Introducing the Flex Space at Akin Davisville

Akin Davisville proudly introduces our latest offering: the Flex Space! The Flex Space is a 200sf private room designed for creatives and professionals seeking a versatile workspace. The Flex Space can be booked for $15/hour.

The Flex Space is available exclusively to Akin Davisville members and members in other Akin locations. To join Akin Davisville please email info@akincollective.com 

Akin Davisville Memberships start at $78 for a Shared Membership (access to communal workspace). We also have Dedicated Memberships (your own personal workspace) ranging from 25 square feet at $187/month to 135 square feet at $610/month. 

Monthly prices include: taxes, insurance, wifi, utilities, 24/7 access as well as use of shared shelving units, washroom, communal working areas, and kitchen. 

2023 Space Award Winners

The Newcomer Space Award is a partnership between Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network and Akin. This award focuses on providing affordable shared studio and/or exhibition space to newcomer professional artists who are past recipients of our Newcomer Arts Access Award (formerly known as RBC Arts Access Award). This award not only provides funding and space essential for professional artists to grow their practice, but also supports artists in growing their network through the shared studio space model.

The six recipients will receive:
$500 cash to support their arts practice
$2,000 in Akin credit to be used for shared studio or exhibition space

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The Newcomer Space Award is made possible with the support of RBC.

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Azadeh Pirazimian

Azadeh Pirazimian is a multidisciplinary artist, art educator based in Toronto and former lecturer in Iran. With a passion for exploring themes of self-expression, communication, daily resistance, through diverse media, including drawing, painting, photography, performance, and sculpture. Her methodology has been consistent throughout her career, resulting in her own distinctive visual language.

Over the years, Azadeh has showcased her works at multiple exhibitions in Iran, Canada, and the Netherlands. Her art in Canada has received recognition through the Newcomer Artists Mentorship Grant and RBC Space Awards.

Azadeh holds a bachelor's degree in painting and a master's in visual communication. In the fall of 2023, Azadeh will pursue her MFA at  University of Waterloo, where she can develop her artistic skills further.

Website: https://www.azadehpirazimian.com/

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Chico Togni

Chico Togni holds a B.F.A. in Sculpture from the São Paulo University in Brazil and was an Artist Research Fellow at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. His works have been exhibited internationally, most recently at Kunsthaus Dresden and Museum der Bildenden Kunst Leipzig. He moved to Toronto in 2022.

Website: https://chicotogni.partial.gallery/

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Helio Eudoro

Helio Eudoro is a Brazilian-Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Toronto. He holds a BFA (Hons.) in Sculpture and Installation from OCAD University (2022). His work explores the intersection of identity, gender, sexuality, diaspora, and aging. Eudoro's art investigates themes of possessions, waste, and the cycle of mindless ownership, seeking to spark dialogues that challenge our understanding of body and identities, as well as material systems and their impact on consumption and disposal habits. He has received several grants and awards, including the 2022 OCADU Carmen Lamanna Award and the 2020 RBC Newcomer Arts Award. Eudoro's artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums across Canada and Brazil, including the Art Museum at the University of Toronto in 2023 and ArtworxTO in 2022. His art is featured in collections such as the Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia and the Museu de Arte Contemporânea of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.

Website: https://helio-eudoro.format.com/

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Irina Lerman

Irina Lerman graduated from Vaganova Ballet Academy as a professional ballet artist in 2011 and 2016 with a Master's Degree in Choreography. She presented her first choreographic production, Mind Games (music by Max Richter), on The Mariinsky Theatre stage and performed classic and contemporary productions during her seven years at the Mariinsky Theatre, working with international choreographers like Sasha Waltz and William Forsythe. She won a Silver Medal at the International Competition in Riga, Latvia, produced independent ballet projects, and collaborated with artists, composers, filmmakers, and designers. Early in her career Irina taught as a Guest Teacher and Choreographer at Ballet Intensives in Europe and the USA and participated in the Netherlands Dance Theatre SI and workshops by renowned choreographers Wayne McGregor and Edward Clug. In 2019 Irina joined the Atlantic Ballet of Canada as a Lead Soloist. She is a recipient of the 2022 Newcomer Arts Award.

Website: https://www.irinalerman.com/

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Kseniya Tsoy

Kseniya Tsoy is a new Canadian community-engaged artist originally from Uzbekistan. Whether it's community murals, illustration or cultural production, Kseniya’s work has a distinct social purpose and focuses on diversity and inclusion. As a visual artist, her work is inspired by folk motifs and legends of different cultures that influenced her throughout her life. As a person of mixed heritage, Kseniya’s art is a visual expression of her never-ending exploration of identity and belonging.

Website: https://www.lanajyuan.work/

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Lana Yuan

Lana Yuan is an artist living and working in Toronto. She has exhibited at the Art Museum at U of T, YYZ Artists' Outlet, Stackt Market Gallery Box, Center 3 Gallery, Ignite Gallery and Red Head Gallery. Between 2022 and 2023, she was awarded the 401 Career Launcher Prize.

Website: https://www.lanajyuan.work/

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Akin’s 2023 Career Launcher Winners Announced!

Akin is excited to announce Damon Couto-Hill and Veerta Kumar as our OCADU Career Launcher award recipients for 2023-24. We’re excited to welcome them into the community! 

These talented graduating OCAD students will be awarded $2,000 in credits to go towards a studio space at one of Akin’s studio locations for 2023-2024. In addition to the $2,000 studio credit, each recipient will receive $450 exhibition credit for use at Akin’s Remote Gallery. 

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Damon Couto-Hill

Image Description: Damon Couto-Hill looks directly to the camera in this close up shot of his face and shoulders. Damon has short brown hair, and brown eyes. Damon is wearing a red, blue, white and black striped collared shirt. Behind Damon is a room with white walls, out of focus. 

