Free Workshops and Events for Deaf/Disabled, 2SLGBTQ+, and BIPOC Artists in Toronto

Presented by NaAC x Won Lee Community Arts

Artwork by Felicia Byron

Explore Your Creativity This Summer

July – September, 2025
Social Art Studio Space, 180 Shaw Street, Toronto
Participation available via Zoom

The NaAC Won Lee Community Arts Hub’s 2025 summer program features a pilot series of free workshops and events for Deaf and disabled, 2SLGBTQ+, and BIPOC artists. Workshops and events take place at Social Art Studio Space at 180 Shaw Street, Toronto, with opportunities to participate virtually via Zoom. Explore your creativity with this dynamic series of arts and professional development workshops, along with roundtables and artist talks.

Registration:

To register and get full details, please visit the National accessArts website or access our schedule in Google Calendar.

Please confirm your access needs, including ASL-English interpretation, by contacting Karen at kaugustine@accessarts.ca.

Schedule:

Blueprints in Resilience: Visual storytelling through photo collage and cyanotype
Facilitator: Felicia Byron
A hands-on introduction to lens-based storytelling.

Thursdays: July 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7, 14 | 1 – 4pm
Social Art Studio Space or via Zoom

Prep for Market Workshop
Facilitator: Abi Cudjoe
Support for artists with disabilities to set up their works for sale.

Fridays: July 11, 18, 25 | 12 – 4pm
Social Art Studio Space or via Zoom

Reclaiming our Mother Tongues: A multilingual creative writing workshop
Facilitator: Hanan Hazime
A creative writing series for BIPOC writers.

Saturdays: July 19, 26; August 9, 16, 23 | 1 – 3pm
via Zoom

Exploring Sound and Silence
Facilitator: Middle
Explore sound and silence as compositional, meditative, and emotional tools.

Saturdays: July 19, 26; August 9, 16, 23 | 12 – 2pm
Social Art Studio Space

Six-Week Mixed-Media Workshop
Facilitator: Apanaki Temitayo
Explore identity, memory, and culture through fabric collage.

Tuesdays: July 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12, 19 | 1 – 4pm
Social Art Studio Space or via Zoom

Artwork from Belinda Ageda

Artmaking for Well-being and Stress Relief
Facilitator: Belinda Ageda
Foster mental and emotional well-being through artistic exploration.

Tuesdays: July 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12, 19 | 6:45 – 8:15pm
Social Art Studio Space or via Zoom

Finding Centre: Contemplative artmaking for Black neurodivergent creatives
Facilitator: Belinda Ageda
Reconnect with self through mindful artmaking.

Thursdays: July 17, 24, 31; August 7, 14, 21 | 6:45 – 8:15pm
Social Art Studio Space or via Zoom

Introduction to Digital Art with Procreate
Facilitator: Emily Rose Govier Honderich
Learn digital drawing and painting using the Procreate app on iPad.

Wednesdays: July 23, 30; August 6 | 6:45 – 8:15pm
Social Art Studio Space

Artwork by Emily Rose Govier Honderich

Black and Tender: A writing space to bring your fullest self
Facilitator: Dianah Smith
For Black writers to co-create community using storytelling.

Wednesdays: July 30; August 6, 13, 20, 27 | 6:45 – 8:15pm
Social Art Studio Space

Storytelling through Collage
Facilitator: Harmeet Rehal
Learn different approaches artists use to tell stories through collage making.

Saturdays: August 9, 16, 23, 30; September 6 | 3 – 5pm
Social Art Studio Space or via Zoom

Mending by Sewing
Facilitator: Abi Cudjoe
Mend garments through hand stitching and/or sewing machines.

Tuesdays: August 19, 21 | 12 – 4pm & Thursdays: August 26, 28 | 5 – 9pm
Social Art Studio Space

Clay Hand Shape Workshop
Facilitator: Maryam Hafizirad
Work with clay to sculpt hand forms inspired by Deaf View/Image Art (DeVIA).

Saturdays: September 13 and 27 | 1 – 5pm
Social Art Studio Space

Won Lee Artists and Community Talk Series
Facilitator: Ana Moyer
Deaf and disabled, 2SLGBTQ+, and BIPOC artists share stories about their art practices.

Saturdays: September 13, 20, 27 | 1 – 4pm
Social Art Studio Space or via Zoom

About the National accessArts Centre

The National accessArts Centre (NaAC) presented by TD Ready Commitment, formerly known as the In-Definite Arts Society, is Canada’s first multidisciplinary disability arts company. Operating from a multidisciplinary studio space in Calgary, and the Won Lee Community Arts Hub in Toronto, the NaAC provides artistic training, creation, and exhibition/presentation opportunities for artists with developmental, physical, and acquired disabilities.

National accessArts Centre
Toronto Location:
NaAC Won Lee Community Arts Hub, 1594 Queen Street West
accessarts.ca/won-lee
Summer Program Inquiries: kaugustine@accessarts.ca

Facebook @AccessArtsCA
Instagram @AccessArtsCA
YouTube @AccessArtsCA

Venue Accessibility:
Social Art Studio Space is a fully accessible venue. For more information, please contact socialartstudiospace@gmail.com.

Thanks to Our Sponsors:
The NaAC x Won Lee Community Arts Hub’s summer programming has been generously sponsored by the Above Ground Art Supplies, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, ATCO, Calgary Arts Development, Calgary Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Cenovus Energy, CIBC, City of Calgary, Government of Alberta, Government of Canada, National Art Centre, Shaw, and TD Ready Commitment