Join us for the 20 Dreams: On Wires, Wool, Bees and Black Creative Worlds, a conversation with Charmaine Lurch and Katherine McKittrick!

ABOUT CHARMAINE LURCH

Charmaine Lurch is a Caribbean Canadian conceptual artist whose multi-modal practice spans sculpture, installation, drawing, performance and public art. Grounded in Black geographies and ecological justice, her work explores relationships between human and more-than-human life, through materials such as charcoal, wire, steel, as well as the use of light, and shadow. Lurch’s work has been presented at major institutions including the Royal Ontario Museum, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Gallery of Jamaica, and the Art Gallery of Ontario, and appears internationally through institutions such as Global Affairs Canada. She is a professor at Humber College in the Faculty of Digital and Creative Arts and is an educator committed to community-engaged, interdisciplinary learning.

ABOUT KATHERINE MCKITTRICK

Katherine McKittrick is Canada Research Chair in Black Studies. She researches in the areas of black studies, anti-colonial studies, and critical-creative methodologies. She authored Demonic Grounds: Black Women and the Cartographies of Struggle, edited Sylvia Wynter: On Being Human as Praxis, and co-edited, with Clyde Woods, Black Geographies and the Politics of Place. Her most recent monograph, Dear Science and Other Stories is an exploration of black methodologies. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 

Looking to cultivate a creative community of learners? Well, look no further! In collaboration with the Kingston Frontenac Public Library, Cultivate Art Commons is co-hosting the Learning for Liberation Book Club.

In The Serviceberry, author Robin Wall Kimmerer invites us to think about how to orient our lives around gratitude, reciprocity, and community, based on the lessons of the natural world. As Indigenous scientist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin harvests serviceberries alongside the birds, and she considers the ethics of reciprocity that lies at the heart of the gift economy. How, she asks, can we learn from Indigenous wisdom and the plant world to reimagine what we value most?

For our first Learning For Liberation session, we’re inviting folks to join us for an evening of discussion surrounding abundance, reciprocity, gift-economies and other themes of the book, whilst creating raised-beadwork strawberry pins! This session is facilitated by Liv Rondeau.

This program exists to create a welcoming space for collective learning and art-making, critical conversation, and community connection through books that explore liberation, history, justice, creativity, and social change. Together, participants will engage with diverse voices and ideas, reflect on lived experiences, and imagine more caring, equitable futures.

On the first Tuesday of each month, folks will come together to discuss the book at hand, whilst participating in a hands-on art activity.

10 copies of each book will be available through the Kingston Frontenac Public Library. All art activity materials are provided. 

This program is generously funded by the Community Foundation for Kingston & Area.

The Remix Revelations is an engaging artist talk featuring the talented Artists-in-Residence of The Remix Residency, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their creative journeys this August. Join us for an inspiring afternoon as they share insights from their residency experience and unveil the work they developed during their time at Cultivate Art Commons.

Join us for a guided meditation that invites you to experience art slowly, openly, and with fresh attention. Led by mindfulness facilitator Jay Vidyarthi, this session offers a gentle way to connect with the artworks at Cultivate Art Commons through presence, curiosity, and reflection.

After a brief introduction, participants will be guided into the present moment before mindfully wandering the gallery. As you observe the artworks, you’ll be invited to notice what arises—sensations, thoughts, and feelings—without the need to analyze or interpret. Using the art as an anchor for awareness, the meditation creates space for deeper engagement with the exhibition and with your own inner experience. 

No prior meditation experience is required—just bring your curiosity and openness.

This is a monthly program held on the last Friday of each month from 10–11am. The meditation is 30 minutes long followed by an optional 30 minutes of discussion and reflection. 

Please Note: This session is not a therapy program. Jay Vidyarthi is a trained mindfulness facilitator, not a licensed therapist, and offers meditation using a trauma-sensitive approach that emphasizes care, consent, and personal agency.