Damon Couto-Hill is a Portuguese/Mohawk man and an interdisciplinary visual artist. He is a Six Nations of the Grand River member who grew up in Scarborough and currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada. He works with digital collages to entangle his body with images of Canada, nature, the Western art canon, and the internet to visualize the dysfunctions of Western collective consciousness through an intuitive, dream-like lens. He then translates the digital collage into physical form as fragmented wood panels painted in acrylic and oil, making the image again upon the scattered shards of a slanted mosaic. 

Instagram: @damond.liver

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Veerta Kumar

Image Description: Veerta Kumar is smiling beside a large artwork. Veerta has curly black hair and wears a black, shirt with an asymmetrical neckline. The artwork, to Veerta’s left, are bright, colourful circles mounted on a black background. Each circle contains  are backlit, translucent photographs . The circles contain photographs

Veerta Kumar was born in India in 1999 and lives and works in Toronto. She considers the flux, chaos, and fragments of our perceptions to decolonize modes of re-presentation and re-creation. In the past year, she observed the interaction of paint and light and engaged in various modes of making and materials, including ornamentation, textiles, found materials, family album photos, personal photography,  and digital manipulation.

Kumar completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting in 2023 from OCAD University. She received the John Madott Fine Art Award for her recent body of work Tedhi Nazar exhibited at Grad Ex 108.

Website:  www.veertakumar.ca
Instagram: @_veertakumar

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We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts

#BringingTheArtsToLife @Canada.Council

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Introducing the 2023 Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG Members!

Image description: Six photographs of Akin Studio Program artists, their art and their studios. More information and descriptions of each image can be found at the end of this blog post.

We are excited to introduce the 2023 artists in the Akin Studio Program at Auto BLDG! The current artist cohort includes students, emerging and professional art practitioners and curators living in Toronto. The Akin Studio Program runs from January - December annually. Selected artists moved their studio into the building for a term of one year and will share their practices with visitors through programs such as open studio events.

We invite you to click on the names of each of the artists below to visit their websites and learn more about them and their work:

Afifa Bari 

Alison Kruse 

Amada Estabillo 

Anne Hamilton 

Chico Togni 

Emerald Repard-Denniston 

Emily MacLennan 

Emma White 

Erin McCluskey 

Felicia Cirstae 

FRANKIE

Hamid Mohammadi 

Ivetta Kang 

James Laforet 

Jason Bomers 

Jo SiMalaya Alcampo  

Kate Gorman 

Linds Miyo 

Maddalena Fuller 

Maren Boedeker 

Mel Hayes 

Sadie Yorath 

Tiana Robinson 

Torin Craig 

Yani Gellman

Below we are including highlights from some of the artists recent news and accomplishments. We look forward to sharing more about this group throughout the year as they explore their creativity and expand their practice in their studios at the Auto BLDG. 

Jo SiMalaya Alcampo is a collaborative partner in Kwentong Bayan Collective, they make komiks/comics and create art projects in collaboration with migrant care workers and other communities. They have exhibited and published internationally, their work is taught in elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, and has been integrated into the Ontario school curriculum. 

Tiana Robinson will be showcasing a selection of artwork on February 25 starting at 7pm at RAW Toronto Presents PROTOTYPE at The McCormack Warehouse. 

Emily MacLennan was awarded the 2022 Toronto Outdoor Art Fair Mayor’s Purchase Award. Her work, ‘Bread Factory’, is now part of the City of Toronto's permanent art collection. 

Artwork by Mel Hayes titled ‘Reconstruction of the Future’ has been featured as a part of the Concept of the Year project by YummyColours on the theme “Dear Future”, a project which meditates on the coming year. 

Yani Gellman is an actor, writer and director. His film ‘Greetings, from the Planet Krog!’ won the 2020 Spirit of Slamdance Award. He most recently starred in the Queensberry Pictures thriller Departing Seniors, slated for release in 2023.

You can find public artwork by Erin McCluskey inside the BMO Weston Rd & HWY 7 Branch. The mural is titled ‘The Humber River Flows Through Here’ and is a part of the BMO National Mural Series, a collaboration with STEPS Public Art and BMO Bank of Montreal. 

Stay tuned for more! Keep following the Akin blog for more Member news & highlghts!

Image descriptions (continued): 1. Artist Linds Miyo is sitting on a stool in her studio and working on a painting. She is holding a paintbrush, behind her are many large paintings. 2. Artist Jo SiMalaya Alcampo is facing the camera. They have their arms crossed are are smiling. Photo credit: Dhalia Katz 3. The studio of Anne Hamilton. There is a desk against the wall with a green chair in front of it. In the foreground is some furniture with a potted plant on it. The plant is flowering. 4. Artist Hamid Mohammadi is sitting on the floor in between his paintings which are leaning against a wall. He is smiling at the camera with his arm resting on his knee. 5. A black and white photo of Mel Hayes. She is standing in her studio surrounded by paintings and art supplies. Light is coming through an unseen window. Her hands are folded in front of her and she is smiling. 6. Artist Erin McCluskey is standing in front of a large colourful mural. She is smiling at the camera and gesturing towards the mural which shows people enjoying the outdoors.

Our 8th Studio is here: Introducing Akin Bloor-Yonge!

Akin is thrilled to announce the opening of a new studio location in one of Toronto’s most bustling intersections; Akin Bloor-Yonge! This space is located at 717 Church Street, north of the Bloor St W and Yonge St intersection, making it a great addition to a lively and cultural Toronto neighbourhood.

This studio is Akin’s 8th studio in the city, marking a slow but sure recovery from the necessary closures occurring during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic. Akin Bloor-Yonge will bring with it 28 dedicated studios —12 private, 10 semi private, and 6 regular studios along with 8 Shared Memberships. 

