Ephriam’s Place Programs

Ephriam’s Place Programs

Ephraim’s Place 

Ephraim’s Place is a Community Centre whose mission is to work with the Jane-Finch and Jane-Sheppard communities to provide programs and services that give children, youth and families the skills and tools they need to build a successful future and bring about positive personal and community transformation. Ephraim’s Place was created in response to the tragic death of Ephraim Brown in 2007.

North York Arts has been working with Ephraim’s Place since 2016 to bring arts programing to the youth in the nerighbourhood. 

  1. 2016NYA ran a drop-in dance program for youth at Ephraim’s Place
  2. 2016With the success of the drop-in dance program, NYA established a formalized dance program with the end goal of paricipating in STOMP Urban Dance Competition with the City of Toronto
  3. 2016Ephriam’s Place dance program participants had the opportuity to showcase their work at Cultural Hotspot and Lee Lifeson Arts Park opening
  4. 2017Ephraim’s Place dance program participants created an official dance Squad called “JNS Finest” for the 2017 STOMP Urban Dance Competition
  5. 2017 With funds recieved from the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), NYA and Ephraim’s Place worked together to start a DJ program and ran two installments
  6. 2018With funds recieved from the OAC, NYA established a training and mentorshop program for JNS Finest

Ephraim’s Place Partnership Community Impact:

  • 30 youth participated in on-going arts programming
  • Created opportunities for participants to showcase their work
  • Created a key peer worker position
  • Created paid opportunities for professional artists to lead programs 
  • Connected youth with opportunities to explore the arts and culture scene in Toronto including tickets to the AGO, HotDocs, and artist talks
Ephraim's Place Programs in the News

About Us

North York Arts (NYA) is an arts service organization designed to address the needs and interests of North York artists, arts organizations and residents.

 Contact us 

North York Arts
(Toronto Centre for the Arts)

5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Public Deputation Workshop

Public Deputation Workshop

Photo by: Shoeb Kadri

Public Deputation Workshop 2020

Looking to share your thoughts on why the arts are important for community connecting, civic engagement and city-building for Toronto?

Join NYA’s board and staff for a workshop where you’ll learn how to present a public deputation to the City of Toronto’s Budget Committee in early 2020.

REGISTRATION BELOW

 

Interested in learning more with NYA?

We are also co-hosting a grant writing workshop with Toronto Arts Council right before this one on January 15th from 2-4pm! Click here to learn more and sign up!

Date: January 15, 2020

Time: 4:30pm – 6:30pm

Place: North York Civic Centre, committee room #4

Past Workshops

December 2018 Workshop: Have York Voice Heard!

Looking to share your thoughts on why the arts are important for community connecting, civic engagement and city-building for Toronto?

Join NYA’s board and staff for a workshop on December 11th where you’ll learn how to present a public deputation to the City of Toronto’s Budget Committee in early 2019.

Date: December 11, 2018

Time: 6-8pm

Place: North York Civic Centre, in Committee Room 3

Address: 5100 Yonge St, North York

 

January 2019 Workshop : Public Deputations 101

CANCELLATION NOTICE: Unfortunately this workshop has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience!

So you want to present at the City of Toronto’s public deputations…

Don’t know where to start?
Need help getting your message across?
Want feedback?  

Join us for our second public deputation workshop on January 30th!

This session is specifically geared towards those who are planning to present at the City of  Toronto’s Budget Committee 2019 public deputations regarding the arts sector. We’ll give you the tools to help you finesse your presentation, and we’ll discuss the importance of the arts for connecting community, civic engagement and city-building for Toronto.

Not planning to present but still interested in attending? Please join us! There’s a lot to learn about Toronto’s public deputation process and advocating for the arts in our city.

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

Contact us 

North York Arts
(Meridian Arts Centre)
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Join Our Network

Art as Medicine

Art as Medicine

Art as Medicine

Hosted by: Veronica Johnny
Featuring Indigenous Workshop Facilitators: Joanne Okimawininew Dallaire and Veronica Johnny

Art as Medicine is a half-day workshop that focuses on both traditional and contemporary explorations of the relationship between health and art from an Indigenous perspective.

