Hamilton Artists Inc. (The Inc.) is a charitable, not-for-profit artist-run centre. It was founded in 1975, incorporated in 1979, and received charitable status in 1981. Since its inception, The Inc. has been committed to the values of artist-run culture, offering an alternative to commercial spaces and established public galleries and museums by providing artists with opportunities for critical engagement, exploration, and risk-taking. They serve members of their community at all stages in their careers by presenting local, national, and international exhibitions, workshops, artist talks, and professional development services. As a member-driven organization, they provide their more than 250 members with an accessible and inclusive forum to address the social and professional needs of artists through workshops, lectures, and their dedicated Members’ Gallery.
As an artist-run centre, it is their mission to empower artists of all career levels to take risks with their contemporary visual arts practices and present their work in a critical context. Their exhibitions, publications, and special projects offer education and mentorship, facilitate regional and national dialogue, and encourage collaboration, conversation, and critical inquiry. Their programs are free and open to everyone.
Hamilton Artists Inc. aspires to connect with their changing communities by taking an intersectional approach, identifying and removing systemic barriers, and supporting artists and art practices that reflect the people of their region. They aim to be a destination for critical, unconventional and challenging contemporary art practices that contribute to regional and national discourses.
The following values speak to their commitment to these communities in the broadest sense.
Criticality, Creativity, and Art: They value art that is creative, challenging, and responsive to critical discourses, providing fruitful connections between local, regional, and national artists and art audiences.
Dismantling Structural Barriers: They are aware of systemic barriers within the art world and strive to implement equitable models that provide true access and engagement with our programs. They are proactively taking actions so that their Board, Staff, and artistic platforms will reflect our diverse and changing communities.
Responsive to Change: They are aware of their responsibility to be responsive and informed and they are taking actions to ensure that their operations and programming can meet the emerging needs of their communities on an ongoing basis.
Mentorship & Education: They are committed to providing resources that offer all artists the professional development they need.
Collaboration: They believe in collaboration with community partners as a core principle that allows them to serve their shared communities through reciprocal fostering of creativity, criticality, inclusivity, mentorship, and responsiveness to changing needs.
ERA is pleased to support the Hamilton Artists Inc with a laptop. They do not have enough computers for their current staff and were happy to receive the donation. “The laptop arrived today and it’s wonderful. We are using it in our reading library,” said Julie Dring, executive director. Visit their website here to learn more about this organization and its exhibitions.