Our Akin Bloor-Yonge Shared Memberships will be available for $71/month, which includes access to shared working areas, shared storage, kitchen, and bathroom. The 28 Dedicated Memberships available will be ranging from 37sf for $216/month to 179sf for $662/month including 12 completely private studios (four walls that go to the ceiling and a door that closes) and 10 semi private studios (three or four walls that go to the ceiling, but no door - just an entranceway) as well as some regular dedicated studios (partitions or walls). The Private and Semi Private studios range from 95sf for $440/month to 179sf for $662/month. Just like at all of our studio memberships the monthly fee includes HST, 24/7 access, insurance, WiFi, contents insurance, cleaning and maintenance service, and access to all common areas. 

Priority for studios has been given to current Akin members from other studio locations, artists who have been on the Akin waiting lists for 6 months or longer, Akin members from our former Akin studio locations which closed in 2020 or 2021, as well as those who identify as a member of one or more of the Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Groups (Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIAP). That being said, we will do our best to provide space at this new location to anyone who is interested in the future. 

We would like to acknowledge the support of our partners Capital Developments for making this location available for our community and a special thank you to our community for uplifting our efforts to return our spaces back to the city. 

Akin is looking forward to you joining us in building this space together and carving out more affordable working areas for our artists in similarly appealing spots. This studio currently has a limited number of private, semi-private, and regular studios available ranging from 110sf for $576/month to 179sf for $662/month, as well as Shared Memberships which are $71/month.

Please email info@akincollective.com to learn more.

Ceramics Community Needs Assessment Survey - deadline to reply is June 15

Calling ceramics artists and businesses in the GTA! Akin is inviting you to help us improve our services for ceramic artists in the city by filling out a short survey. This survey is intended for Toronto and GTA-based groups or individuals of all experience levels who work with ceramics. This includes creatives who do not currently work with ceramics but want/plan to, emerging artists, hobbyists and those who only use ceramics occasionally as a part of their practice as well as established artists and professional craftspeople. Please share widely! Click the link below to fill out the survey.

CLICK HERE TO FILL OUT THE SURVEY

The survey is anonymous and voluntary and all the questions are optional, so you can skip any questions that don't apply to you. It should only take you about 5-10 minutes to fill out the survey. We appreciate your time and ask that you consider sharing the survey link with other ceramic artists and groups in your network so that we may reach a diverse and broad range of practitioners at every stage to get comprehensive results. 

The intention for this survey is not to compete with other ceramic studios, services and workspaces that are operating in Toronto but to compliment them by serving needs that may not be currently met in the city and surrounding area. Currently, ceramic artists comprise approximately 15% of Akin’s new inquiries and that percentage seems to be increasing gradually over time. It has become clear to us that there is a need for ceramics workspace, ceramics community space, kiln firing services, and more in the GTA at this time. With this survey we endeavor to gather more specific data on that need. 

The deadline to fill out the survey is July 15, 2021.

Here is the link to the survey if you would like to share it with others: https://forms.gle/v2yxPcHJfvw98dzo7

• Here is a Twitter post is you would like to retweet

• Here is an Instagram post if you would like to repost

Thank you! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch! email ceramics@akincollective.com

Akin would like to thank our advisors Janet Hinkle and Natalie Waddell for guiding our work in developing this survey. 

Image description: photograph of Janet Hinkle

Janet Hinkle is a multidisciplinary artist with a practice rooted in both contemporary fine art and craft. Hinkle has a fondness for mixing juxtaposing materials to create work that frequently explores shared histories through visual narratives. She is driven to explore concepts around identity, pulling inspiration from both mid-century forms and futuristic design. In addition to her creative practice, Hinkle coordinates communications plans, art projects, and artist capacity-building programs. She is an arts administrator and creative facilitator passionate about placemaking and community building. 

Janet was an active Akin studio member from 2015-2020. Starting her ceramics practice at Akin Dufferin, she eventually moved onto Akin Ossington and Akin Richmond where she founded and managed a full-time ceramics brand for many years.

Image description: photograph of Natalie Waddell

Natalie Waddell is a Toronto based ceramic artist. A student of the Sheridan College Ceramic Craft and Design program (2003) she has continued her studies by attending workshops led by local and international ceramic artists and educators.

Since establishing her studio practice Natalie has continuously explored and developed new bodies of functional and sculptural work as well as teaches classes and workshops. She is an active member of the Toronto Potters Association, the Potters Guild of Hamilton and Region, FUSION: Ontario Clay and Glass Association and NCECA – the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts and Craft Ontario and former member of the Akin Artist Collective. 

Akin Launches New East End Location (Logan/Queen St.E)

Akin is thrilled to announce a unique partnership with Percy Ellis which will provide studio space to a dozen local visual artists and cultural practitioners at 'Akin Logan' (153 Logan Avenue) beginning on March 1, 2021. This exciting project will increase Akin’s ability to support artists city-wide and continue addressing the ever-increasing scarcity of affordable workspace in our city.

Akin's new studios are easily accessible by subway, streetcar, bus, bike, or car. Studio rentals are month-to-month and include 24/7 access to the studios, taxes, insurance, wifi, access to communal working areas as well as storage, kitchen, and bathroom.

Akin would like to thank Percy Ellis for their leadership in supporting the cultural sector in these uniquely challenging times, and we look forward to collaborating on special programming, projects and events throughout 2021 (hopefully in person soon!). A special thank you to Katie Schimke, Associate Development Manager & Community Engagement Team and to Peter Venetas for bringing this project to life.

Due to overwhelming need, we have offered the first studio spaces to folks from our East End waiting list, including those from Akin River and Akin Sunrise - two East End Akin locations that had to close in 2020. For now, this space is already full!

Are you an artist, arts organization or small arts group or not-for-profit in need of space?

Click HERE to view available space across all Akin locations

Studio tours are currently virtual and by appointment only. For more information, pricing inquiries, to be added to an east end waitlist, or to share ideas, please get in touch:

CONTACT:
Jen Pilles, Studio Operations Manager
info@akincollective.com

Welcome Tannis Nielsen, Indigenous Studio Space Advisor at Akin!

