Art Rise Collective
Are you an artist or creative seeking a community that inspires deep reflection and collaboration? Join us in this transformative experience!
The Art Rise Collective is a brand new initiative from posAbilities that invites creatives with and without disabilities to gather weekly to address a specific “big picture” question. Focusing on themes of human flourishing, beauty, and spirituality, this collective creates a space for participants to reflect, discuss, and forge closer ties within the community.
For this cohort, the group will explore the theme of Ritual and Practice, as tools for transformation, memory, and meaning-making — inviting artists to investigate how personal, cultural, and collective acts shape creative process and connection.
From August to October 2025, we're inviting artists to explore the many dimensions of Ritual and Practice - from the deeply personal to the collective, from inherited traditions to invented gestures. Together, we'll ask how rituals shape our creative processes, mark transformation, hold memory, and create meaning in both sacred and everyday contexts. This is a space for inquiry, experimentation, and the making of new rituals through shared and individual artistic practices.
What We Offer
The Art Rise Collective is designed to foster creativity and connection through:
Dedicated Time and Space: Join weekly for in-person sessions at Alternatives, where we will make together in a supportive environment tailored for art-making. The Art Rise Collective will also be able to work independently with access to the working gallery space from Monday to Friday - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
Tools, Resources, and Material Costs: The group will be allocated a material budget that they can choose how to spend collaboratively. We will provide the essentials so you can focus on your creative process.
Collaborative Work Environment: Each week will have a one word prompt that is open ended, and will be followed time to make and share. This is a chance to engage with fellow artists, share ideas and techniques as we delve into an overarching theme.
Inclusive and Accessible Practices: While group members will have agency to decide the trajectory of the collective and projects undertaken, we will provide mentorship and guidance to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported.
Showcase Opportunities: The collective will work towards a group show that will be held at Alternatives Gallery and Studio in October 2025. This is your chance to present your work and expand your artistic network!
What We Ask of You
To ensure a rich and meaningful experience, participants are encouraged to:
Reflect Deeply: Engage with the big picture questions surrounding our theme.
Participate Actively: Take part in art-making and group discussions to deepen our understanding of the theme.
Share Generously: Collaborate with fellow members to contribute to the collective vision.
Why Join Us?
Being part of the Art Rise Collective is not just about creating art; it’s about building connections, gaining insights, and navigating life’s profound questions together. Whether you’re an emerging artist or a seasoned creator, we welcome you to bring your unique perspective and experience into this collective space.
But don’t just take our word for it!
Here’s what past collective members have to say:
“What felt most supportive and inspiring to me was the way people were brought together, the space we were given to explore, and the genuine freedom and encouragement throughout. That kind of environment is rare, and it made a huge difference - I honestly think more programs like this should exist.” D.H.
“I learned there’s no bad ideas. I think that previously a was stuck in the kind of artistic quandary of like “Is my idea good enough?” and the perfectionism of it and I think that that was one of the best parts of this group was that I learned that I could just put an idea out there and it would bounce back in a new way.” K.M.
Schedule
We will be meeting every Tuesday starting August 5th at Alternative Creations Studio (1659 Venables St, Vancouver, BC V5L 2H1) from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
Dates include: August 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th. September 2nd, 9th, 16th and 23rd. October show dates to be announced.
Application Process
Applications will be reviewed on a first come first served basis. Last day to apply is July 15th. To keep up to date on the latest Collective news or if you have any questions reach out to aaniya.asrani@posabilities.ca