Par of the Emergence Symposium and NYA’s Beyond Access, Beyond the Creative Workshop Series.


Veronica Johnny
Veronica Johnny is a two-spirit, multi-disciplinary, Indigenous artist. She is Cree/French Metis on her mother’s side and Dene/Scottish First Nation on her father’s side. Veronica is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation; was born and raised in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories and presently lives in Northern Ontario.
From humble musical beginnings, Ms. Johnny has emerged as a dynamic force in the Canadian music & arts industry, working as a performer, producer, manager, promoter, writer, arts educator, workshop facilitator, entrepreneur, youth mentor, cultural knowledge keeper and Cree language advocate.
She is a singer/songwriter, contemporary Indigenous hand-drummer and also the front woman, vocalist and manager of The Johnnys, a high-energy rock’n’roll band she founded with husband Dave Johnny. Veronica has become a seasoned performer as both solo artist and a member of groups, amassed studio experience on either side of the mixing console, manages several artists & facilitates workshops for hundreds of youth, each year.
Joanne Okimawininew Dallaire
Joanne Okimawininew Dallaire LLD is proudly Cree, her ancestry is Omushkego from Attawapiskat and Mattice Ontario and Hull Quebec, calling Toronto home. Joanne has dedicated her career to counselling, advising and educating on Indigenous concerns, empowering and capacity building and advocating for change in terms of broader societal relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
Her over 30-year social service career has contributed to transforming the lives of individuals, and the culture of agencies and the recognition and respect for Indigenous people, concerns and contributions within mainstream society. Joanne facilitates and consults in the not for profit sector and Toronto District School Board, around hiring practices, staff training, group facilitation and policy and procedures development.  She sits on several councils and committees.
Joanne received an Honorary Doctor of Laws in the Community Service Faculty at Ryerson University in recognition of her life’s work, the Minaake Award for Leadership, Herbert H Carnegie Amazing Aces Award for Courage, the City of Toronto Access, Equity and Human Rights Awards – Aboriginal Affairs Award.
She sits as the Elder for Ryerson University, Ryerson’s Aboriginal Education Council, and the Truth and Reconciliation directive for 10 years. “Her presence on this council is essential to its ability to work as a cohesive, respectful body responsible for the infusion of Indigenous curriculum, worldviews and overall presence in Ryerson University as a whole. It is in no way an exaggeration to say the progress that is envisioned for Ryerson University in terms of the mandate of the Indigenous Education Council would not be possible without the support, guidance and active engagement of Joanne.”
Joanne’s approaches to working with individuals as well as small and large groups are not only comprehensive but creative, effective and unique.  Her work has transformed lives and improved relations between people and the community.  She openly shares her own life’s journey through all forms of abuse, intergenerational trauma from Residential School and finding her profound sense of self.   http://www.healingworks.ca/
Schedule
12:30-1:00: Registration and Light Refreshments
1:00-1:15:    Introductions and Welcomes
1:15- 2:30:   Workshop 1
2:30-2:45:    Break
2:45-4:00:    Workshop 2
4:00-4:30:    Closing and De-brief/Networking

 


Date: November 22, 2018

 Hours: 12:30pm-4:30pm

Place: North York Central Library

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

 Contact us 

North York Arts
(Toronto Centre for the Arts)
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Creative Drawing Workshops at Bernard Betel Centre

Creative Drawing Workshops at Bernard Betel Centre

Creative Drawing at the Bernard Betel Centre

Explore drawing as a mental health exercise. Develop artistic skills and the necessary techniques to create freely without relying on an instructor. Instruction provided in English and Spanish. Please call 416-225-2112, ext. 105 to register. Instructor: Nelly Garcia


 

Date: Sunday, August 5 – 26

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Time: 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Address: Bernard Betel Centre, 1003 Steeles Avenue West, Toronto, ON M2R 3T6

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

 Contact us 

North York Arts
(Toronto Centre for the Arts)
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Creative Foundations

Creative Foundations

Creative Foundations

Creative Foundations is a unique forum that allows participants to tell a story from an artistic and personal perspective. It is a allows participants to use their creative voice in the articulation of a particular theme or issue.

