The LivingRoom Community Art Studio (Online & Mobile)

The LivingRoom Community Art Studio is a registered charity based in Oshawa on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (covered under the Williams Treaty).  It is a virtual and mobile Art Hive place-making machine that provides opportunities for community members to make and share art for free in the service of promoting community development and individual well-being. We work with all ages, abilities and walks of life - including those most marginalised - to reduce the barriers that prevent individuals and families from engaging in arts informed activities and realising their extraordinary potential as creators and cultural stakeholders in their own lives and communities. We believe that everyone is an artist and that art is more than just the things we make. When people have opportunities to share and explore their thoughts, feelings, identities and experiences in creative ways it benefits us all. 

The LivingRoom project was founded by Mary Krohnert, an actor, art therapist and social practice artist.  It emerged out of a desire to explore and inhabit the areas between her various professional pursuits, in an effort to live, learn, work and self-care with greater honesty, responsiveness, sustainability and joy.  The LivingRoom and it’s related projects offer practical opportunities for citizen artists from all walks of life to explore how processes of creative self expression can be explored and integrated into day to day life and wellness for all who participate.

The storefront studio space closed permanently in October 2019, however virtual art hive programming continues to be offered online every week on the LivingRoom's Facebook, Zoom and Instagram, with new and archived content posted on the LivingRoom's YouTube channel as well.  The Mobile Art Hive project was launched in December of 2021, and enables us to take the studio directly to the community members we work with in Durham Region and beyond. 

The Mobile Art Studio offers:

• free open studio art making and project creation onsite in community
• safe and enjoyable opportunities to explore citizen artistry and engage in social practice arts
• a range of no or low cost workshop take-away kits and free or low cost arts supplies (as available)
• travelling art exhibits and sales, and performances where community members can share their arts and handicraft at low commission
• opportunities for organisations or communities to book private or fee-for-service pay-what-you-can-afford workshops (online or onsite) 

We're always looking for new and interesting opportunities to connect with our community.  If you would like to learm more about us, you can sign up for newsletter updates or email Mary Krohnert at info@livingroomcommunityartstudio.org .  If you would like to support the LivingRoom Project and help us bring virtual and mobile art hive services to under-served communities you can visit our page on Canada Helps at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/livingroom/

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube and Twitter to learn more about all our upcoming events and activities!