Akin is thrilled to welcome artist and community leader Tannis Nielsen as Indigenous Studio Space Advisor- leading Akin through a collaborative consultation practice in the planning and development of Indigenous community services, spaces and supports throughout our studios, programs and more. Alongside Indigenous Elder Artist in Residence Catherine Tammaro (Taǫmęˀšreˀ), Anti-oppressive Practice Consultant, Equity & Social Justice Educator Rania El Mugammar and Akin’s team, Tannis will advise on meaningful, actionable engagement with the Indigenous community while assessing needs and opportunities for the next phase of our work.

We want to hear from YOU!

As part of their role, Tannis is leading two upcoming virtual public community meetings to discuss Akin’s efforts in supporting Indigenous artists & creatives on February 13 (1-3pm) and February 16 (7-9pm). All are welcome to attend and we would love for your feedback and input. Please note that these sessions will be recorded for internal use as part of our research but not shared publicly and no content will be specifically attributed to individuals.

Image description: Tannie Nielsen standing on a ladder while working on a large-scale elaborate artwork, smiling at the camera

About Tannis:
Tannis Nielsen is a Métis Woman (of Sohto/Anishnawbe and Danish descent) with twenty years of professional experience in the arts, cultural and community sectors, and 12  years teaching practice at the post-secondary level. Tannis holds a Masters in Visual Studies Degree (M.V.S.) from the University of Toronto, an Art and Art History-Specialist Degree from U of T, as well as a Diploma in Art and Art History from Sheridan College, in Oakville, Ontario.

Tannis has served on the Aboriginal Engagement Committee at UBC-O, as a member of the Equity and Diversity Committee at OCAD-U, the Toronto District School Board, and is the past President of The Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts (A.N.D.P.V.A.), a national Native arts organization in service since 1972. She was also a member of the Toronto Native Community History Project and has assisted in organizing the last three annual “Indigenous Sovereignty Week” events in the city of Toronto. In 2012, Tannis became active on the Idle No More-Toronto organizing committee and continues to contribute towards this vital international Indigenous grassroots movement from her current location in Toronto, Ontario where she currently teaches at OCAD-U. 

Accessibility:
Have a computer or mobile device? Then you're good to go! Should you have any additional accessibility accommodations, requests or ideas, please email laura@akincollective.com to discuss.Captions available on-screen. Mobile phones may require a downloadable app from Google Hangouts.

End of Year Round Up & Happy New Year!

There are only a few hours left ‘til 2020 and we can’t wait to ring in the new year! This past decade, Akin’s first, has brought endless joy and creative challenges and our community has embraced them all with ease. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome the next decade and see what opportunities it brings.

2019 has been an exciting year for Akin, with many changes, new initiatives and partnerships. Over the course of the last 12 months we have welcomed many changes with open arms…

We expanded Akin Ossington twice with huge thanks to our friends at TAS Design Build, making it our largest location as of June 2019 and home to over 40 artists, from ceramicists and prop makers to painters and photographers.

We said goodbye to our King Street location at 511 King Street West and expanded one of our east end locations, Akin River, with thanks again to our friends at TAS Design Build, now home to over 25 artists, from sculptors and textile artists to designers and print makers.

We opened a new studio location just around the corner from our old King Street location, Akin Richmond, with thanks to our friends at the Toronto Arts Council now home to a small community of mixed media artists and digital creators.

We also celebrated the opening of Akin’s first event rental space, REMOTE Gallery (located next door to Akin’s Richmond studios at 568 Richmond Street West) dedicated primarily to local programming initiatives and creative exhibitions, among other projects. Our inaugural group show at REMOTE, ‘Movement’ opened in March 2019 and featured new works from 7 Akin artists. You can expect a full calendar of events at REMOTE Gallery in 2020 including exhibitions, pop-up shops, workshops and more!

Akin staff and studio members presenting at Art Chats, 2019

We were over the moon to participate in the 2019 edition of the Artist Project as the non profit partner for this year. This unique opportunity provided 10 selected Akin artists with the opportunity to present new works to the public, 3 of which also joined us in a thought provoking discussion on the role of studio spaces in the artistic community. You can catch us again in the new year at the Artist Project 2020.

We began raising money for Akin’s Rent Relief Fund in collaboration with our friend Rania El Mugammar and a number of generous individuals. This unique fund has been launched as part of our ongoing Equity and Inclusion work at Akin, including our recent demographics survey report - which highlighted the needs and experiences of our community. We intend for the Akin Studio Rent Relief Fund to reduce barriers for Akin studio members and create opportunities for marginalized communities. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing, as needed, basis when funds are available. The fund will officially launch once we have raised $3,000.

Guests busy crafting at the Akin Turns 10 Party & Fundraiser, 2019

We had a wonderful time providing our community and members with free and low-cost programming throughout the year including but not limited to: our Winter Art Crawl at 401 Richmond, Life Drawing at Allen Gardens and Earth Hour Show & Tell at Akin St. Clair.

The Akin team expanded in May of 2019 to help serve our community better. We welcomed new staff, Ozge Aytekin, Laura Kay Keeling, Soroush Dabiri, and Hana Elmasry as other roles changed and developed within the organization.

We celebrated the opening of our first Etobicoke location, Akin Lakeshore, in August 2019, now home to a number of artists and designers from the community. There are still a few studios available at this location - get in touch with us if you are interested in a tour!

We continued working with our community partners and also welcomed new partnerships with collaborators including our friends at the Gardiner Museum and MOCA Toronto to the Ontario Arts Council, OCAD and Art Books and more!

Akin celebrated our 11th birthday in November 2019, jump starting our second decade ahead of the new year.