Expressing oneself through art is both healthy and fun. It can bring about positive personal change as well as lasting social transformation.  In a collaboratively built safe and inspiring environment participants
in this programs are challenged to articulate their authentic voice on matters that are important to them and share their visions with community

 

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Email: Lynda.dreamation@gmail.com

Youth Art Program

Location: Fairview Library – July 4, 14, 21, 28 2018
Facilitator: Lynda Watson

A unique creative program inspiring youth to explore and express their voices and ideas as community changemakers through original art work.

Each piece will be based on the statements: Who am I in my community? & How can I make change in my community?

A 4 WEEK program (one session per week) in July 2018 where participants will receive the encouragement, knowledge and tools to create works of art that represent their thoughts and ideas on their community. Youth will choose from a variety of media on canvas to create their final piece of art which will then be showcased during a special Creative Foundations Art Show.

Must commit to all four weekly Saturday sessions: July 4, 14, 21, and 28

To Register call 416-395-5750 or visit 2nd floor information desk at Toronto Public library – Fairview Branch to register.

Years Together

Dates: July 7, 14, 21 and 28
Time: 10:00am to 12noon
Location: Barbara Frum Public Library, 20 Covington Rd, North York, ON M6A 3C1

The Theme: Community

Presented by Dreamation In partnership with North York Arts & Toronto Public Library

There is great value in bringing together generations. We often hear, ‘years apart’. The vision of this program is to change that to ‘years together’. Bringing together the energy, wisdom, inspiration and creativity of generations to create positive change through art. So, every Saturday in July this summer generations will meet to talk, learn and create intergenerational masterpieces. Participants will receive the encouragement, knowledge and tools to create collaborative works of art that represent their thoughts and ideas on who they are in their community and what ideas they have to make change.

Final art pieces will be showcased in a special Art Exhibit & Celebration on the final day of the program.

All material, supplies and instruction are PROVIDED FREE of charge.

Registration required, space is limited. Please call 416-395-5440 or visit Barbara Frum Branch, 20 Covington Road to register

 

About Us

North York Arts (NYA)  collaborates with artists, arts organizations, and partners to develop, strengthen, and promote cultural programming and initiatives for North York communities

 Contact us 

North York Arts
(Toronto Centre for the Arts)
5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

info@northyorkarts.org
Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Drawing Classes for Seniors

Drawing Classes for Seniors

Drawing Classes for Seniors

with artist Nelly Garcia

Explore drawing as a mental health exercise. Develop artistic skills and the necessary techniques to be able to create freely without relying on an instructor. Instruction provided in English and Spanish.


Date: Fridays from April 13 – May 4
Time: 10:00am to 1:00pm
Place: 
North York Community House, 505 Lawrence Ave W

Registration required, please email Nelly at: nellysgarciart@gmail.com

About Us

North York Arts (NYA) is an arts service organization designed to address the needs and interests of North York artists, arts organizations and residents.

 Contact us 

North York Arts
(Toronto Centre for the Arts)

5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Story Telling Through Photography: Shooting Better Portraits

Story Telling Through Photography: Shooting Better Portraits

Photo: Maha Munaf

Storytelling through Photography: Shooting Better Portraits

Photography Workshop with Maha Munaf

Tell a story about your community, challenge cultural stereotyping and break through social isolation by learning how to capture portraits and selecting subjects that visually add to the narrative to tell a full and colourful story.

Part of Art Ignite’s Repainting Perception workshop series


Date: Saturday, April 7, 2018
Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Location: Flemingdon Park Library’s Glass Room, 29 St Dennis Drive
Level: Beginners
Cost: Free, cameras provided, phone cameras are welcome

(Limited spots – Registration required)
email melissa@northyorkarts.org to register

About Us

North York Arts (NYA) is an arts service organization designed to address the needs and interests of North York artists, arts organizations and residents.