ABOUT JAY VIDYARTHI

Jay Vidyarthi is the award-winning author of RECLAIM YOUR MIND and founder of Still Ape. With over 15 years of meditation practice—including extended retreats, monastic training, and facilitator training—his work and ideas have helped improve the wellbeing of millions. He's taught major organizations, community groups, and one-on-one. His ideas have been featured by places like Harvard, MIT, TED, Psychology Today, CNN, Mashable, Vice, and Fast Company. Learn more at jayvidyarthi.com

Join us for the second session in Lunch & Learn, our members-only workshop series at Cultivate Art Commons designed to support and inspire each other’s growth through meaningful conversation and peer-to-peer learning!

What does it mean to look closely at a work of art; how do we look beyond a work’s surface? Join Board Director Madeleine Dempster in this Lunch & Learn session to explore these questions, learn a little about 18^th century French art, observation, and visual analysis all through the creative, collaborative practice of collaging. No artistic experience or art historical knowledge is required! 

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Madeleine Dempster is a PhD candidate in Art History at Queen’s University where her research focuses on the art collections of eighteenth century French artists and architects. Her work is generously funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. She holds a Master’s in Art History from Queen’s University, in which she explored the art market connections between France and Canada and the Fond Desjardins. Madeleine is passionate about interdisciplinary research and arts-based community engagement. When she is not researching or exploring galleries and museums, Madeleine is out hiking, birding, and camping!

OPIRG Kingston is a local organization for community-based research, education, and action for social and environmental justice. Since 1992, we have worked to preserve and present local histories of activism and social movements that are so often left out of mainstream history. Our People’s History Project brings these stories out of the archives and into various forms of interactive media including art, essays, and walking tours. 

Join us at Cultivate Art Commons to learn more about how artists and non-artists alike can interact with (and make) history. Using the 2021 anti-colonial Revolution of the Heart movement as a case study, we’ll discuss how art can be used to present a counter-history and how archives can help us in our current struggles for justice.

Join us for our RE:FUEL - Creation Sessions, a free workshop series where individuals come together to unleash their creativity in the collaborative environment of Cultivate Art Commons.

This session features “Make Your Own Bookmarks,” with basic materials provided, though participants are encouraged to bring in supplementary materials to enhance their experience. With a focus on connection and collective inspiration, this program celebrates the power of community-driven creation.

Join us for a guided meditation that invites you to experience art slowly, openly, and with fresh attention. Led by mindfulness facilitator Jay Vidyarthi, this session offers a gentle way to connect with the artworks at Cultivate Art Commons through presence, curiosity, and reflection.

After a brief introduction, participants will be guided into the present moment before mindfully wandering the gallery. As you observe the artworks, you’ll be invited to notice what arises—sensations, thoughts, and feelings—without the need to analyze or interpret. Using the art as an anchor for awareness, the meditation creates space for deeper engagement with the exhibition and with your own inner experience. 

No prior meditation experience is required—just bring your curiosity and openness.

This is a monthly program held on the last Friday of each month from 10–11am. The meditation is 30 minutes long followed by an optional 30 minutes of discussion and reflection. 

Please Note: This session is not a therapy program. Jay Vidyarthi is a trained mindfulness facilitator, not a licensed therapist, and offers meditation using a trauma-sensitive approach that emphasizes care, consent, and personal agency.

ABOUT JAY VIDYARTHI

Jay Vidyarthi is the award-winning author of RECLAIM YOUR MIND and founder of Still Ape. With over 15 years of meditation practice—including extended retreats, monastic training, and facilitator training—his work and ideas have helped improve the wellbeing of millions. He's taught major organizations, community groups, and one-on-one. His ideas have been featured by places like Harvard, MIT, TED, Psychology Today, CNN, Mashable, Vice, and Fast Company. Learn more at jayvidyarthi.com

Join us for the first session in Lunch & Learn, a new members-only workshop series at Cultivate Art Commons designed to support and inspire each other’s growth through meaningful conversation and peer-to-peer learning!

Facilitated by Cultivate Art Commons Executive Director Maddi Andrews, this inaugural session will explore the history and role of artist-run centres in Canada. Together, we’ll discuss what artist-run centres are, why they emerged, who they serve, and how they continue to foster community exchange, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and collective care. Whether you’re new to artist-run culture or looking to deepen your understanding, this informal conversation offers an opportunity to learn more about the networks and values that shape artist-led spaces.

