Sharing Space ≠ Access
We've been sitting with some big questions this year. As arts spaces close, shrink, or straight-up disappear, we realized we were holding something rare: a flexible, centrally located venue.
But here's the thing, offering space isn't the same as offering access.
And access? Still not the same as belonging.
Through our Community Access Program (CAP), we opened our doors to artists, organizers, and collectives, lowering financial barriers and making room to experiment, connect, and build.
In one year we:
🗓️ Hosted 95 community-led events
🫂 Welcomed 2,000+ participants
💡 Watched ideas turn into real, breathing projects
🌟 Held space for stories, workshops, and art that needed a home
It was powerful. It was complex. It stretched us (in the best way)
So we documented what we're learning in A Starter's Guide to Sharing Space: A JAYU Case Study! It's an honest look at access, belonging, creative conditions, and the real financial + operational barriers behind sharing resources well.
Our biggest takeaway? When people feel safe, resourced, and represented, they create differently. And when organizations steward space with intention, whole ecosystems shift.
If you're rethinking how you host, share, and care for community, check out the guide at www.jayu.ca or hit the link in bio 🔗 We would also like to acknowledge the support of @canada.council in the creation of this guide!
What if your finances weren’t something you avoided but something that actively supported your art? 💸
🗓️ Monday, May 25
⏰ 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 The JAYU Studio
In this workshop, creative entrepreneurs will build practical foundations in budgeting, cash flow awareness, and financial decision-making through the lens of your creative practice, not outside of it.
Using the Cobella Clarity Method by @cobellafinancial you’ll learn how to:
❓ Understand the financial habits shaping your decisions
🔍 Identify patterns like avoidance or reactive spending
👁️ Build clearer visibility and control over your money
⚖️ Align your financial practices with your artistic goals
This isn’t about restriction—it’s about clarity, confidence, and creative sustainability. For artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs ready to feel more grounded in how they manage money register at www.jayu.ca/register or at the link in our bio 🔗
Let’s get clear on your purpose and build around it 🔄
🗓️ Tuesdays, May 19 – July 14
⏰ 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
📍 The JAYU Studio
Learn how to shape your purpose as an artist and translate it into words, visuals, and stories that leave a lasting impression.
In this 8-week program, designed and led by iAM mentor @ade.jpg , you’ll unpack what makes your practice yours, explore what “branding” really means in the context of a creative practice, and uncover your North Star. By the end, you can expect to have a renewed sense of clarity and the tools to express it with confidence.
You’ll walk away with:
🌟 A North Star Statement to ground your practice
🗺️ A Brand Audit + Positioning Map to understand where you are (and where you’re going)
👁️🗨️ A Starter Brand Identity (visuals, voice, and assets you can actually use)
😌 A Community-Building Blueprint rooted in intention
💰 A Personal Framework to navigate money, visibility, and creative integrity
This is for artists ready to move with intention, sign up at www.jayu.ca/register or at the link in our bio 🔗
You made the art, now let’s make the sale 🛒
🗓️ April 26
⏰ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 JAYU Studio
Commerce for Creatives is your friendly, no-gatekeeping introduction to the tools that make e-commerce feel less intimidating and way more doable, led by @camscornerco
In this hands-on session, we’ll break down the essentials: how to use various e-commerce platforms, what the shipping process actually looks like, and how to keep building real-life connections while growing your online presence. We’ll also explore marketing methods that feel authentic, and create a simple email marketing template you can actually use.
This workshop is designed to help you feel confident taking the next step with your art and maybe even a little excited to put yourself out there.
🔗 Register at the link in our bio or at www.jayu.ca/register
What does sharing space actually look like?
We asked artists, facilitators, renters, alumni, and staff through surveys, focus groups, and explored these themes:
✅ Access & Belonging
✅ Creative Conditions
✅ Financial Realities
This guide is for anyone figuring it out as they go, from community organizers rethinking how they host, to nonprofits trying to share resources without burning out their teams, to artists navigating that very real gap between big ideas and actual space to make them happen
It's not about having all the answers, it's about starting somewhere and building something better together. Read A Starter's Guide to Sharing Space at www.jayu.ca 🌟
Thank you @ontarioartscouncil and @ongov for believing in young artists and the power of their stories.
Through their support, we're able to create spaces where emerging creatives can experiment, take risks, and share their voices with confidence. Their funding helps provide the tools, mentorship, and community that artists need not just to create, but to grow 🌱
Ever wondered how your favourite tracks are made? 🎛️
🗓️ Thursdays, April 30 – June 4
⏰ 6:30pm – 9:30pm
📍 The JAYU Studio
Explore the fundamentals of music production focused on Ableton, beat-making, sampling, and mixing in this iAM Level 2 program. Participants will have access to their own personal production kit and equipment, allowing them to experiment and build skills in real time.
Led by @kangyouhearme of @florussoundroom , this beginner-friendly session will guide participants through creating a track from scratch and developing the skills to continue producing on their own 🎧
🔗 Register now at the link in our bio or at www.jayu.ca/register
Thank you @ontrillium and TD Ready Commitment for being proud supporters of this program by helping us provide young artists with the tools and space they need to create and grow 🌱
Calling all poets and storytellers 📣
🗓️ Wednesdays, April 29 – June 13
⏰ 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 The JAYU Studio
This workshop series led by @@patrick_debelen invites storytellers to explore poetry and creative writing as a path toward voice, healing, and liberation. Through writing exercises, performance coaching, and mentorship, the series also supports participants in developing confidence and sustainable artistic practices that can be taken to the stage.
Together, the group builds a space where unheard stories are honoured and connection becomes possible. The series culminates in a final showcase, with participants performing alongside the @torontoyouthpoetryslam community.
Register at www.jayu.ca/register or the link in our bio
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to try something new, make art, or meet cool people doing cool things —this is it!
Spots are limited, vibes are immaculate.
Register at www.jayu.ca/register your future self will thank you later 🤭
