BEING SCENE is an annual juried exhibition produced by Workman Arts for the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. The mandate of BEING SCENE is to introduce the general public to the work of artists who have lived experience with mental illness and addiction while presenting a cross-cultural portrait of the healing power of art. Since its inception in 2000 BEING SCENE has partnered with some of Toronto’s leading artistic and cultural figures, galleries, and institutions. Over the years BEING SCENE has evolved to occupy a significant role in Toronto’s cultural landscape, and work originally exhibited on primarily CAMH grounds has gone on to hang at other venues such as the Lieutenant Governor’s Suite at Queen’s Park in Toronto, and the National Art Centre in Ottawa.

A jury comprised of Carol-Ann Ryan, art historian and writer, Barbara Gilbert, artist, curator and arts administrator and John Molnar, Workman Arts’ artist in residence, selected the art out of 300 submissions. After careful thought and deliberation, the works chosen are representative of a rich and diverse forum of expression. These dynamic pieces are showcased to tantalize art connoisseurs, enthusiasts and the general public alike. Artworks are for sale with 100% of proceeds going directly to artists.

Sponsors: Hart House, Gladstone Hotel, CAMH, Ontario Arts Council, Imagine Canada

Workman Arts (WA) facilitates aspiring, emerging and established artists with mental illness and addiction issues to develop and refine their art form through its arts training programs, public performance/exhibit opportunities and partnering with other art organizations. As well, WA promotes a greater public understanding of mental illness and addiction through the creation, presentation and discussion of the artistic media.