Pride Toronto has recently taken possession of its new office inside the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) located at 158 Sterling Rd and is excited to announce the transformation of the space into a new multi-functional rental studio and skill share program directed to supporting Toronto’s vibrant LGBT2Q+ communities.
We have seen the impact COVID-19 has had on many community members and community organizations. With many businesses continuing to close their doors, we are losing safe and protective gathering, planning, and meeting spaces. During this time of uncertainty, supporting LGBT2Q+ communities continues to be more important than ever. The LGBT2Q+ communities are disproportionately challenged during this difficult time. It has been said by many that the entertainment and tourism sector has been hit the hardest by the pandemic and will take the longest to recover. Until that happens, thousands of LGBT2Q+ artists and entertainers are facing uncertainty for the future of the entertainment industry.
The Pride Toronto Creative Studio & Artist Residency Program was developed to address the continuously growing gap in safe and affordable Queer & Trans creative spaces after speaking first hand with LGBTQ2+ communities.
The creative studio includes bookable desks, meeting rooms, board rooms, training facilities, and access to a multi-functional production studio complete with cameras, video equipment, green screens, turntables, and mixers, projectors, and speakers. In addition to the bookable space, a skill-sharing Artist Residency Program has been developed and made available to the Creative Studio participants.
The space is an accessible venue, located near an accessible transit stop, and includes accessible gender-neutral washrooms. Access will be made available to registered LGBT2Q+ community artists and community organizations at no charge.
Pride Toronto’s Creative Studio & Artist Residency Program was made possible thanks to our sponsors. A special thank you to IKEA, The Home Depot Canada, Cityline Design, Studio Markanda and the LCBO who assisted in outfitting the office and studio. ‘We want to thank all of the artists and community organizations that assisted in helping us reimagine the Creative Studio and have already offered to donate their talents to the Artist Residency Program.” says Amber Moyle, Director of Sponsorship and Strategy at Pride Toronto. “None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors who stood behind us during one of the most challenging years yet.”
See the space in action! The official Pride Toronto Creative Studio launch party hosted by Yohomo will kick-off on New Years eve. Yohomo is one of the leading voices in Toronto’s LGBTQ+ creative community, and will be collaborating with a team of local queer DJs, dancers, artists and tech wizards to utilize all the studio’s tools and create a virtual party to say goodbye to 2020 in an exciting, easily accessible, safe and stunning way. Check back on Pride Toronto and Yohomo social channels for all the upcoming party details.
