Akin's Winter Programming Announced!
Akin is gearing up for a winter season chock full of exciting programming within Toronto's vibrant arts scene. Rather than hibernating until April, we hope that you will bundle up, brave the cold and join us for these upcoming events.
Show & Tell: Handmade Gifts at Akin Ossington | December 4th, 6-8PM, 888 Dupont Street
This month Akin is hosting a relaxed and fun ‘Show and Tell for Artists’ at Akin's Ossington studios (888 Dupont Street). This month's Show and Tell will feature a holiday twist! Artists are encouraged but are not required to share works that they are planning on gifting this holiday season.
Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two, bring snacks or drinks or just bring yourself! Come for the conversation or just to meet other artists and makers. This is a FREE public event - everyone is welcome!
The December edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin Ossington at 888 Dupont Street in unit 100.
Accessibility Information:
Akin Ossington is not currently wheelchair accessible. Akin regrets this barrier to access. There is a loading bay on the east side of the building.
About Akin Projects
Akin Projects is an arts programming organization and registered nonprofit established for the purpose of providing both creative and professional development opportunities to members of Toronto’s artistic and cultural community.
Akin's Holiday Card Making Party | December 6th, 6-8PM, 2970 Lakeshore Blvd W
Akin Projects is feeling festive and excited to present this casual crafting and card making party! Join us in the studio and make a card (holiday-themed or otherwise) for your best friend, neighbour, significant other, or a complete stranger! Some materials provided.
PWYC/Free, but please register at: http://tiny.cc/971ggz
BYOS- Bring your own supplies! Akin will have scissors, colored paper, pencil crayons, markers and pens ready but encourage everyone to bring extra! Bring a friend, a snack or drink, and your creativity!
Accessibility
Akin Lakeshore is located on the third floor of the building and there is no elevator. Akin regrets this barrier to access. There is a ramp entrance to the building and then 38 steps to access the studios on the third floor. There are 3 gender-neutral washrooms in the studio space. One of the bathrooms has grab bars, the other two do not, and the toilets are not raised. The doorway to the kitchen is narrow, measuring approximately 24 inches across
For additional accessibility information and directions, please visit https://www.akincollective.com/lakeshore
Akin's Annual Holiday Market + Party | December 14th, 10AM - 5PM, 158 Sterling Road
Akin invites you to join us on Saturday, December 14th at MOCA Toronto for a day of good cheer at the Akin Holiday Party and Artist Market.
Free / All Welcome! Kid friendly!
In 2019 Akin collaborated with some amazing partners, said goodbye to one of our most central locations, opened a new studio, (Akin Lakeshore in South Etobicoke), turned 11 years old, and welcomed many more artists to the studio community. This event is a celebration for members from all 9 Akin studios, as well as our neighbours, community partners, friends and family.
MOCA Toronto will be open from 10am to 5pm. Come and stay for a while. Mingle, enjoy the museum, offerings at Forno Cultura and browse the market featuring art and objects by members of Akin’s community!
Artist Market Vendors:
Linds Miyo
Heavy Flow
Felicia Cirstea
Purple Fig Pottery
83 Studio
Studio Indent
Mayli Makes
SIX-REALMS
Goodplace Studio
Sadia Fakih
Erin Candela
Jocelyn Hirtes
The Otter Potter
Foot-to-Face
Sarah Moreau
Tonya Hart
Jenn Woodall
Dalia Hassan
Leesa Coleman
Jill Smith
Dress festive, fun or fancy! Children of all ages welcome, but please no pets. This year we will also be collecting gently worn or new hats and mittens for Sistering. Gently worn items must be washed.
Accessibility:
MOCA Toronto aims to be a barrier-free and accessible museum for all. Each floor has elevator access. There are two wheelchairs that are available to borrow. Service animals are welcome.
Akin's Winter Art Crawl | January 18th, 1-4PM, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw Street
Akin Projects invites you to join us for special tours conversations during the 2019 edition of DesignTO in the Queen West area - an Akin Art Crawl focused on local design in alternative spaces!
Come along as artists, curators and staff provide special walkthroughs and tours of their special festival exhibits and projects.
Crawl Schedule
1:00PM - Visit Artscape Youngplace for ‘Can’t Say Nothing (Lorem Ipsum, Moving Patterns)’
1:30PM - Visit 55 Ossington Avenue for ‘Daydream Under the Penny Vine’
2:00PM - Visit 1010 Queen Street West for ‘(AI) – Aesthete’s Items’
2:45PM - Visit Black Artists’ Network in Dialogue (BAND) 19 Brock Avenue for ‘Akwaaba | Welcome Home.’