We watched and cheered as artists from our community championed their practices, creating programming and exhibiting works for local, national and international institutions from public libraries and schools to art galleries and museums, including but not limited to: the Toronto Public Library, MOCA Toronto, the MacLaren Art Centre, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Ontario Science Centre, Dutch Design Week, SCI-Arc and more! Many members of our community also created works and programming for local events like the Gladstone Hotel’s annual event Grow Op, CONTACT, and the Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. Click here to see what the Akin members have been up to lately.

We welcomed the 2nd cohort of our Studio Program at MOCA Toronto. The studios at MOCA are now home to over 25 practicing artists working in a multitude of medias. We also celebrated the end of the 1st cohort’s residency during their group show ‘An Index’ on MOCA Toronto’s 4th floor.

Akin is thrilled to welcome Wyandot multimedia artist and Tradition Keeper Catherine Tammaro (Taǫmęˀšreˀ) to our organization as our inaugural Indigenous Elder Artist in Residence, 2019

We sought out new training opportunities for our staff, working with local experts and organizations like the Dandelion Initiative, Rania El Mugammar, Tanya Neumeyer, Catherine Tammaro and more! This cumulative training has provided Akin and it’s staff with the opportunity to develop new protocols and processes for embracing our community and it’s ever changing needs.

We launched the call for our new Studio Residency at Collision Gallery - Commerce Court. The call for applications is open until January 10th 2020, with the studio space planned to launch in March 2020.

And finally, we rang in the holidays with our annual holiday market + party, this year at MOCA Toronto with over 20 current Akin artists and our friends at Art Metropole and Forno Cultura.

10 of the 11 Akin staff, members, 2019

From our family to yours, happy new year! May the next decade bring you many exciting opportunities and inspiration for new projects.

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To inquire about studio space at any of our 10 locations please visit us here or email us at info@akincollective.com.

To inquire about REMOTE Gallery rentals please visit us here for more information or email us at gallery@akincollective.com.

Interested in supporting Akin’s Rent Relief Fund? Click here to donate.

Put that 2020 agenda to good use and don’t forget to apply to Akin’s Studio Residency at Collision Gallery (Commerce Court). Learn more about this opportunity here.

Free family fun on June 15 at "On Sterling Bingo"

Believe the hype, folks: Sterling Road is jam-packed with tons of cool stuff - artist's spaces, yoga studios, bookstores, restaurants, a brewery, clothing stores, galleries, and a lot more! Come join us on Saturday June 15th for the 3rd instalment of ON STERLING BINGO for your chance to check them all out, and get special, behind-the-scenes looks at all of them!

Here's how:
1. Come to any one of our participating locations on Sterling Rd. on Saturday June 15th anytime between 1 and 5pm, and pick up your BINGO card (and your first stamp) to get started!

2. Wander the neighbourhood, and pop in and out of all kinds of cool studios, shops, and galleries.

(Fun fact: Your BINGO card is also a handy map of the 'hood! AND it was screen-printed by hand Jesse from Repetitive Press and it's yours to keep as a souvenir!)

3. Get your card stamped at all 10 spaces (aka a FULL CARD) and head on over to Henderson Brewing Co. to redeem it for a complimentary pint of beer (or, for anyone under 19 who's playing along, a free house-made soda!) anytime on Saturday til 9pm!

4. If you have a Full Card, you are eligible to enter the now-legendary OnSterling Raffle, which includes the following prizes:
- an Anansi tote bag full of books
- a one-of-a-kind Mud Makers handcrafted ceramic piece
- a gift card to the Drake Commissary
- a free 4-day dress rental from Fitzroy
- a 5 day yoga pass to Mosaic
- a VIP brewery tour & beer tasting at Henderson for 10 ppl
- an individual one-year membership to MOCA
- a private circus lesson - for tight wire or aerial, from Lookup Theatre
- a complimentary Sewing Fundamentals Class from The Make Den
Just show your full card at Henderson before 9pm on Saturday!

5. Don't forget to take photos along the way and post them to Instagram, using the tag #OnSterlingBingo to enter to win a special Sterling Rd. prize pack!

ON Sterling Bingo Participants:

- House of Anansi Press 128 Sterling Road Lower Level
Visit the Anansi Bookshop to received 20% off of your Groundwood and House of Anansi book purchases! House of Anansi & Groundwood Books.

- Drake Commissary 128 Sterling Road
An eat-in restaurant and a culinary workshop. Our evolving exhibition Fast Forward draws inspiration from the Junction Triangle’s industrial roots and creative community, looking into the future and the past simultaneously.

- MOCA Toronto 158 Sterling Rd
MOCA is motivated by our belief that museums can be culturally and socially useful. We promote exceptional artistic thinking and provide a community space for discourse and creativity.
On view:
- 'The Life of a Dead Tree' by Mark Dion
- Honest Shop
- 'DEMOS - A Reconstruction' by Andreas Angelidakis

- Mud Makers Studio 163 Sterling Road, unit 12C, Entrance B, 2nd floor
Ceramics Studio offering classes for all ages taught by Ontario certified teacher and artist Amanda Wyman.

- Lookup Theatre 181 Sterling Rd
Current Project: Toronto Circus Riot
This exciting show tells the true story of an evening in 1855 when a group of clowns changed Toronto forever. Theatre, music, and circus arts all come together in an immersive performance to tell a riveting rendition of this historical tale.

- The Make Den Sewing School 163 Sterling Rd #24
We provide serious sewing skills in a beautiful, well equipped and fun studio where students connect with their creativity, learn and leave with a renewed sense of empowerment and inspiration.

- Repetitive Press // Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative
227 Sterling Rd. #103
Screen-Printing and Design studio.
See how screen-prints are made and check out the heaps of art prints, rock and political posters made on site for local and international designers.

-The Loon, Contemporary Art Gallery, 227 Sterling Road, #109a (http://www.theloon.info)
Zoma Tochi Maduekwe invites participants to try an interactive game platform in development.