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Maddi Andrews is an artist and art educator based in Katarokwi/Kingston. She is currently employed as the Executive Director of Cultivate Art Commons, where she seeks to create opportunities for community exchange, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and collective wellness. Maddi completed her Master’s in Art History at Queen’s University in 2021, and previously received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Art History and a Certificate of International Studies from Queen’s University in 2019.

To celebrate the community we're growing together, join us for a Community Picnic on July 25th at 4pm. Bring a dish, snack, or treat to share, and spend the afternoon connecting with friends and neighbours. We'll also be adding new pieces to our community quilt, inviting everyone to leave their mark and become part of this shared creative project.

We'll gather on the grassy field beside the Tett Centre for Creativity & Learning. If the weather doesn't cooperate, we'll meet indoors at Cultivate Art Commons instead.

We can't wait to gather with you!

Every garment has a story, and a good mend means that story isn't over. Join Wild Bobbin for a hands-on introduction to the hand stitching techniques you need to keep your favourite clothes and textiles in your life longer.

This free two-hour clinic is open to complete beginners and will walk you through the most common mending repairs, step by step. 

You'll leave with new skills, printed take-home resources, and a clearer sense of how to tackle the item you brought with you.

Space is limited to 20 participants. All supplies are provided. No previous hand sewing skills required.

TECHNIQUES YOU'LL LEARN

• Threading your needle & the anchor stitch — the foundation of every hand repair, and why to skip the knot.

• Running stitch — your go-to for closing gaps and reinforcing seams in a pinch.

• Ladder stitch — the invisible mend for lined jackets, stuffed animals, puffy coats, and anything you can't turn inside out.

• Backstitch — a stronger, slightly stretchy repair for broken seams.

• Replacing a button — properly, with a post, so it actually stays.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Guided instruction through each technique with printed reference sheets to take home.

• All tools and materials; sample fabric, needles, thread, scissors, and pins.

• Time at the end to discuss a specific item you have that requires mending and get guidance on how to approach your repair.

WHAT TO BRING

Curiosity, patience and intention.

You’re welcome to bring one item that needs mending — a shirt with a broken seam, a sweater that's lost a button, a stuffy that's seen better days — whatever's been sitting in the “I’ll fix it one day” pile. 

There may not be time to complete the repair during the workshop, but the goal is to make sure you leave knowing exactly how to do it yourself.

ABOUT WILD BOBBIN

Wild Bobbin is a fabric and sewing studio reimagining the garment sewing experience in downtown Kingston, Ontario. They're not just selling fabric and notions; they're building a movement that celebrates making, mending, and passing on both skills and creations for years to come.

With sewing classes for all levels, PDF pattern printing, open studio sewing spaces and many exciting events throughout the year, Wild Bobbin is the place where makers of all levels are welcome to learn, create, and connect.

For more information about Wild Bobbin, visit our website [www.wildbobbin.com] or follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wildbobbin/]

Join us for a guided meditation that invites you to experience art slowly, openly, and with fresh attention. Led by mindfulness facilitator Jay Vidyarthi, this session offers a gentle way to connect with the artworks at Cultivate Art Commons through presence, curiosity, and reflection.

After a brief introduction, participants will be guided into the present moment before mindfully wandering the gallery. As you observe the artworks, you’ll be invited to notice what arises—sensations, thoughts, and feelings—without the need to analyze or interpret. Using the art as an anchor for awareness, the meditation creates space for deeper engagement with the exhibition and with your own inner experience. 

No prior meditation experience is required—just bring your curiosity and openness.

This is a monthly program held on the last Friday of each month from 10–11am. The meditation is 30 minutes long followed by an optional 30 minutes of discussion and reflection. 

Please Note: This session is not a therapy program. Jay Vidyarthi is a trained mindfulness facilitator, not a licensed therapist, and offers meditation using a trauma-sensitive approach that emphasizes care, consent, and personal agency.

