We created a new public art installation to celebrate the people behind community arts.
A lens-based portrait series celebrating the artists and changemakers of Kingston-Galloway & Orton Park (KGO) will be launching with the City of Toronto's Cultural Hotspot.
It’s gotten a little quiet on here, and there’s a good reason why.
Two months ago, I started working with the City of Toronto Cultural Hotspot to develop a new public art installation through Change Made.
It’s also my first solo installation, produced for the Cultural Hotspot Launch Event, which marks the start of their funded community arts programming in Scarborough’s Kingston-Galloway & Orton Park (KGO) neighbourhoods this year.
The installation will feature a portrait series of 10 artists and changemakers leading arts movements in Scarborough’s South End, and I’ve also brought on an emerging artist from KGO who's created some custom artwork for the installation to celebrate the collective spirit of community arts.
I don’t want to give everything away, so I’m inviting you to come see the work for yourself at the Cultural Hotspot Launch Event on Saturday, June 20th, at Scarborough Town Centre.
How We Got Here
I’ve been producing public art projects for over 7 years, with a primary focus on incorporating documentary storytelling with public art to build community in local communities.
The larger-scale public art projects I’ve curated and produced spanned 5 years through Scarborough Made Press & Change Made Press. Building these collective outlets allowed me to grow a team to help develop creative mentorships, opportunities for youth employment, and large-scale mixed-media exhibits in civic and institutional spaces, from libraries to museums and plazas.
A guiding principle throughout was that the artwork needed to live in the public realm, where it was accessible to everyone. And more than that, it needed to be placed in communities where art isn’t the everyday.
Where Scarborough Meets.
Since launching our Substack platforms this year, I’ve been on the ground producing independent visual stories while building a structure for our reporting. I’ve split this year between the camera and the desk by shooting in the field and then sitting down to create and curate these photo essays and stories.
After five years of bringing public art to communities, I knew I wanted to share the stories I’ve been documenting IRL and get back to creating spaces where people can connect with one another and spark conversations about arts, culture, and change.
I’m thankful to have worked with the City of Toronto’s Cultural Hotspot team over the years, dating back to their inaugural signature project, We Are Lawrence Ave. That 2014 project, led by Che Kothari & Jalani Morgan, set the foundation for my own creative direction in producing public art in local communities.
Cultural Hotspot has been a strong advocate for my work and supported the youth mentorships and public art projects we built through Scarborough Made, including one resilience installation that launched in 2021 and still exists today in the neighbourhoods surrounding KGO.
For me, producing this installation and supporting Cultural Hotspot as they return to Scarborough was about bringing people together at the intersections of where Scarborough meets, so we can put a much-needed spotlight on a community that deserves it.
Explainer: The Cultural Hotspot program is a division of the City of Toronto’s Arts & Cultural Services. The program celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Toronto’s outside-the-core communities by empowering local artists, organizations and residents. Cultural Hotspot showcases select neighbourhoods over multiple years by funding innovative arts projects that foster community engagement, capacity-building and mentorship.
This year, from June to October 2026, the Cultural Hotspot is focusing on the Kingston-Galloway & Orton Park neighbourhoods by investing in and funding community arts programs and projects through local artists and organizations.
See the work for yourself, in person.
The launch event is a full-day celebration of arts and culture in Scarborough. The day includes music from DJ Mel Boogie; performances by JUNO-recognized artists Choclair, Savannah Ré, and Yanchan Produced; hosted by comedian Moe Ismail; along with civic remarks and community tables featuring the 2026 Cultural Hotspot community arts projects featured in the installation.
I’ll also be on a panel in the morning, moderated by visual artist Anthony Gebrehiwot, alongside fellow Scarborough creatives Jesse Asido (Scarborough Spots), Dr. Blessyl Buan, and Savannah Ré to talk about how Scarborough has shaped our work and the paths open to emerging artists here.
Bring yourself, bring a friend or bring your community and come connect with us in person.
📸 The Change Made x Cultural Hotspot Public Art Installation
📍Location: Scarborough Town Centre (STC) Centre Court
(300 Borough Dr, Scarborough, ON M1P 4P5)
📅 Event Launch: Saturday, June 20, 2026
🕒 Runs 11 AM – 5 PM (Panel at 11:30 AM, Performances at 2 PM)
📅 Installation runs: June 17 to June 23
🎟️ Free. No RSVP needed. Everyone’s welcome.
Note from the Photojournalist & Author
Over the past two years, I’ve been investing my time and energy in growing Change Made both as a production studio supporting social change organizations and as a platform for independent visual journalism and solutions-driven reporting.
If you would like to follow the stories we are producing and support our work, consider becoming a paid subscriber to this Substack. All my work on this platform is self-funded, and your support is what makes it possible to grow this community-driven visual journalism from Scarborough to the world.
If you have a solutions story tip or are interested in contributing to Change Made Press , as always, you can reach me at sid@changemade.co.