- Mosaic Yoga 225 Sterling Road #23
Offerings include yoga and meditation classes for all levels, pilates, barre, qi gong, kundalini, voice practices, functional movement and rope wall yoga and more.

- The Fitzroy 225 Sterling Road
Dress Rental Magic! Canada’s dream dress rental and styling service.

- Henderson Brewing Co 128a Sterling Road
Award winning, full-scale brewery On Sterling with a tap-room and bottle shop.

This is a free event and all are welcome!! Come on out and explore!

Introducing Akin's newest staff members

Earlier this year, Akin issued a Call for Applications for new employees and received an overwhelming response from artists and creatives in our community. Many thanks to everyone who applied. It was a challenging interview process and unfortunately we were not able to offer positions to all the candidates, but we are pleased to announce that we have hired four new employees and they have recently begun their work for Akin!

Welcome to the Akin Team: Özge Aytekin, Soroush Dabiri, Hana Elmasry and Laura Keeling!

You can expect to see these four helping out around the studios, and at our upcoming spring and summer events and programming. We are thrilled about these new additions to our growing team, and hope you get a chance to meet them soon! 


Özge Aytekin is an Istanbul and Toronto based interdisciplinary artist who has been an Akin member since 2018 at Akin King and Akin Richmond. 
 www.ozgeaytekin.carbonmade.com

Soroush Dabiri is a multi-disciplinary visual artist, mainly focused on painting. He has been Akin member since March 2019.
www.soroushdabiri.com

Hana Elmasry is a visual artist, educator and counsellor. Her intention is to create community and allow for participatory engagement, empowerment and healing. 
www.instagram.com/miserably__happy

Laura Kay Keeling is a film photographer and collage artist with an interest in installation works. She has been an Akin member since the fall of 2016.
 www.laurakaykeeling.com

Ongoing Equity and Inclusion Work at Akin

Akin is pleased to announce that in collaboration with our anti-oppressive practice and meaningful inclusion consultant, Rania El Mugammar, and with generous input from our members through many conversations and through Akin's demographics and equity survey, Akin has revisited our Code of Conduct in order to create a robust, actionable and clear policy that centres the most marginalized members of our community. 

Click here to read the Code of Conduct. 

As a part of the new Code of Conduct we are also introducing new protocol for conflict resolution as well as a method for reporting conflicts and concerns. 

We have also created a list of resources for Akin members and members of the public. This list was developed with Rania's help as well as with suggestions from the Akin community and other consultants. We hope to keep expanding this list, so please send us a message if you have a suggestion for a resource we can include. 

All of these changes are a part of our ongoing effort to work towards building safer, more inclusive spaces for all of our community members. We conducted a demographics and equity survey, using Ontario Human Rights Code consistent grounds, to better understand the makeup up of our spaces, as well as the needs and experiences of our diverse community. Through this survey, and our ongoing work, we were able to identify gaps in our services and learnings, and to reaffirm our commitment to continuing the work of equity through an anti-oppressive lens. 

Akin staff continue to cultivate new skills in order to support our efforts towards building better communities. To date we have received training on the following topics: Anti-Oppression for Artists and Cultural Producers, Queer and Trans Inclusion, Mental Health First Aid, Emergency First Aid and CPR, Conflict Resolution and Empathetic Communication. We will continue this training and skill development so that we may critically reflect on our work interpersonally and institutionally.

We understand that this work is very important, and that we will inevitably make mistakes, as a result, we are committed to a process of accountability and transparency. We welcome your feedback and reflections, please visit www.akincollective.com/contact to leave comments, questions, suggestions or feedback.

All of the information included in this email can be accessed on our website under the heading ‘Equity and Inclusion’.

This is the beginning of an ongoing process and these documents and resources, like all policies governing Akin’s spaces and events, are open to revisions and updates to adapt to the needs of our community and organization. The code of conduct as well as all of the policies governing Akin spaces will continue to evolve and change to adapt to the needs of our community and organization over time. We look forward to continuing this work to make Akin a safer and more inclusive space!  

Many thanks to our members, consultants and everyone involved in this process so far, 
Akin. Akin also appreciates the support of the Ontario Arts Council's Compass Grant Program in the development of these policies.

Akin leaves King Street and finds more space for artists as part of Akin River and Akin Ossington Studio Expansions

Akin is excited to announce the expansion of two existing Akin studio locations - Akin Ossington (888 Dupont St at Dupont St and Ossington Ave) and Akin River (77 River Street near Dundas St E and River St) to support the move of over 70 artists facing eviction from Akin King as development plans for the site move forward. Our new studios will open on June 1, 2019.

By relocating Akin King artists in this way, Akin can again keep studio communities intact along with the friendships and collaborations that make them so important. Instead of facing eviction alone, artists can move with us as a unit - maintaining a practice in an affordable space as part of an active, vibrant and supportive artistic community in downtown Toronto.

The eviction from Akin King did not come as a surprise- we are thankful for the time we have had there and are proud of the community that has grown and flourished. In February 2018 Akin began leasing space from Allied Properties REIT that would otherwise have been unused during the period before demolition, enabling Akin to create social and economic value from buildings that would otherwise remain vacant. Leasing of dormant space like this with ‘meanwhile leases’ has effectively supported artists for years and allows Akin to continue offering studio rentals to artists across the city.

Akin would like to thank Allied Properties REIT for having us as tenants on King St West, as well as TAS for their continued collaboration with us on the new and existing spaces at Akin River and Akin Ossington.

This exciting expansion will increase Akin’s size to approximately 40,000 sqft of studio space serving nearly 350 artists, enabling us to address the ever-increasing scarcity of affordable workspace in our city.

Studio rentals start as low as $70/month and Akin's new studios are easily accessible by subway, streetcar, bus, bike, or car. Studio rentals are month-to-month and include 24/7 access to the studios, taxes, insurance, wifi, access to communal working areas as well as storage, kitchen, and bathroom.