About Jay Vidyarthi 

Jay Vidyarthi is the award-winning author of RECLAIM YOUR MIND and founder of Still Ape. With over 15 years of meditation practice—including extended retreats, monastic training, and facilitator training—his work and ideas have helped improve the wellbeing of millions. He's taught major organizations, community groups, and one-on-one. His ideas have been featured by places like Harvard, MIT, TED, Psychology Today, CNN, Mashable, Vice, and Fast Company. Learn more at jayvidyarthi.com

Join the amazing Cultivate Art Commons Ambassadors at the Skeleton Park Arts Festival! They’ll be offering free, hands-on art activities for all ages, along with friendly guidance on how you can get involved with your local artist-run centre in Katarokwi–Kingston.

Mending encompasses practices that weave together, repair, and/or assemble a self and fractured world. It makes space for diverse ways of knowing, with an intention to make something of the present moment in ways that tend to its complex histories. 

I am affected by change, the uncertainty of things, and moments that, however fleeting, leave lasting impressions. My creative practice can be described as a kind of poetic mending, through which image and poem are assembled to make something of the complexity of fleeting yet enduring encounters. The encounter marks an edge—whether real or imagined—where bodies meet and can work together to mend and reconfigure the limits signified by that edge. 

To think critically about the edge as a site of meeting and mending, I turn to Sara Ahmed’s (2014) theory on the cultural politics of emotion. She argues how emotions work to bind and give texture to the surfaces of our bodies; they form an economy in which bodies and meanings are stuck together.

This workshop is an opportunity to tend to wounds, cracks, or adhesions, and to write as a method for mending, repairing, and/or building community. Rather than cure—that fantastical promise which leaves no space for lifelong disablement, past wounds, or reconfigured selves—this workshop aims to generate a multi-textual and practical mending praxis of care and world-making. 

About Alanna Veitch

Alanna Veitch is an interdisciplinary disabled poet-artist and scholar living in Katarokwi/Kingston, where she is completing her PhD at Queen’s University. Her work grapples with disability and the embodied politics of emotion, its affect, and the aesthetics of uncertainty and hope. Veitch is affected by change, by the uncertainty of the future, by moments that endure in their spontaneity. She writes out of necessity, bringing poetic text and image together to register the complexity of emotions which circulate between, shape, and bind us to one another. She has performed at local events, with publications in literary arts and academic sites including Atlantis, Critical Disability Discourses, Syphon, Critical Studies, and Union Gallery. Veitch’s doctoral work uses research-creation to give shape to an affective economy of disability. 

Join us for a guided meditation that invites you to experience art slowly, openly, and with fresh attention. Led by mindfulness facilitator Jay Vidyarthi, this session offers a gentle way to connect with the artworks at Cultivate Art Commons through presence, curiosity, and reflection.

After a brief introduction, participants will be guided into the present moment before mindfully wandering the gallery. As you observe the artworks, you’ll be invited to notice what arises—sensations, thoughts, and feelings—without the need to analyze or interpret. Using the art as an anchor for awareness, the meditation creates space for deeper engagement with the exhibition and with your own inner experience. 

No prior meditation experience is required—just bring your curiosity and openness.

This is a monthly program held on the last Friday of each month from 10–11am. The meditation is 30 minutes long followed by an optional 30 minutes of discussion and reflection. 

Please Note: This session is not a therapy program. Jay Vidyarthi is a trained mindfulness facilitator, not a licensed therapist, and offers meditation using a trauma-sensitive approach that emphasizes care, consent, and personal agency.

About Jay Vidyarthi 

Jay Vidyarthi is the award-winning author of RECLAIM YOUR MIND and founder of Still Ape. With over 15 years of meditation practice—including extended retreats, monastic training, and facilitator training—his work and ideas have helped improve the wellbeing of millions. He's taught major organizations, community groups, and one-on-one. His ideas have been featured by places like Harvard, MIT, TED, Psychology Today, CNN, Mashable, Vice, and Fast Company. Learn more atjayvidyarthi.com

Get ready for this year’s Creative Futures: Empowering Teen Artists exhibition Forthcoming, which will be on view in the Tett Gallery (Room 109) from Tuesday, May 19th to Saturday, May 23rd.

Visit the exhibition at your leisure throughout the week, or join us for the Closing Reception on Saturday, May 23 from 2–3pm to celebrate alongside its young artists.

