CAN (LET’S) provided a grant to FLOUSRISH, an arts market organized by, featuring and centering QTBIPoC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) artists and creators, most of whom identify as Sick and/or disabled. The vendor rates are $20-$50 and there are always lower sliding scale spots to free spots available for QTBIPoC artists that cannot afford the fees.
Six years ago Jotika Samant organized this market out of her home as a community space for folks to gather, to eat and for QTBIPoC to sell and share their art. She also created this space to sell and share her own art as a Queer, disabled, women of colour who doesn’t often find a lot of market spaces where she feels represented and that have affordable vendor fees. This market had its 4th iteration this past Dec 17 2022 and this year FLOURISH collaborated with Massy Arts and held the event at Massy Arts Society space in Chinatown/DTES. Throughout the day hundreds of folks came through to share space, connect and support QTBIPoC artists and creators. This year was also really special because we featured 6 online vendors, local folks as well as folks living in other provinces. Check out Jotika’s Instagram to stay updated with future FLOURISH events and markets!”