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Help the JAM Studios (Artist Collective) Start Up!

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The JAM Studios is an artist collective composed of transdisciplinary emerging artists.

We are situated on the unceded, ancestral, and stolen lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musquem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl’ilw̓ ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples, in so called “Vancouver.” This city of increasing income disparity, gentrification, and colonial violence has created a complicated and traumatizing environment for people to form communities in. 

As artists, we feel there is a need to come together and form new meanings for community and care that decentralize capitalistic incentives, especially those that we have seen disenfranchise peoples and perpetuate an art system sustained by exclusivity.

The JAM Studios is forming on 648 Kingsway, where The Toast Collective used to be. We are taking inspiration from the previous residence and making it our own. The Toast Collective has left a legacy of interdisciplinary, accessible, queer friendly and equity focused community based programming. There was always a feeling of respect for community and collaboration and many of us in this new forming collective are incredibly grateful for what the Toast has generated in “Vancouver” during their time in this space.

We chose the name “The JAM” in honour of the previous occupants of the space. Just like the Toast, we want to cultivate a creative community. Current, JAM members include: Alexis Valgardsson, Cyrus Avrom Goldberg, Danielle Rozali, Danya Gorodetsky, Darius Kian, Georgina Hawitt, India Eliot Oates, Jacob Bandel, James Peach, Jordan Utting, Karl Hipol, Kit Liu, Liv Crane, Megan Hay, Naia Mann, Paige Elton, Sophia Boutsakis, and Vee CR.

Our values are based on the concept of JAM (Joy And Making), as a place for the radical sharing of knowledge, resources, and care. Jam has been made by families and communities for millennia as a way to preserve fruits and goods for times of scarcity and need. There is a sense of community in the making of jam, and the sharing and connection of this resource. From the picking, to the cooking, to the jarring and then jamming. We hereby promise to activate the JAM as a space that strives for equity and intersectionality. 

We will be working on creating a safe and creative space where we can establish studio space, programming and outreach over the next several months in 2022 that seek to give experience to emerging and marginalized artists and creators. Our goal is to start with a variety of shows, events, workshops, as well as provide exhibition and gallery space for emerging artists to engage in experimental, transdisciplinary mediums and navigate the intersection of theatre, performance, drag, writing, visual art and more.

We are asking for our community to pitch in what you can now, with a promise to be a part of “Vancouver’s” growing enrichment, so that we can handle the basic maintenance, event fees, and create a launching fund. Our goal is to raise money to cover the cost of supplies such as paint for the walls, cleaning products, and other necessities to create a safe and comfortable space to make art and connect with each other and our community.

We want to serve this community long term and be an established resource for creatives in this city to be able to seek support. We want to bring together many artistic communities for collaborative joy.

With your help, we will have the space to create a legacy of Joy And Making!

Organizer

Vincent Chorabik
Organizer
Burnaby, BC

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