Making Creativity Accessible to All
Founded by Gabrielle Bohna and Isabelle Santiago, Slow Night is all about low-key art events for the perpetual beginner. Designed for non-artists, bad artists, and burnt-out creatives, Slow Night invites participants to rediscover the joy of visual art and creative self-expression in a welcoming, low-pressure environment.
Through art workshops in downtown Toronto, Slow Night provides a space to reconnect with creativity and play—no experience required. With gentle coaching, guidance, and all materials provided, the only thing guests need to bring is good vibes and an open mind.
As part of our Arts Ahead 2025 theme, Thinking Outside the “White Cube”, we spoke with Slow Night about their mission, their inspiration, and what they hope participants take away from their workshops.
What does our theme, “thinking outside the ‘white cube’,” mean to you?
Art institutions like galleries and schools do a great job of uplifting certain artists, but this can have some negative effects as well — at their worst, art institutions can perpetuate elitism, discouraging people from engaging in artistic and creative practices. We believe that creativity is inherent in all of us, and we love to see organizations and individuals encouraging artistic expression outside of traditional art institutions!
How do you feel Slow Night embodies/interacts with this theme?
Our aim with Slow Night is to reach people who feel that they are “not creative” or “bad at art” and invite them in to explore their creative side. Traditional art environments can feel very stuffy and intimidating at times, and we intend to be an antidote to that!
We prioritize creating a welcoming and low-pressure vibe where people feel free to play, be silly, try new things, and make mistakes. We want people to know that even if they aren’t traditionally trained at an art school or naturally gifted at drawing, making art for fun is still rewarding and worth doing!
What inspired you to start Slow Night?
As professional creatives ourselves, one day we were chatting about how working in the graphic design industry doesn’t fulfill the same needs as creating your own self-directed art. On top of that, actually making time to create our own art was always easier said than done — between work, household chores, and commitments to our family and friends, our creative hobbies were constantly falling by the wayside and getting postponed.
We envisioned how easy it would be to make time for creativity if there was a physical space where everything was set up for us, materials at the ready, with good music and great company, and a defined time to sit down and make things. We had a feeling that there would be others out there who would find value in this too, so we decided to host our first sketch night in September 2023!
What do you hope your participants leave with at the end of a workshop?
Our hope is that people leave feeling reinvigorated but relaxed, with a renewed sense of confidence in their own creativity and abilities. Many of our guests surprise themselves with what they create, and we’re so happy when we hear people say they’re excited to start a new artistic practice (or come back to an old one)
Join Slow Night at Arts Ahead 2025 on February 19 for an open sketch-style workshop featuring a gamified drawing prompt menu with multiple mediums and paper supplies. Experience the magic of collective creativity, working alongside both familiar faces and those yet unfamiliar.
When was the last time you did something just for fun?
Don’t miss the chance to reconnect with your creativity—no skill required, just an open mind!
Learn more about Slow Night here: Slow Night.
Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket and is joining us at this year’s symposium! While we are sold out, there are still ways to support Arts Ahead!
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