Varley Art Gallery’s Community Artists in Residence

2018

 
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As the Varley’s inaugural Community Artists in Residence, PROCESS team members (as Crazy Dames) led a series of interactive arts-based workshops that explored how community members, artists and civic leaders could creatively contribute to addressing pressing issues, needs and priorities within Markham.

Workshop 1: GALLERY CITY - How can you shape your gallery and how can your gallery shape your city? (March 2018) An introductory creative placemaking workshop in March 2018 entitled ‘Gallery City’ brought together local artists, Varley staff and the wider public together to: a) consider residents’ roles in the gallery and the city in new ways; b) push the boundaries of how we interact and behave within galleries and civic spaces; and c) collectively identify key issues and priorities within Markham and how we can collaboratively and creatively respond to them. The priorities generated in this workshop were used to inform the subsequent workshops as part of the Residency.

Workshop 2: RECEPTION - Come dine with us! (June 2018)Food security and community gathering spaces were both priorities identified at the March 18th workshop. On June 2nd, as part of the Unionville Festival, our team invited community members to gather around a dining table, eat food and share experiences of food and culture in the City.

Workshop 3: CAMP (September 2018) In September 2018 our team created a gathering place rooted in community, art and equity, a space that celebrated what we can achieve by coming together. To us, camp is this place - a place where community is created; where uprooted people can find rest; where imagination can run wild; and where expressions of identity and possibilities can be explored. We invited different community partners - York Region Food Network, Markham’s Welcome Centre and Pearle Harbour, a campy drag queen - to co-deliver programs with us focused on inclusion and equity.

 

Client

City of Markham + Varley Art Gallery

Service Areas

  • Arts-based engagement

  • Educational workshops