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The Livingroom Art Studio
The Livingroom Community Art Studio is a registered non profit establishment in Oshawa Ontario that focuses on community outreach through art work. People are encouraged to walk in off the street and make whatever art form they desire with the materials present within the Livingroom's space. While the Livingroom focuses mainly on visual art, in particular making crafts and reusing materials it is open to all forms of art including music, and has on occasion featured musical guests, usually local talent. The Livingroom has worked along side similar organizations in the area including Oshawa Space Invaders and The Open Vault

History
The Livingroom Community Art Studio was founded in October 2014 by Mary Krohnert a local art therapist and actress, her intent being to create a space where as she puts it " everyone can be an artist". Krohnert has appeared in Warehouse 13 and Sex After Kids. Currently the space is supported through the Trillium foundation of which it was awarded a grant this year which allowed it to have a physical space at 149 Simcoe Street South. The Livingroom had previously been located at a nearby restaurant called The Table on a weekly basis before moving to its current home nearby to the General Motors Center in Downtown Oshawa.

Purpose
Krohnert created the space in an attempt to capitalize on her knowledge of art therapy along with the creativity of Oshawa to create a safe space where people could express themselves and find temporary peace through art. Her goal was also to allow disadvantaged people in the area to have a space they could be escape from their living conditions for a while. Studio services are offered at no, or low cost in order to ensure that all members of the community - including those who are most marginalized - can take part. The spaces services are offered as a pay what you can donation basis to ensure everyone in the community- including those who have fallen upon hard times- can participate comfortably.

The Livingroom Community Art Studio offers free open studio time, free  drop in work groups on a weekly basis, inexpensive community art sale and exhibits and a place for  citizens can sell art products on consignment.

The LivingRoom is a part of the Community Art Studio/ Art Hive movement in North America, the movement focuses on being therapeutic to people and their neighborhoods through creative pursuits, they refer to it as “ empowering”.

Board Members
Resident and Chair - Suzanne McNutt Secretary - Steve Longauer Treasurer - Carol Cavallari Director - Samantha Ouellete Studio Founder, Non Voting Member - Mary Krohnert

Reference List
http://www.livingroomcommunityartstudio.org/

http://www.oshawaspaceinvaders.com/2014-the-living-room/

http://www.snaposhawa.com/index.php?option=com_sngevents&id%5B0%5D=586449&lang=en

http://sustain-ability.ca/wp-content/uploads/Oshawa-Community-Growing-no-link.pdf

http://www.durhamregion.com/whatson-story/4821417-oshawa-hosts-very-cool-art-invasion/

http://www.oshawaspaceinvaders.com/art-crawl-opening/

http://www.ckdo.ca/audio/view/interviews/livingroom-community-art-studio-fundraiser-june-12-mary-krohnert

http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/mary-krohnert/65/93b/353