Available Akin Studios across Toronto!

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Hello artists, makers, inventors, and creators! Here’s a snapshot of some of the move-in ready studios that Akin has available across the city. 

If you see anything you like please reach out to info@akincollective.com and we’ll connect you with the Studio Manager for a tour of the space. Please share this post if you know anyone in need of a space to work!

 

Akin Niagara - 289 Niagara Street

With a prime, central west-end location (and its own private outdoor patio!), Akin Niagara is just steps away from Queen Street West and Trinity Bellwoods Park. While there is no kiln on site, Akin Niagara members have the benefit of a ceramics firing pick-up and drop off service hosted by the kiln operator at Akin St Clair. You can have your ceramics picked up in your studio, fired at Akin St Clair, and delivered back to you. Akin Niagara is one of Akin’s more intimate studio locations with a supportive, tightly knit community of artists. 

 

Akin Queen East -  429 Queen Street East

Your east-end creative space! Between Parliament St and River St, Akin Queen East is an entire three floor building of bustling artistic energy and a growing community of artists. The building itself is beautiful; an old, architecturally intriguing building with skylights that shine light all the way down to the lower level, due to its open concept design. Ceramicist members can fire their creations across the street at the Lost and Found Project Space with a 20% discount. 

 

Akin Yonge-St Clair - 1 St Clair Ave W 

Unique for its many private studio spaces, views of the cityscape and convenient mid-town location, Akin Yonge-St Clair is filling quickly! This studio is loaded with big windows, tons of natural light and a mix of open spaces and small, intimate rooms within a larger office building. With 5 units throughout the building (each with their own kitchen) there is a wide array of studio styles to choose from. Located right at the corner of Yonge and St Clair, this mid-town location is as central as it gets. 

 
 
 

Akin Davisville - 224 Merton Street 

At Akin Davisville, the artists have the whole three-storey building to themselves. With two large kitchens, six gender-neutral bathrooms, a big comfy common room, an elevator, parking, and huge windows, Akin Davisville is home to dozens of artists in the Mount Pleasant and Yonge-Eglinton area.  

Shared Memberships at Akin Davisville provide access to two bright studio areas, one on the first floor and one on the second, providing space to work privately or alongside your studio mates. Members can leave their art supplies in the storage areas so no need to bring supplies back and forth from home. Plus, the Akin Davisville shared area boasts the biggest easel at Akin!  

Shared Memberships are available at all of these locations for $80/month. 

All prices include HST and all memberships include: 

  • 24/7 access

  • wifi

  • utilities

  • insurance

  • shared storage facilities

  • restroom and kitchen access

  • communal workspaces

  • common area cleaning

If you don’t see the size or style of studio that you’re looking for listed above there are more studios available at Akin's 8 locations ranging from 25 square feet ($191/month) to 382 square feet ($1,255).

Email info@akincollective.com for more information, or to book your tour today! 

Chris Gardiner’s Three Favourite Things about being a member at Akin Niagara!

Akin Niagara
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We took some time to chat with Akin Member Chris Gardiner about our newest West-End location, Akin Niagara. Continue reading below to find out Chris’ three fabourite things about being a member:

1. The enormous potential the outdoor space has. There seems to be room outside for almost anything: outdoor sculpture, plaster casting, working on a large canvas, using smelly solvents, cooking encaustic, spraying, pouring, etc. Safe outdoor use for Acrylic Paint: 1.7 degrees to 37.8 degrees Celsius!

Image Description: Outdoor patio with table and umbrella in the center, bbq in the back left and benches and window to the right.

2. The nearby area. It’s vibrant. There’s always a lot of energy, and things to see. I am also close to art supplies stores, hardware, groceries, etc. 

 

3. Torin the Studio Manager. He's very friendly, and good at bringing us together as a community of artists. He's one of those magnetic personalities that you like to be around. I'm also a big fan of musicians that go through art schools. 

Image Description: Image of the facade of the building that Akin Niagara resides in. It is a 5-storey building red brick on the right side and covered in white concrete on the left side. The photos os taken in spring so there are many green trees. a teal blue graphic border surrounds the photo with graphic pops if pink. The Akin logo live atop the image and the words “Akin Niagara!” sit below.

Chris’s studio at Akin Niagara

Image Description: Chris’s studio at Akin Niagara features a grey chair positioned against the left wall, beneath a thin shelf. The walls to the left and back are adorned with several paintings. 

Chris Gardiner’s two-dimensional work combines elements of Geometric Abstraction, Neo-Dada, and Art Informel. Whether he focuses on a process of drawing that emphasizes spontaneous/gestural qualities of the artistic process; collage that creates unexpected juxtapositions, a sense of irony, or a disruption of the viewers' expectations; or in painting where precise shapes and forms are arranged in deliberate and structured ways. Gardiner’s work challenges viewers to question their assumptions about the nature of art, and invites them to engage with the work in unexpected and thought-provoking ways. In metaphorical terms it’s Free Jazz meets Professional Wrestling.

See more of Chris’s work at www.chrisgardinerart.net and @gardinerartdotnet

Chris’s paintings in his studio at Akin Niagara

Image Description: Several paintings hanging in Chris’s studio made of black, white or red lines.

Chris Gardiner, Bars and Toner 2023, Oil on Canvas, 32"x42"


Image Description: Painting with multiple vertical black and white bars, one small red horizontal bar in the lower right hand corner and several red strokes in the top left hand corner.

Akin Niagara is located at 289 Niagara Street just south of Queen Street West and in close proximity to Trinity Bellwoods Park. Akin Niagara features rooms with large windows which get ambient daylight and an outdoor patio space exclusively for Akin Niagara members’ use.

All memberships include taxes, 24/7 access, wifi, utilities, insurance, shared storage facilities, restroom and kitchen access, communal workspaces, common area cleaning, connection to a community of artists and more!

  • Shared Memberships: $78/month
    • Access to shared working areas and storage

  •  Dedicated Memberships (your own studio):
    • Private and semi-private options
    • Sizes range from 40 sqft at $252 per month to 117 sqft for $551 per month. 

Visit www.akin.art for more info.
Link in Bio to view all currently available studios.

Contact us at info@akincollective.com to book a studio tour!