 Contact us 

North York Arts
(Toronto Centre for the Arts)

5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Repainting Perceptions

Repainting Perceptions

Repainting Perceptions

In Partnership with Art Ignite, a community arts organization based in North York, Repainting Perceptions provides space for Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park residents to share their stories, challenge religious and cultural stereotyping, and break through social isolation. Photography and portraiture painting will be used as a way to stimulate conversation on current issues and build bridges between various ethnocultural communities.

In partnership with Inspirit Foundation and Flemingdon Park Library


 

Date: May 23 to June 27, 2018

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Time: 10:20pm – 1:20pm

Place:  Flemingdon Park Library’s Glass Room

About Us

North York Arts (NYA) is an arts service organization designed to address the needs and interests of North York artists, arts organizations and residents.

 Contact us 

North York Arts
(Toronto Centre for the Arts)

5040 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON, M2N 6R8

Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm

Arts Build Space Rental Workshop

Arts Build Space Rental Workshop

Creative Space Rentals Workshop Series

This day of learning combines two workshops key for any creative organization offering space rentals


Date: February 8, 2018

Time: 9am – 4pm

Place: Toronto Centre for the Arts

Cost: $20 for one or $30 for both
No one will be turned away for lack of funds – please contact cecilia@northyorkarts.org for more information.

9am – 12pm

Space rentals are a significant revenue source that contributes to the sustainability of many creative organizations and small businesses. Using examples from the sector, this half-day workshop will cover how to define, target and engage with current and new renter audiences.

This workshop is for any arts professional looking for ways to expand their current renter audience or just starting a space rental program. This workshop also serves as a useful tool for any arts professional looking to diversify their skill set around space rentals and revenue development.

This is the first workshop of a two-part series of workshops on the topic of space rentals hosted by ArtsBuild Ontario in partnership with WorkInCulture.

1pm – 4pm

What does it mean to manage risk in your rental space? What is your organization’s attitude towards potential hazards? In this half-day workshop, we will cover what creative venues and small businesses need to know about operational, financial and legal risk when it comes to renting out space.

This workshop is open to all creative venues and small businesses currently offering space rentals. This workshop also serves as a useful tool for smaller/newer rental spaces expecting to grow as well as arts professionals looking to better understand risk in space rentals.

This is the second workshop of a two-part series of workshops on the topic of space rentals hosted by ArtsBuild Ontario in partnership with WorkInCulture.

The Learning Series is presented by ArtsBuild Ontario as a collection of learning opportunities for arts facilities around our core programs: SpaceFinder CanadaArts Facilities Mentoring NetworkEnergy Conservation and Asset Planner for the Arts. The Learning Series is generously supported in part by the Ontario Trillium FoundationOntario Arts Council and the Government of Canada.

The Learning Series is generously support in part by the Government of Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Ontario Arts Council.

Beyond Access, Beyond the Creative

Beyond Access, Beyond the Creative

Beyond Access, Beyond the Creative

Cross-Sector Artist Professional Development

A North York Arts professional development program that builds artists’ capacity as producers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. This program teaches artists how to create programming that supports their own artistic vision and leverages the talents of the communities they work within all disciplines and across sectors.’

We would like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Government of Ontario.

All workshops at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge Street, North York 

           

Art and Wellness

9am to 5pm

This full day workshop will look at the role of the arts in healthcare. The use of artistic practises in healthcare, wellness and mental health is a wide-ranging movement that illustrates how the arts enhance lives and impact patient care, hospital environments, care for caregivers, and community-building within medical and therapy settings.

RSVP HERE


WORKSHOP FACILITATORS

Georgia Webber

Georgia Webber is a comics artist and writer based in Hamilton, Ontario. Georgia co-founded and then ran an anthology publication called gangLion comics. Georgia has worked for BookThug, The Scream Literary Festival, The Void Magazine, Trapshot Archives, Rover Arts, and as Comics Editor of carte blanche. Dumb can be seen in Taddle Creek, Descant: Cartooning Degree Zero, and the Irene comics anthology, as well as in kevin mcpherson eckhoff’s Selfie and in various interviews. This year Georgia is a keynote speaker at the Graphic Medicine Conference: Access Points.

