construction, maintenance, repairs would be an asset, as would be the ability to troubleshoot when an issue arises and to correspond with the appropriate tradesperson. 

You would work directly with me as your supervisor, and will also be supported by Akin;s Studio Operations Manager, Studio Managers and Studio Assistants.  You can find out more about the whole Akin Team at www.akincollective.com/team. You may also interact occasionally with tradespeople, studio members, property managers and property owners. Since our organization is very member-focused, we are hoping to connect with someone who enjoys interacting with others and is happy to communicate, on a logistical basis, with our staff and studio members.

About Akin: 
Akin is a Toronto based arts organization established for the purpose of providing both studio spaces as well as creative and professional development opportunities to members of Toronto’s artistic and cultural community and the public at large. Since 2015, we have been able to support over 2,500 individuals through our offered services. Akin’s affordable studios and shared workspaces currently provide workspace for about 200 artists across our 6 locations. Akin is dedicated to providing a working environment that maintains a friendly and inspiring atmosphere where people can work on creative endeavours and entrepreneurial undertakings of all kinds. Akin builds community through monthly art critiques, workshops, open studio events, gallery tours, exhibitions, as well as various other art projects. 

For more information about Akin, please visit: www.akin.art

If you’re interested in applying or would like to learn more please visit the Akin Projects jobs page or click here to download a pdf of the job posting.

Thanks for your interest! Please share widely!

Co-Living Survey - Call for Input - Deadline July 27th & August 13th 2021

The opportunity to participate in the creation of a series of co-living style apartments may be available to Akin, and we would love your thoughts on what this should look like. Co-living is when a tenant lives in an apartment that shares certain amenities with other tenants in the building. For example, a tenant may live in a one bedroom apartment with a private bedroom and living room but with the bathroom and kitchen shared with other tenants in the building. As would be the case here, these types of rental units are often able to be offered at a more affordable rental rate than other units in the area of similar sizes while also allowing for a focus on community amongst the residents.

We are very interested in exploring this concept further, as it may offer access to affordable housing for artists in the City of Toronto. Completing this survey, as well as providing any additional feedback that you feel comfortable sharing with us, would be appreciated and will influence our consideration of the project. We have certain ideas that we’re thinking about, but are very open around this concept and really want to hear from you, our community, in order to learn about your needs and desires for your housing situation in Toronto. Please note, while the feedback received from these survey questions will help to inform the design of this space (hoping that it comes to fruition), the layout has not yet been determined.

The survey consists of 35 questions and as such should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. If you’re able to complete the survey by July 27th at 12pm you will have the opportunity to enter an early bird draw to win a $50.00 gift card to a local shop or restaurant of your choosing. For those who respond after July 27th (and before the survey ends on August 13th), you will have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a $25.00 gift card to a local restaurant or shop of your choosing.

Call for Ceramic Artist and Organizations Input - Deadline July 15, 2021

Just a reminder to the ceramics lovers out there that Akin's Ceramic Studio Survey is due on July 15th 2021.

Akin is inviting artists in the GTA to help us improve our ceramics services by filling out a short survey. This survey is intended for groups or individuals of all experience levels who work with ceramics, including creatives who do not currently work with ceramics but want or plan to.

The survey can be found on our website at: www.akin.art/survey

Please share widely!

Survey deadline: July 15, 2021

Thanks so much for your help and input! The survey is anonymous and voluntary and all the questions are optional; it’s about 5-10 minutes. The intention for this survey is not to compete with other ceramic studios, services and workspaces but to compliment them by assessing needs that may not be currently met in the city and surrounding area. As we hope you know, Akin is dedicated to serving artists and creative workers, and we strive to provide important and thoughtful programming and studio spaces. Your input helps make this happen! Thank you so much for your time and for helping Akin to learn and better serve our community.

Akin would also like to thank our advisors Janet Hinkle and Natalie Wadell for guiding our work in developing this survey. If you have any questions please let us know! You can email us at info@akincollective.com.

#torontoceramics #CraftOntario #akinstudios #CanadianCeramics #ArtToronto #CanadianArtists#CanadianArtists

TOAF - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair - begins this weekend! (July 2-11)

Akin is thrilled to see so many current and alumni Akin Members participating in the 2021 Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. This year, the fair will have a digital component as well as a small showcase of artworks in person at stackt market.

List of current & alumni Akin Members participating:

Carrie Chisholm 
Corynn Kokolakis 
David Chinyama 
Dorota Dziong 
Jamileh Salek 
Joanna Strong 
Lindsay Chambers 
Loren Kaplan 
Melika Saeeda 
Miles Ingrassia 
Nicole Crozier 
Soroush Dabiri 
Zach Atticus 
Zoey Zoric 

For a full list of participating artists, please click here.
To learn more about stackt market please click here.