Akin

Akin Projects is an arts organization and registered nonprofit providing studio space and arts programming in Toronto.

This account is regularly monitored Monday to Friday. Akin Projects is an arts programming organization and registered nonprofit established in 2015 for the purpose of providing both creative and professional development opportunities to members of Toronto’s artistic and cultural community and the public at large. We have offered services to over 2,500 individuals since our inception in 2015. Our

sister organization, Akin Collective, was founded in 2009 and provides affordable studio and shared workspace in a friendly atmosphere for about 1250 members.

06/02/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us on May 23rd at Akin Davisville for our Open Studio as part of the City of Toronto’s Doors Open Festival.

Despite the rainy weather, the event had a great turnout, and was a huge success! We had a lovely time meeting those who came out to see the studio and support our artists. The artists at Akin Davisville worked hard to pull this event together, giving art demonstrations, live portrait drawings, collage workshops, and displaying gorgeous artwork. A huge thank you to everyone who came by and special thanks to our talented artists and our fantastic volunteers.

Check out the blog (link in bio) for more photos!

Thank you to our volunteer .sphere for many of the photos.

05/28/2026

Akin Sterling Studios Currently Available!
STE 09 - 36 sqft for $253/month (Pictured)
STE 06 - 22 sqft for $181/month available June 1st

Akin Sterling, at 181 Sterling Road, is a 1775 sqft studio on the second floor of a residential building, with large, south facing windows and twelve semi-private studios. There is a kitchenette, a communal area, indoor bike parking, and two gender-neutral bathrooms, one of which is a universal washroom. Akin Sterling won't be able to accommodate shared memberships. Paid street parking is available on Sterling Road. Since this studio is within a residential building, it comes with some unique stipulations when compared to other Akin locations. Akin Sterling is open from 8am-8pm only, and does not allow pets. Akin Sterling will unfortunately not be able to accommodate ceramics.

All memberships include 24/7 access (with the exception of Akin Sterling which is open 8am-8pm), wifi, utilities, insurance, shared storage facilities, restroom and kitchen access, communal workspaces and common area cleaning. Prices include HST.

Please note that studio tours are only available when scheduled in advance.

Please contact [email protected] to inquire about studio availability or check our Currently Available page!

05/26/2026

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We’re excited to announce that Akin Dupont member Shayla Bond () has been selected as the recipient of the inaugural Salmon River Studios Community Impact Residency (Akin Founding Artist Special)!

This summer residency at Salmon River Studios will support Shayla’s textile-based research exploring natural dyeing, memory, grief, and place through responsibly sourced plant materials gathered from the surrounding landscape. During her residency she will facilitate a guided “colour walk”, open to the Tamworth community, introducing natural dye materials, exploring the relationship between landscape and textile.

We’re also excited to share that Salmon River Studios is offering the Akin community exclusive early access to Seasonal Studio Residencies for Summer + Fall 2026, including:
• 30% off residency bookings
• Early access to the booking calendar before it opens publicly

Read the full announcement, learn more about Salmon River Studios, and explore the residency opportunity through our latest blog post (link in bio).

Image description: Shayla Bond sitting in a chair and smiling, in the background on the wall hangs some of her artwork.

05/25/2026

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Join us for the final Akin Monthly Crit Night of the season before we return in the fall.

When: Wednesday, June 3 at 7:30 PM
Where: Akin Richmond-Bathurst

Akin Monthly Crit Night is a casual and supportive gathering where Akin members can share works-in-progress, exchange feedback, and connect with artists working across a range of disciplines.

Attendance is free, but capacity is limited, so we encourage you to register early. This session will be hosted by our regular facilitator, Akin Richmond-Bathurst member Sofia Berger.
Please register using the link in our bio. Thanks!

Accessibility: There is one step at the street-level entrance leading into the main foyer. Inside the building, there are an additional nine steps leading to the elevator, which provides access to the third and fourth floors. The Akin studio space is located on a single level with no internal stairs. Private, gender-neutral washrooms are available within the unit, each with a 1-inch step at the entrance.

Image of Pauline Douady's () Richmond-Bathurst studio

05/20/2026

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Meet Akin Davisville’s Talented Artists:

Introducing Tai Kim ()

Tai Kim is a Seoul born Toronto- Based Multi-disciplinary artist who understands the world through visual art and music. Reggae music. Tai creates plein-air paintings mostly around Ontario and still life paintings done on scrolls.

Tai Kim blends eastern art materials (silk scroll) with western painting methods.
At the Open Studio Event, Tai will be displaying portraits of her mother and grandmother as a reflection on the recovery of femininity, healing generational connections, and ongoing storytelling.

Tai Kim is an artist who believes in living each day with the power of positivity.
Every day is a new day.
One love!

See more of Tai Kim’s work at her instagram

Drop by on May 23rd to see Tai’s work when we open the studio to the public for this city-wide event! Tai will be selling small oil paintings and music related artworks.

Location: Akin Davisville, 224 Merton Street
Date: Saturday, May 23rd 2026
Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What to Expect: Open studios, artist meet-and-greets, artwork on display, family-friendly activities.

Can’t wait to see you there!

05/19/2026

.Meet Akin Davisville’s Talented Artists:

Introducing David Johns ()

David was born and raised in Toronto. He graduated from the OCAD University and worked in Toronto as a graphic designer in design studios, advertising agencies and the corporate environment, specializing in information design.

Now retired, David enjoys producing two dimensional art using a variety of mediums: monoprints, serigraphs, photography and pastels.

Colour, colour, colour. Pure pigment. That’s what excites David about pastels. He enjoys interpreting the natural world and savours every messy minute.

