Artist Resources: Calls for Submissions, Webinars and More!

This week we have rounded up 4 artist resources in the Toronto GTA for initiatives and projects that can be worked on or attended from the comfort of your home. Click the link under each call for full details and application forms.

INsiders Artist Project, A Social Distancing Art Initiative by STEPS Initiative

In response to our current public health crisis and with the goal of supporting artists, connecting communities and exploring public space during this uncertain time, STEPS is excited to launch the INsiders Artist Project.

• Do you have a public-facing space in your home, garden, balcony or courtyard that could be the site of a creative intervention, installation or public artwork?

• Do you have an idea to build community, share creative ideas or connect with one another through art?

• Are you interested in creating work made from materials you have in your home, exploring DIY, upcycling or found object art?

• Are you interested in sharing your artistic process virtually? Providing insights into your practice or creative process?

Submit your ideas here: https://bit.ly/3esQUaG

Deadline: April 24th 2020 at 4pm

VITAMIN B: Live Zoom Webinar Series for Artists and Creatives
Rx to energize your artistic practice and build professional capacity during Covid-19

FREE Introductory Session – Monday April 20 | 1pm EST

Vitamin B1: Build Habits to Nurture Your Creativity and Professional Growth
Presented in partnership with The Steps Initiative CreateSpace Artist Workshops
This initial one hour webinar will help you identify and establish daily routines to develop your capacity, energize your practice and promote your self-care as a creative professional.

RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3eq6q72

Call for Submissions - Hard Twist 15: Agenda
Textile and fibre arts exhibition at the Gladstone Hotel

Hard Twist is a signature exhibition at the Gladstone Hotel, and an important annual event in the Canadian textile art community.

The 2020 edition asks: What’s the agenda? Or, what is an agenda? Or, what’s your agenda?

Hard Twist 15 – Agenda asks artists to submit textile-based work that speaks to meeting the challenges in navigating the myriad agendas of 2020, be it with resistance, passivity or passion.

Click here to learn more/apply: https://bit.ly/3a9ic27

Deadline: April 30th, 2020 at 11pm

Request for Proposals: Temporary Public Art at Erindale Park, Mississauga

The City of Mississauga Public Art Program, in partnership with Parks and Forestry, invites Canadian professional artists or artist teams to submit proposals to create an original public artwork, to be located in Erindale Park (1695 Dundas St W.).

Artists are asked to propose artwork that responds to the connection between land and water, focusing on aquatic ecosystems and how actions on land can affect (positively and negatively) the aquatic ecosystem.

Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2K5s2HJ

Deadline: May 11th, 2020 at 4pm

The Family Fun at Home Blog Series: Part One

At home with the kids all day and looking for a new activity to try? Look no further! We have compiled a list of DIY crafts and activities you can do at home this week with the family.

All activities have been created by North American creatives and organizations.

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Activity #1: #CCMfromhome: Canoe Cut Outs!

Image source: The Canadian Canoe Museum

The Canadian Canoe Museum has created 3 free canoe cut outs for families to colour and craft their very own miniature canoe or kayak! These canoes are modeled on actual canoes and kayaks in the museum’s collection: an Ojibway Bark Canoe, Nuu-chah-nulth Dugout Canoe, and a Sanikiluarmiut Kayak.

TIP: If you use crayons, and colour your canoe or kayak very thoroughly, it will be waterproofed for its maiden voyage.

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Activity #2: Colouring Pages by CTON

Image source: www.claytonhammer.com

Local illustrator Clayton ‘CTON’ Hammer is offering 2 free colouring pages on his website. You can download these super, fun colouring sheets to help pass the time while you and your family are hunkering down at home.

Clayton Hanmer (aka CTON) is an illustrator whose award-winning, energetic comic style has given him a surprisingly broad range of clients from The New York Times to National Geographic Kids.

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Activity #3: Crafting in Quarantine with Arts Etobicoke

Crafting in Quarantine with Marjan Verstappen is brought to you by Arts Etobicoke. In this series, Marjan will lead you through a fun and easy craft activity using cheap everyday items that you can find in your own home. Each week crafters will create a different art project, learn new skills, and explore various crafting techniques that you can do from home.

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Activity #4: Kids Meditation: Bulldog Finds His Treehouse

In this video by Stop, Breath & Think, Bulldog will show kids how to boost their superpower of calm to find a little bit of peace and quiet in the middle of a noisy day by taking deep, relaxed breaths. Try playing this mindful game when you feel overwhelmed or are in a noisy or hectic environment. This mindful game can also help you relax before naps or bedtime.

Stop, Breathe & Think’s mission is to help kids, teens and young adults build the emotional strength to tackle life’s ups and downs. They also have an app that can be downloaded through the Apple App and Google Play Stores. The app features many meditations and activities geared towards kids and young adults that allow users to check in with their feelings, build skills to help calm themselves, create positive daily routines and more!

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Social Distancing with Kids

Looking for a simple way to explain social distancing to your little ones? CBC Kids in collaboration with Saara Chaudry has created a thorough yet easy to understand video for families to watch together.

Saara Chaudry is passionate about having a positive impact on the world, whether it's within her community, on the big screen or in her role as a CBC Kids News contributor. The 15-year-old from Toronto played Little Cosette in Les Miserables, Howie on Max & Shred and Dana's older sister on Dino Dana. She was also the voice of Parvana in The Breadwinner, the feature film nominated for an Oscar, along with the Golden Globe and Canadian Screen awards.

Stay tuned for our next round up of home activities!

New COVID-19 Resource Page on www.akin.art

Please note that this web page has been archived.

Akin is pleased to announce its new COVID-19 Resources web page. This list on this new page was compiled by the Akin Projects board and the Akin Team as a resource guide for artists, freelancers, and creatives who are in need of support during this challenging time.

This page will be updated regularly. Please check the top of the page to find out when the most recent updates were made.