3:30PM - End the crawl at the Gladstone Hotel for ‘Come Up to My Room’
PWYC (suggested $10 donation), but please register at:
All are welcome, open to the public. The more the merrier!
Any attendees who wish to explore ‘Come Up to My Room’ at the Gladstone Hotel at the end of the crawl must purchase a special discounted ticket here http://tiny.cc/g09vgz. Please be advised that not all areas of the building are open to the public.
Accessibility Information:
TBA
Please let us know of any other accessibility needs so that we can do our best to assist you. Please email janet@akincollective.com at least one week before the event and we will do our best to accommodate. Thank you!
Show & Tell at Akin Sunrise | January 26th, 12-2PM, 100 Sunrise Avenue
Kick off the new year and your new projects with Akin for our next Show & Tell session at our Sunrise studios (100 Sunrise Avenue). This is a time for Akin members and other Toronto artists to show completed works or works in progress and get friendly feedback and answers from their peers in a casual studio setting.
Feel free to bring art to share, bring a friend or two, bring snacks or drinks or just bring yourself! Come for the conversation or just to meet other artists and makers. This is FREE public event - everyone is welcome!
The January edition of the Show and Tell is happening at Akin Sunrise at 100 Sunrise Avenue, Unit 106.
Accessibility Information:
There is step free access to the main entrance located at the side of the building parallel to the parking lot. The first door on the right hand side, once in the main entrance, is access to the studio. The studio entrance requires a key and there is no button to open the door, so someone may require assistance. There are narrow aisles and sharp turns to get into the gender-neutral washroom within the space. There are no grab bars in the bathroom and the toilet is not raised. There is a small lip on the floor upon entering the bathroom. Akin does have access to a wheelchair accessible gender-neutral washroom in the hall across from the Akin studio within the building. The space is not ideal for people with sensory processing issues, due to the white noise in the building.
Save the date!
Akin Lansdowne Farewell Party, 87 Wade Avenue | January 31st 2020 | 8PM til late
Details TBA
Valentine's Card Making Party | February 12th, 6-8PM, Akin St. clair, 1747 St. Clair Avenue West
Akin Projects is excited to present this casual, drop-in crafting party! Join us at Akin St. Clair (1747 St. Clair Avenue West) and make a card for your best friend, neighbour, significant other, worst enemy or a complete stranger! All materials are provided. Please note this is a 19+ event.
Participants will be provided with one card per PWYC donation (donations go to Akin Projects, registered not-for-profit arts organization). The cards are made of heavy-duty hemp card stock, cut and scored to make a 4”x6” card. Each card comes with a 4”x6” envelope. You can decorate the card and envelope however you wish!
Decorating supplies will be provided including:
a variety of coloured and patterned paper
pencil crayons, markers and pens
paints and brushes
stamps and ink
stickers
stencils
scissors
glue
magazines for collage and more!
Feel free to bring additional supplies!
Accessibility Information:
This building is all on a single ground floor. Akin St. Clair Studios regrets any barrier to access. If you require more information or are concerned about accessibility barriers please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Akin at the Artist Project | February 20-23, Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place
Akin Projects invites you to join us at the 2020 edition of Artist Project Toronto. Akin is excited to join this year's Artist Project as the non profit partner. In our booth, visitors are invited to view new work by a handful of our current members, learn more about our services and the many ways we offer support for artists.
Show Hours:
OPENING NIGHT - Thursday, February 20, 7-11pm
Friday, February 21, 11am - 10pm
Saturday, February 22, 11am - 8pm
Sunday, February 23, 11am-6pm
This year, the Artist Project turns 13 with its most exciting show yet and we can't wait to be a part of it! From collectors and curators, to gallerists and designers, visitors can explore and discover works of art from over 300 top contemporary artists from Canada and abroad.
This year, visitors you can view and interact with new works by members of Akin's community in Akin's non profit partner booth. Artists will be on site throughout the show to discuss their work and answer your questions.
Exhibiting Artists:
Accessibility Information:
The Artist Project is committed to excellence in serving all customers including persons with disabilities.The Better Living Centre is an accessible venue. It has a step free access to the building and is level throughout. A limited number of assisted devices are available onsite at the information desk for those who need them. Service animals are allowed into all areas of the event that are open to the public. Artist Project is happy to offer a complimentary admission pass for the support person of a person with a disability.
