Possible Worlds

General information

ABOUT

POSSIBLE WORLDS is an artist-run shop, gallery and project space in Chinatown, Ottawa, Canada. Occupying a 330 square foot former travel agency since February 2015, this micro arts and social hub supports the development of work, ideas, and connections through a program of events, opportunities and projects. We bring together and showcase the work of emerging, experimental, diverse, socially-engaged and underrepresented artists and groups, with a focus on electronic music and graphic art.

SHOP: A curated selection of works is sold in our space, featuring new and affordable limited edition pieces and multiples created by local, Canadian and international artists, as well as in-house. Our selection includes prints, new vinyl records, cassettes, apparel, artist books, zines, pins, ceramics and other art objects. Many of these works can be found only at our shop in Ottawa.

GALLERY: The Possible Worlds gallery wall showcases the latest in contemporary and emerging graphic art from local Ottawa artists, across Canada and internationally. Rotating solo and group art shows feature selected artists, illustrators and designers. For each exhibition, we produce limited edition works with each artist we show.

PROJECT SPACE: Each month we host a range of art and cultural happenings such as artist talks, workshops, silkscreening workshops, meetups, live performances and events. Contemporary artists, musicians, designers, writers, curators, educators, cultural workers, social practitioners, activists, students and the community-at-large gather to network and share knowledge, tools and experiences with their peers.

DEVELOPMENT X RESOURCES: A large part of our work is discovering, developing and mentoring new and promising talent, and providing access to resources and opportunities for creatives to realize their projects. Creatives benefit from PW's network, experience and research of art and culture at local, national and international levels. We also offer our expertise in silkscreening and Risograph printing to produce posters, artist books, zines, t-shirts, album covers, cassette covers and other printed matter for selected artists, designers and small studios.

The space was initially launched as a pop-up in 2015 to mark the 10-year anniversary of our collective and studio, Spins & Needles. It was also a response to the lack of accessible cultural infrastructure available to the arts community in Ottawa for learning, gathering and experimentation, as well as our own desire to engage with more diverse artists and perspectives in the local artistic milieu.

In extending this initiative, we hope to provide an alternative art and music platform that helps advance creative and cultural dialogue in Ottawa and beyond, bringing artists and citizens together who are passionate about multidiscplinary approaches to creating culture, to reimagine progressive ways of thinking and being in the world.

HOURS
Shop x Gallery : Wednesdays 6-9 PM, Saturdays + Sundays 12-5 PM | Or by appointment
Project Space: Tuesday-Fridays by appointment
Check our website or Facebook page for up-to-date hours each month or if you're on the street and see our happy face sign lit up, we're open.