Join us for an engaging, hands-on workshop exploring natural pigment dyeing through the lens of Accounting for Bleed. Led by exhibiting artist Francisco Berlanga, this session invites participants to experiment with cochineal dye and pH-modifying mordants to create evolving textile iconographies.

Participants will begin by dyeing fabric in a rich cochineal bath, establishing a vibrant base. From there, you’ll paint simple icons or symbols using acidic and basic mordants, observing as colours shift in real time—bright oranges emerging from acidic applications and deep purples developing with alkaline ones. As these elements overlap, unexpected hues and textures will appear, shaped by the interplay between chemistry and gesture.

This workshop offers a unique opportunity to explore how meaning and imagery can transform through material processes, revealing the dynamic relationship between dye, fabric, and mark-making. No prior experience is necessary—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.

Join us for the Opening Reception of our Spring Exhibitions, including Francisco Berlanga’s Accounting for Bleed, Jongwook Park’s Different Yet Similar Breath, and the Annual Juried Exhibition: Mending Ways.

Join us for an Artist Talk with Jongwook Park to learn more about the exhibition Different Yet Similar Breath on view in the Window Gallery.

Join Cultivate Art Commons and the Women's Art Festival for a M(other)'s Day Market on Sunday, May 3rd from 10am - 2pm at Cultivate Art Commons (formerly Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre). This vibrant market offers a unique opportunity to support local artists and makers—come shop and celebrate creativity within our community. To make the experience inclusive for all caregivers, the market is child-friendly and features an activity station where kids can engage and have fun while adults browse. Inspired by Writer Dani McClain’s inclusive understanding of motherhood—embracing all caregivers, including gender non-conforming individuals, as those who “create, nurture, affirm, and support life”—this market invites you to honour diverse experiences of caregiving. A heartfelt thank you to Artist Claire Drummond for connecting us to Dani McClain’s foundational work. Join us in supporting local talent and celebrating the many forms of caregiving!

Join the amazing Cultivate Art Commons Ambassadors at the Visitor Information Centre! They’ll be offering free, hands-on art activities for all ages, along with friendly guidance on how you can get involved with your local artist-run centre in Katarokwi–Kingston.

We invite you to join us on Saturday, April 25th at 2pm for our Coalesce Residency Celebration. This is your opportunity to meet the Coalesce Resident Artists and hear about their experiences participating in the residency throughout April.

Join us for a guided meditation that invites you to experience art slowly, openly, and with fresh attention. Led by mindfulness facilitator Jay Vidyarthi, this session offers a gentle way to connect with the artworks at Cultivate Art Commons through presence, curiosity, and reflection.

After a brief introduction, participants will be guided into the present moment before mindfully wandering the gallery. As you observe the artworks, you’ll be invited to notice what arises—sensations, thoughts, and feelings—without the need to analyze or interpret. Using the art as an anchor for awareness, the meditation creates space for deeper engagement with the exhibition and with your own inner experience. 

No prior meditation experience is required—just bring your curiosity and openness.

This is a monthly program held on the last Friday of each month from 10–11am. The meditation is 30 minutes long followed by an optional 30 minutes of discussion and reflection. 

Please Note: This session is not a therapy program. Jay Vidyarthi is a trained mindfulness facilitator, not a licensed therapist, and offers meditation using a trauma-sensitive approach that emphasizes care, consent, and personal agency.

About Jay Vidyarthi 

Jay Vidyarthi is the award-winning author of RECLAIM YOUR MIND and founder of Still Ape. With over 15 years of meditation practice—including extended retreats, monastic training, and facilitator training—his work and ideas have helped improve the wellbeing of millions. He's taught major organizations, community groups, and one-on-one. His ideas have been featured by places like Harvard, MIT, TED, Psychology Today, CNN, Mashable, Vice, and Fast Company. Learn more atjayvidyarthi.com

Enter a space where physical and digital media collide. In this open house, the New Media Workspace will be open to participants to experiment with projection, lighting, augmented reality, and sound to transform a physical artwork. Create immersive environments, disrupt the visual surface, and explore how technology can reshape perception. Participants will co-create an interactive installation that pushes beyond the physical artwork. 

