Photo by Henry Chan.
NEW FOR 2025: OPEN STUDIO SERIES
We are launching a new program (Open Studio Series) to connect our member artists with curators and art professional across Toronto.
We strongly believe that such connections are essential to our community as we find solidarity in sharing our work with the larger community. On selected Thursday evenings, we will have a guest curator/art professional meeting with a group of 4-5 artists who participated in Being Scene juried exhibition this year.
The Open Studio format allows us to support our artists in a more relaxed setting, give them the space and time to speak about their practice with the visiting curator and the public.
LIZ IKIRIKO | THURSDAY, MAY 29
Liz Ikiriko is a Tkaronto/Toronto-based artist and curator. Drawing on her experiences as a mixed Nigerian Canadian, prairie-raised queerspawn daughter and mother, her projects and curiosities engage, question and confront strategies of oppression and systems of power.
PARTICIPATING BEING SCENE ARTISTS:
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Jan Swinburne
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Marie Ruisseau
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Althea Knight
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Ghazaraza
SARAH EDO | THURSDAY, JUNE 12
Sarah Edo is a curator and writer based in Toronto.
Sarah has curated exhibitions and programs with the Toronto Biennial of Art, Gardiner Museum, Art Gallery of Burlington, BAND Gallery, Images Festival, and Whippersnapper Gallery. Her writing has been featured in Studio Magazine, Gallery 44, Topical Cream, BlackFlash Magazine, and CMagazine.
She has formerly held curatorial support positions at MOCA Toronto and the Mackenzie Art Gallery. She is currently a TD Curatorial Fellow at the Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery.
PARTICIPATING BEING SCENE ARTISTS:
- Stephanie Avery @stephvonawesome
- Shannon Taylor-Jones @shannontaylorjones
- Merle Harley @merlesworld2.0
- Brandon Wulff @justanotherautisticguy
- V Vallières @v.vallieres
HEATHER RIGG | THURSDAY, JUNE 26
Heather Canlas Rigg is an independent curator and writer based in Toronto. Her practice is rooted in investigating how artists employ the materiality of camera technologies to interrogate imperialist structures, and in thinking critically about institutions.
HISTORY OF BEING SCENE
Being Scene is an annual juried exhibition of recent artwork by Workman Arts members and individuals who have accessed the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) services in their lives.
Being Scene began over 20 years ago on the grounds of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Over the years, Being Scene has exhibited juried surveys of thousands of artworks by Workman Arts member artists as well as artists with lived experience who have received services from CAMH. Being Scene is an invaluable professionalization experience for artists, consistently reaching audiences of over 5,000, allowing for a greater understanding of diverse experiences. Artists have given shape to compelling ideas and narratives, covering a wide range of conceptual and material approaches. Being Scene has been shown in spaces such as The Gladstone Hotel, Toronto Media Arts Centre, various Artscape locations, and at CAMH.
For further information, interviews or images, please contact Tai Nguyen at tai_nguyen@workmanarts.com
To receive email updates about Being Scene’s annual exhibition launch sign up for the mailing list.
COMING UP NEXT
- SARAH EDO
- Thursday, June 12, 2025
- Open to the public from 7-8 PM
- WORKMAN ARTS OFFSITE
- 32 Lisgar Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto
- No Registration Required
HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AT BEING SCENE?
QUESTIONS ABOUT BEING SCENE OR HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY? CONTACT:
FATMA HENDAWY
VISUAL ARTS MANAGER
fatma_hendawy@workmanarts.com
Special thanks to our Being Scene supporters.
Interested in sponsorship? Click here to download our sponsorship package or contact Tai Nguyen, Communications Manager, for more information.