See more of David Johns’ work on instagram , facebook and his website www.roadartcollection.com

In preparation for the Akin Davisville Open Studio as part of Doors Open Toronto 2025, we're introducing you to some of the amazing artists who will be participating in the event. Join us on May 23rd when we open the studio to the public for this city-wide event!

Location: Akin Davisville, 224 Merton Street
Date: Saturday, May 23rd 2026
Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What to Expect: Open studios, artist meet-and-greets, artwork on display, family-friendly activities.

Can’t wait to see you there!

05/18/2026

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Meet Akin Davisville’s Talented Artists:

Introducing Kay Compagnoni ()

Kay is primarily an abstract artist working with acrylic and various mediums such as ink, collage and resin. Bold, vibrant colours inspire her, especially those found in nature and travel. She loves to learn and experiment with different mediums.

See more of Kay’s work on Instagram

Join us on May 23rd to see Kay’s work in person when we open the studio to the public for this city-wide event!

Location: Akin Davisville, 224 Merton Street
Date: Saturday, May 23rd 2026
Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What to Expect: Open studios, artist meet-and-greets, artwork on display, family-friendly activities.

Can’t wait to see you there!

05/16/2026

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Meet Akin Davisville’s Talented Artists:

Introducing Nancy Ospina ( .lab)

Nancy Ospina is a multidisciplinary artist and educator based in Toronto. Her practice engages drawing, painting, performance, and participatory processes to explore memory, perception, and the emotional traces of lived experience. Her work reflects on presence, transformation, and personal narratives, creating contemplative spaces for reflection and connection.

Alongside her artistic practice, Ospina works in art education with a focus on introducing contemporary art to children and families. She designs and facilitates process based workshops that encourage experimentation, critical thinking, and the development of individual visual language, fostering inclusive environments where art becomes a tool for dialogue and creativity.

During the Akin Davisville Open Studio, Nancy will be offering a family-friendly portrait collage workshop through Oruga Creative Lab .lab, inviting children and families to explore and creativity through playful artistic experimentation.

See more of Nancy’s work on her website nancyospinar.myportfolio.com and instagram .lab

See Nancy’s work in person, and participate in her family-friendly workshop on May 23rd when we open the studio to the public for this city-wide event! Nancy will be set up on the 2nd floor of the studio.

Location: Akin Davisville, 224 Merton Street
Dates: Saturday, May 23rd 2026
Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What to Expect: Open studios, artist meet-and-greets, artwork on display, family-friendly activities.

Can’t wait to see you there!

05/15/2026

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Meet Akin Davisville’s Talented Artists:

Introducing Miles Forrester ( )

Miles Forrester is a poet who works in multiple media living in Toronto/Tsi tkaran:to. He volunteers at Toronto Zine Library where many of his chapbooks are displayed: including Hippocamp (a collaboration with Alex Hood) and Zugzwang, which is based on a bi-annual workshop he hosts in the space. At Akin, he has been assembling zines from his ongoing project, Slow Town, which maps his adventures through a town that's like this one, but slower, and considers all the possibilities and problems it would come with, eventually.

See more of Miles’ work on instagram

Join us on May 23rd when we open the studio to the public for this city-wide event! Miles will be selling zines: $10 for 1, $15 for 2. Salon and readings will be conducted in Miles' studio on the second floor intermittently between 10am – 1pm

Location: Akin Davisville, 224 Merton Street
Date: Saturday, May 23rd 2026
Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What to Expect: Open studios, artist meet-and-greets, artwork on display, family-friendly activities.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Image Descriptions:
Slide 1: Miles Forrester (Illustration by Alex Hood), Pillars of Slow Town XI/VIII, Saddle Stitched Zine, 5.5 x 8.5, 2026
Slide 2: Poem from Pillars of Slow Town XI/VIII
Slide 3: Poem from Pillars of Slow Town I/XIV
Slide 4: Artist photo (photo credit Lucida Photobooths)
Slide 5: Miles Forrester (Illustration by Alex Hood), Pillars of Slow Town I/XIV, Saddle Stitched Zine, 5.5 x 8.5, 2026

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05/14/2026

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Introducing Sadaf Solei ()

Sadaf Solei is an Iranian-Canadian multimedia artist based in Toronto. Working across ceramics, photography, and drawing. Her practice explores themes of memory, self-discovery, and the quiet emotional weight of everyday life. Through Studio Solei, her evolving ceramics practice brings together functional forms, recycled materials, plants, and light—creating objects that hold both utility and a sense of play. Rooted in a deeply intuitive process, her work reflects a search for balance, care, and connection through the act of making.

During the Open Studio event, Sadaf’s ceramics and art will be for sale out of her studio.

See more of Sadaf’s work on her instagram .solei

Join us on May 23rd when we open the studio to the public for this city-wide event! Sadaf’s work will be displayed and for sale on the lower level of the studio.

Location: Akin Davisville, 224 Merton Street
Date: Saturday, May 23rd 2026
Open Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What to Expect: Open studios, artist meet-and-greets, artwork on display, family-friendly activities.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Image Descriptions:

Slide 1: Drawings in a group shot. The world within, Conte, 2025
Slide 2: The criminal hands, Still images from a 20sec video art about self-censorship, 2023
Slide 3: The path to the liberation, Drawing and digital photography, inspired by the bravery of people during Women.Life.Freedom movement, 2024
Slide 4: Asymmetry, Flower Vase and oil lamp, Ceramic, 2026
Slide 5: Flower vase, Flower Vase, Ceramic, 2026

Address

568 Richmond Street West
Toronto, ON
M5V 1Y9

Website

http://akin.art/

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