Helen Donnelly

An award-winning clown teacher, she has been teaching clown and movement workshops in the US and Canada for over 15 years at colleges and art institutions including Durham and Fleming College, Haliburton School of the Arts, The Second City, (Toronto) and the University of Toronto. Independently she holds her own theatrical clown training workshops. She has been a guest trainer for clowns working in healthcare in both Israel, Portugal and Canada.

Aside from her work in the theatrical and circus clown realm, she is a professional therapeutic clown offering artistic clown interaction through therapeutic play at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. Previously, she worked at The Hospital for Sick Children and with Dr Clown (Toronto-serving elders with dementia) for over 2 years as Artistic Coordinator and Programs Coordinator. Her passion in the therapeutic clown field has her directly involved in raising standards of practice through presenting at conferences, training others in the field and in research efforts to bring about a better understanding about how this arts-based practice affects patients, families and staff

Sharona Bookbinder

Sharona Bookbinder has been practicing art therapy
for 20+ years, specializing in geriatrics, palliation and cancer care. She divides her time between working full-time at Sunnybrook HSC, doctoral studies and being a mother to 3 boys. She also provides clinical supervision for art therapist in the community.

Creative Entrepreneur 

Branding & Marketing with True Inner Purpose – A Social Justice Based approach to Business for Artists

9:30am to 4:30am

This interactive, hands-on creative workshop focuses on how artists can tell their story through dynamic marketing and branding. While this workshop teaches hard skills in marketing and branding, it is specifically designed for artists who wish to build careers and creative enterprises that are rooted in their True Inner Purpose, honouring their calling in life, with an equity and social-justice based approach to business. This workshop emphasizes personal development, cultivating focus and clarity, sustainability and well-being in one’s creative practice, while supporting sustainability and practical skills in creative entrepreneurship.

This workshop will cover:

  1. How to Create a Brand centred around your True Inner Purpose: Crystalize the message of your company or personal brand, by identifying what makes you unique, and what aspect of your work is the most aligned with your true inner purpose.
  2. How to Find Focus, Clarity, and Purpose: Grounding in your own sense of power as a creative entrepreneur. Understand who your target market is, and strategize ways how best to reach them.
  3. Social Justice Based approach to Marketing and Business: Learn an introduction to sales funnels, and marketing strategies to build long-term relationships with your best customers.

RSVP HERE


WORKSHOP FACILITATOR 

The Real Sun

The Real Sun is the Creator of Voice of Purpose, a Creative Enterprise that delivers Purpose Driven Education through the Arts. The Real Sun has successfully combined her talent as an artist (singer/songwriter/poet), with her love for education, healing, and social justice to create a social enterprise that allows her to live her purpose and passion every day. She uses her music, poetry, and dance as tools of engagement for education, in Workshops and Musical Keynotes across the province and around the world. Constantly encouraging her students to stand in their authenticity, passion, and purpose.

The Real Sun’s artistic practice invokes a journey of deepening into authenticity, and integrates a wide range of form, including poetry, music, visual arts, theatre, and dance. She has performed on stages across 5 continents, with a deep commitment to contributing to the evolution of humanity. Everything The Real Sun creates in the arts or in business is about making a positive impact on the world. The Real Sun is committed to supporting people to identify, align with, and develop the skills to pursue their true purpose in life.

Producing Big Ideas: From the Ground Up

9:30am to 4:30pm

This full day workshop will provide a step by step overview of what is required to develop successful programming from a production standpoint. This workshop is designed for community organizers who want to use arts to engage their community, as well as artists seeking feedback on their ideas. This workshop will provide an opportunity for artists and communities to network and build partnerships on-site that will help move their ideas forward. Participants will be encouraged to bring their ideas and time will be spent on developing these on-site. Breakout sessions will allow for one-on-one feedback.