Featuring artwork by Emma Poley.

Meet Emma Poley

Emma Poley is a Peterborough/Nogojiwanong-born printmaker, writer, and artist now based in Kingston, Ontario. Her work is deeply dissective, centring the anatomical—exploring how our bodies exist as animals, how memory lives in bone, and what it means to hold an archive within ourselves. She’s drawn to bones, teeth, horses, and the practice of learning to be gentle with large monsters—a lesson that began at horse camp in rural Ontario. Emma is currently completing her fifth year toward her BFAH at Queen’s University.

Intersection: A Living Archive is an intimate, facilitated gathering that expands the themes of the Intersection exhibition into a space for active dialogue, reflection, and collective storytelling.

Rooted in the exhibition’s exploration of identity, place, movement, and cultural overlap, this program invites Kingston-based artists, creatives, and community members to consider how their lives intersect within the city—and with one another.

The event begins with a short artist talk, framing Intersection as a living archive shaped by the people, relationships, and environments connected to Kingston. From there, participants will be guided through reflective prompts and a hands-on collage activity, exploring ideas of belonging, visibility, creative identity, and the layered experiences that inform everyday life.

The session will close with a shared contribution to a temporary “Intersection Wall.” Participants are invited to leave a word, phrase, or collage fragment that captures their experience—creating a collective piece that subtly evolves alongside the exhibition throughout its run.

Free and open to the public, this gathering is intentionally small in scale to foster meaningful conversation, connection, and a sense of shared presence.

Join us for a special gathering celebrating newly created work from our community.

During the event, we’ll watch selected films, view artwork, and celebrate the creativity around us. It’s a chance to see what others have been up to and talk about your creative process in an open, supportive setting.

Join us for a guided meditation that invites you to experience art slowly, openly, and with fresh attention. Led by mindfulness facilitator Jay Vidyarthi, this session offers a gentle way to connect with the artworks at Cultivate Art Commons through presence, curiosity, and reflection.

After a brief introduction, participants will be guided into the present moment before mindfully wandering the gallery. As you observe the artworks, you’ll be invited to notice what arises—sensations, thoughts, and feelings—without the need to analyze or interpret. Using the art as an anchor for awareness, the meditation creates space for deeper engagement with the exhibition and with your own inner experience. 

No prior meditation experience is required—just bring your curiosity and openness.

This is a monthly program held on the last Friday of each month from 10–11am. The meditation is 30 minutes long followed by an optional 30 minutes of discussion and reflection. 

Please Note: This session is not a therapy program. Jay Vidyarthi is a trained mindfulness facilitator, not a licensed therapist, and offers meditation using a trauma-sensitive approach that emphasizes care, consent, and personal agency.

About Jay Vidyarthi 

Jay Vidyarthi is the award-winning author of RECLAIM YOUR MIND and founder of Still Ape. With over 15 years of meditation practice—including extended retreats, monastic training, and facilitator training—his work and ideas have helped improve the wellbeing of millions. He's taught major organizations, community groups, and one-on-one. His ideas have been featured by places like Harvard, MIT, TED, Psychology Today, CNN, Mashable, Vice, and Fast Company. Learn more atjayvidyarthi.com

Join us for an Artist Talk with Tonya Corkey to learn more about her exhibition Sweet Dreams on view in the Main Gallery!

Join us for the official launch of our new Artists’ Legal Rights Guide, now spotlighting contract law for creatives. This edition breaks down the different types of contracts artists commonly encounter, essential procedural considerations, and the key components that make an agreement legally sound. We’ll also highlight the most important rights to protect in your contracts—so you can enter every deal informed, confident, and empowered.

In this workshop, Em will be highlighting different platforms for building websites. She will explain some best practices of designing a website that is not only engaging, but also accessible.

MEET EM

Em Harmsen is a multi-disciplinary designer and artist. She runs emske - design studio, a mindful creative studio that is environmentally conscious and adaptably minded. She has a background in fashion design, technology and accessibility. Em is currently completing a PhD focused on user centred design at Queen's University. She is an advocate for inclusive practices and a big fan of slow thoughtful design and artistic work.