Studio tours are by appointment only. For more information, pricing inquiries, to book a tour or to share ideas, please get in touch:

CONTACT:
Jen Pilles
info@akincollective.com

Please share widely!

Akin Studio Program at MOCA: Call for Applications

Akin and The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA) are excited to announce our Call for Applications for the Akin Studio Program. This program will provide affordable studio space to 20+ visual artists and cultural practitioners in the museum's new home which is set to open on May 26, 2018 at 158 Sterling Road in the Junction Triangle.

Geoffrey James, The Tower Building, interior, 2016. Courtesy of the artist and Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto

Selected artists will be invited to move their studio into the museum for a term of one year and will share their practices with the museum’s visitors through programs such as open studio events. Regular Akin studio rental fees will apply. The studios will vary in size from approximately 50 to 250 square feet and will be designed by Akin to create a bright and welcoming environment for artists to develop their work. Similar to Akin’s seven other locations, the space will foster a community atmosphere and the exchange of ideas.

This call is open to student, emerging and professional art practitioners, curators and writers living in Toronto.

The deadline for the Call is March 5, 2018 at 5:00pm.*
*Applicants who require additional resources, support or time to complete their applications can request as such. Please request this assistance at least two weeks in advance of the submission deadline. To do so, or for additional information, please contact moca@akincollective.com

The full call is copied below. Please share widely. You can share the call using the following links:

Web Version: www.akin.art/mocacall

Thank you,
Love, Akin
 

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: AKIN STUDIO PROGRAM AT MOCA, 2018-19

Overview
The Akin Studio Program is a unique opportunity for art practitioners, curators and writers (hereafter referred to as artists) to lease shared studio space within The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA) at 158 Sterling Road in Toronto. In addition to a one year studio space rental 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 museum itself.

Studio Rental Program Start Date: May 1, 2018
Studio Rental Program End Date: April 30, 2019

Submission Details
Deadline to apply: March 5, 2018, 5:00pm.

Application Criteria, Artist Expectations and Opportunities
Applicants should consider the unique shared studio environment within the museum in which Akin’s Studio Program occurs. Certain processes and forms of production, materials and hardware (especially use of aerosols, and creation of dust or substantial noise) are not well suited to this context. Please ensure that your process is a good fit before applying, and contact us if unsure. 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, but also guest curators and art professionals. Selected artists agree to participate in three public open studio days, organized in collaboration with the museum, during the course of their year-long program (dates to be determined).

Application Process
Within one single PDF document, applicants are asked to provide the following:

• Name:

• Email:

• Address:

• Phone Number:

• Website if available:

• Link to art-focused social media profile if available:

*Artist collectives please include the name of the collective as well as contact info for its members as indicated directly above and answer the following questions from the perspective of your collective.

1. A brief artist statement and biography. (300 words max)

2. Supporting documentation of up to 10 images of work and installation shots, including relevant caption information (title, medium, date, dimension). In the case of curators or art writers, please include two sample texts or appropriate work examples in addition to up to 5 related images if applicable. As noted above, please embed images and all application information into one PDF document.

3. A written statement considering the following questions: How do you feel your experience and practice will help cultivate and contribute to a vibrant, equitable and diverse artistic community in our shared studio space environment within MOCA? How will you use your rented space, and how do you feel this opportunity will benefit and support your artistic practice at this time in your career? The studios will be flanked by a large open-studio where MOCA intends to develop and host workshops, talks and other programming that focuses on socially engaged artistic and interdisciplinary practices. Do you see your practice aligning with these concerns and interests and if so, please describe how? (300 words max)

4. CV or relatable artistic experience.

5. Can you commit to the entire program period from May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019? If not, what duration (necessarily beginning May 1, 2018) can you commit to? Please note that, if necessary, selected artists can relinquish their studio space by way of providing at least one full calendar month notice.

6. Optional: Should you desire to, please identify if you are a member of one the Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Groups detailed in the Selection Process information below.

7. Below are examples of sizes and prices of Akin's studios. Please rank the sizes of studios that you would consider renting, beginning with your ideal size. If your application is successful we will do our best to match you with a space that is as close to your preference as possible.

25sf - $160/mth
50sf - $250/mth
75sf - $340/mth
100sf - $420/mth
150sf - $545/mth
200sf - $670/mth
250sf - $780/mth
550sf - $1300/mth

All prices include 24/7 access to the studios, taxes, insurance, wifi, access to communal working areas as well as shared storage, kitchen, and bathroom. There are no additional fees, though there will be a small rent increase in January 2019. Upon selection, artists will be required to pay first and last month's rent in order to confirm their placement within the program. Please note that pricing is the same as at other Akin studio locations

*Selected applicants must be available to begin their rental on May 1, 2018.

Accessibility Information
Within the building, there is elevator access to all floors as well as AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) compliant washrooms.

The Museum ground floor has three accessible entries:
East Vestibule, MOCA – operation-assisted doors to a ramp to an automatic sliding door to the main lobby.
West Vestibule, MOCA – operation-assisted doors from grade directly to the lobby.
West Vestibule, Base Building – operation-assisted doors directly to the elevators to all floors. 

The washrooms are gender-neutral.

The doorways into Akin’s studios are 36” wide and are not operation-assisted.

The kitchenette is AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) compliant.

Submission Format
Email application document to moca@akincollective.com with the subject line: Akin Studio Program 2018 Application // [last name]. Please ensure that the total file size of your PDF is 10mb or smaller.

Deadline for applications: March 5, 2018, 5:00pm.


Selection Process
An impartial jury comprised of local artists, curators, arts professionals and MOCA’s Constituent Curator, will select artists and creatives based on their submitted material, anticipated benefit from the program, anticipated contribution to the studio environment, and practical considerations regarding their proposed use of the rented studio space.

Selected studio rental applicants will be notified of their status approximately 2 weeks following the application deadline, or as soon as selections have been made.