RSVP HERE


WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

Dan Watson

Dan has created, performed and taught theatre across Canada, Scotland, France, the United States and Japan. He is Co-Artistic Director of Edge of the Woods Theatre in his home town of Huntsville. This company produces an annual travelling outdoor theatre festival as well as various community arts projects for youth and seniors. Dan is a co-founder of the international theatre company Ahuri Theatre. Recently this company travelled to Japan to present Yabu No Naka at the prestigious Setagaya Public Theatre at the prestigious Setagaya Public Theatre. With Ahuri, Dan also recently conceived and directed the workshop production of A Fool’s Life at the Japan Foundation in Toronto.

Dan was also a member of Compagnie Houppz! with whom he created and toured the hit show SplasH20 to sold out houses across Canada and France. This production was recently nominated for an Eloize Prize for Outstanding Production in Eastern Francophone Canada. Through an artistic residency at Théâtre Populaire d’Acadie, the company recently created a new piece entitled Mouving.

In Toronto, Dan has performed in Theatre Smith Gilmour’s Grimm Too, Ed Roy’s Golden Thug (Buddies in Bad Times/Topological Theatre), the world premiere workshop of The Finger (Theatre Panik) and in Golgi Apparatus‘ Bigfoot and Ahoy! presented at the Cooking Fire Theatre Festival in Toronto.

Creative Community

9:30am to 4:30pm

This full day workshop explores what artists need to know and what options they have if they want to work in diverse ethnocultural communities. Artists often want to be able to use their skills for social and community initiatives, but do not know how to facilitate these initiatives, or the best practises for working with potentially vulnerable populations. Creative Community will look at the variations between community engagement and arts education outside of the classroom. Participants will learn practical ways to apply their work in community settings working with under-resourced groups and have the opportunity to develop ideas with experts in the field. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to network with representatives from the social service sector to further their understanding of the unique need of these settings.

RSVP HERE


WORKSHOP FACILITATORS

Paola Gomez

Paola Gomez is a force of nature: a determined and inspired individual committed to improving lives through the arts. A trained human rights lawyer hailing from Colombia, she works as a legal community worker and is a writer of fiction and journalistic non-fiction; she is also the PEN Canada Writer in Residence at George Brown College and a frequent organizer of art exhibits in the Latin American community in Toronto. In 2012, she co-founded Sick Muse Art Projects with artist Alex Usquiano. As the co-founder of Sick Muse Art Projects, Gomez has fostered community engagement and integrated discussions about identity and inclusion into art programs and writing workshops. She’s currently working on a project with Syrian refugee women, encouraging them to share their stories.

Mary Krohnert

A graduate of Ryerson University’s Theatre School, and The Toronto Art Therapy Institute, Mary Krohnert’s work is driven by an appreciation of storied experience, and a desire to explore and utilize the spaces found between the worlds of fine art and social services in order to make sharing those stories accessible and meaningful to all.  Mary is an actor, writer, and art therapist with over twenty years in community outreach through the arts, including developing and implementing programs and projects for Performers for Literacy, ShakespeareWorks, the YMCA and YWCA, University of Toronto, Variety Village, Durham Rape Crisis Centre, Durham Family Court Clinic, Cornerstone Community Association, University of Oshawa Institute of Technology, Trent University Durham, and Durham College.

Mary is the founder of the LivingRoom Community Art Studio, a registered non-profit Art Hive in Oshawa, Ontario, that provides a safe place for people – including those most marginalized – to make and share art for free in the service of community development and wellbeing.  Art Hives are safe spaces where the processes involved in making and sharing art can be experienced and normalized in an effort to empower individuals and families, and revitalize neighbourhoods. In the three years that the LivingRoom studio has been open, it has witnessed remarkable creative growth in its community with over fifteen thousand visits from Durham Region community members. Working primarily with donated and gently used traditional and non-traditional art materials, Mary and a team of passionate studio coordinators and volunteers work with people of all ages and abilities, and from all walks of life, to provide opportunities for folks to reclaim the power of their hands, hearts and minds through creative expression in a community setting.