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The arts organization strives to make art accessible for youth and adults in öÏÓãÊÓƵapp and across Ontario. Summer workshops in this series are free to interested individuals. It is supported by the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG).

Art Not Shame aims to build community, support creativity and well-being. The charity said it challenges systemic sources of shame as barriers to learning and participating in the arts.

These first workshops are centred around “artivist� mixed-media photography.

In the first session, you will photograph public spaces in the downtown and reimagine them through an activist lens, they said. Once the photos are printed, participants can activate them using embroidery, painting and collage in the second session.

“Reimagining Public Spaces� will be run by Kavya Yoganathan and Kira Alexanian. Yoganathan said in a statement that art can transcend boundaries and stories shared with community are powerful antidotes.

“We are all born storytellers with seemingly ordinary stories, but when shared within community, these stories hold extraordinary power,� she said.

Alexanian said she believes collective dreaming is a powerful tool to foster resilience and fuel alternative, more inclusive futures.

Space is limited in these workshops, though drop-ins are welcome if they can be accommodated. It is best to register online at .

For more information about Art Not Shame visit .