Workshops

Public Art as Social Practice: Developing Your Artistic Point of View

May 21, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

In March, we are hosting a workshop that looks at trends in contemporary public art. Megan Kammerer will offer The Bentway as a case study to explore how public art is evolving in Canada, illustrating how creative interventions can shape the ways people move, gather, and connect in shared spaces.

With this workshop, we are pleased to welcome Dani Crosby to lead a local conversation about public art in Oshawa and Durham Region. She’ll begin by sharing her own experiences, offering valuable insight gleaned through trial and error and by aligning her values with her artistic practice. Then, through a series of facilitated exercises, artists will be invited to define their own points of view and generate ideas for bringing creativity and connection to public spaces.

The intention with this workshop is to create a supportive opportunity for local artists to develop ideas together and to form or strengthen professional bonds. It is designed for anyone who is curious about bringing their artwork into public spaces and those seeking inspiration or motivation to get started.

This event is free and will be held in-person at the gallery. Please register to attend. If there is anything we can do to support your participation, please reach out to Hannah at [email protected].

Dani Crosby is an artist, community-engaged project builder, and arts educator with over 15 years of experience working across illustration, studio art, and public art. Dani’s creative process is rooted in play, exploration, and curiosity, and her work often explores themes of identity, place, illusion, nature, and connection.

Since 2011, Dani has taught part-time at Durham College in the Faculty of Media, Art & Design, where she has built strong relationships with community partners to expand experiential learning opportunities through collaborative service learning projects. Her practice is deeply grounded in community engagement and collaboration, with a focus on creating work that responds to the social and environmental contexts of the region.

1. Dani Crosby, digital drawing for Turning The Wheel Mural (detail), 2024, McMillan Parkade, 110 King St W, Oshawa.
2. Dani Crosby, SUSO Skate Banner, 2024, 419 King St W, Oshawa.
3. Dani Crosby, Turning The Wheel Mural, 202 McMillan Parkade, 110 King St W, Oshawa.

The Artist Professional Development Workshop series is generously sponsored by the RBC Foundation.

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