A significant component of the jury selection process is a desire to reflect the diversity of our city’s artistic community and the different voices within it. As part of this process, jury members will reference the Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Framework and its list of Equity Priority Groups(Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous, 2SLGBTQIAP).  More information on this framework, as part of the TAC Strategic Plan, can be found here.  Please note that the application and selection process for the Akin Studio Program at MOCA has adapted parts of the TAC Equity Framework and that it is not the same process used by TAC for the purpose of adjudication of grant applications.

Adapting the TAC Equity Priority Policy, applications of merit proposed by applicants who self-identify as belonging to one (or more) of Toronto Arts Council’s Equity Priority Groups or who primarily involve or serve artists from these groups will be prioritized. We encourage applications from these communities. The jury will similarly prioritize artists living or working within the museum’s local Junction area given the recent displacement of artists within the neighbourhood.

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

Thank you to The Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada (MOCA) and to the Toronto Arts Council for their feedback on the selection process.

Laser Cutting now available for Akin Collective studio members!

Laser cutting services are now available for Akin Collective studio members at competitive prices. Email Kira Varvanina for inquiries kira.varvanina@gmail.com

Materials that can be cut: 

1.    Plywood (up to ¼”)
2.    Balsa wood (up to ¼”)
3.    Acrylic (up to ¼”)
4.    Paper
5.    Cardboard (up to ¼”)

Maximum size of material: 600mm x 400mm

If you need material: 1/8” Baltic Birch can be sourced directly from Kira. She can also help you locate the material you need. 

Turn Around: Typically 7 days

Pricing: Fees will be determined on individual bases, depending on several factors including: complexity of the job, set up and special handling of materials, file preparation and duration of the cuts. The prices below are a guide of how the job will be priced: 

$1.00 per minute + $10 set up fee
Optional pre-masking wood products + $3/sheet

File specifics: Illustrator or Autocad*
*Kira can help you convert your images to these files, if you require assistance. 

Pick Up: 1485 Dupont Street, Akin Dupont Studio 215

Akin Welcomes New Studio Manager Janet Hinkle!

Akin is excited to announce that we have a new staff member! Janet Hinkle of Hinkleville Handmade is now a part of the Akin team and will be managing the Akin Ossington studios. Welcome Janet! 

Janet is a small batch ceramicist and has had a studio with Akin since 2015. Originally at Akin Dufferin, Janet moved to Akin Ossington when the location opened in July 2017.  She is very excited to expand her role within the Akin community and is looking forward to new opportunities to learn and collaborate with other creatives.

Janet's colourful, small-batch ceramic line Hinkleville Handmade has been charming people since it's inception in 2015 with delightful ceramic vessels, decorations, jewelry and more which are sold in stores, online and at events and markets around Ontario. Her work is heartwarming, whimsical and memorable.

You can view more of her work at www.hinklevillehandmade.com and contact her with inquiries about Akin Ossington by emailing janet@akincollective.com

Akin Artist Designed Fundraiser T-Shirts: Available now for pre-order!

Introducing two new limited edition t-shirts designed by artists Billy Franklin of Akin Dupont and Cierra Frances Akin Sunrise. Available in five sizes and made of high Quality 100% soft spun cotton, the sale of these shirts will go to support our not-for-profit organization Akin Projects. Available for pre-order now in our online shop at www.akinprojects.bigcartel.com
 

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Akin X Billy Franklin

Focusing on hard lines, bold colours and clean typography, Billy’s work is easily recognizable. He is influenced by late 90’s skateboard graphics and cartoons from his childhood. Franklin’s work is humorous and witty, sure to draw in his audience with his clever perspective.

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Akin X Cierra Frances

Cierra Frances is an interdisciplinary, Toronto-based artist and arts administrator whose work consists of various explorations of material and techniques in painting, drawing and printmaking. Her artist practice focuses on biracial identity and "Eurasian" culture found through her Filipino ancestry. Her research is deeply rooted in Filipino History dating back to Spanish Colonialism to current days and addresses subconscious colourism in Asian culture.

These limited edition shirts will also be available for purchase or pick-up at Edition Toronto the second annual Toronto international art book fair October 27–30, 2017 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Use code EDITIONPICKUP to pick up at Edition and avoid the shipping fee.

Special requests or questions? Email michael@akincollective.com
Thank you to Peace And Cotton Inc. for their help with this special project.

Akin Announces Two New Studio Locations

Akin is thrilled to announce the launch of two new studio locations - Akin St. Clair (1747 St. Clair Avenue West) and Akin River (77 River Street).

This exciting expansion will increase Akin’s size to approximately 27,000 square feet of studio space serving nearly 250 artists, enabling it to address the ever-increasing scarcity of affordable workspace in our city. Both locations will open in October 2017. 

77 River St. / 7 Labatt Ave, 1919. Photo credit: Urban Toronto

In addition to its fourteen current studios located at 444 Dufferin Street, 87 Wade Avenue, 100 Sunrise Avenue, 1485 Dupont Street and 888 Dupont Street, Akin's new spaces will offer a range of affordable studios in various sizes between 20-150 sqft in two new neighbourhoods.

Akin will also begin to develop programming specific to these neighbourhoods as a part of our 2017/2018 programming calendar in addition to our current range of free or low-cost workshops, studio critiques, gallery crawls, community programs and skill shares. 

We strive to ensure that there is always studio space for artists and creatives of all kinds and at all levels across our city while engaging, connecting and educating communities through art.

All rentals include 24/7 access to the studios, taxes, insurance, wifi, access to communal working areas as well as storage, kitchen, and bathroom. Both locations are easily accessible by subway, streetcar, bus, bike, or car.

1747 St. Clair Ave West- formerly Don's Meats. Found image.
 

For more information, pricing inquiries, to book a tour or to share ideas, please get in touch! 
CONTACT:
jen@akincollective.com

Please share widely!