Kyle Yip's Colleagues at Akin
Kyle Yip's Contact Details
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Akin
Kyle Yip's Company Details
Akin was founded in a small loft on Queen West, Toronto in 2008. Initially set up as a small studio for a group of artist friends, the organization has since grown to become the largest provider of shared studios in Toronto. Akin provides low-cost rental space to nearly 400 visual artists, designers and other creatives. The studios maintain a friendly and inspiring atmosphere where people can work on creative endeavours and entrepreneurial undertakings of all kinds. Akin Collective is currently comprised of 23 commercial units covering about 45,000sf of space across its nine locations at Richmond & Bathurst, Lansdowne & Bloor, Dupont & Symington, Ossington & Dupont, St.Clair & Keele, River & Dundas W, Islington and Lakeshore and Victoria Park & Eglinton. As of Fall 2018, Akin provides affordable space for about 30 artists and creatives in the new Museum of Contemporary Art. Recently, Akin has been building partnerships with property owners focused on the short term activations for the social benefit of providing affordable studio space for artists. We have occupied some of the above sites with the understanding that they will be developed in the future- for instance Akin River, created in collaboration with TAS and the former Akin King, created in collaboration with Allied Properties REIT.In addition to providing affordable studio space Akin has developed a range of arts programming opportunities through its sister organization Akin Projects. This includes about 50 events each year in three streams: professional development opportunities for practicing artists, creative workshops and programs, and community engagement projects with marginalized groups. As a matter of principle all Akin events are free or low cost and are open to the public. In many cases Akin partners with other organizations to provide these offerings. Partners have included: AGO, MOCA, CAMH, The Power Plant, 401 Richmond, Canadian Art Magazine, Ronald McDonald House, West Neighbourhood House.