Mississauga, ON – March 22, 2024
by Lejla Pepeljak
The Art Shelter will be Frog in Hand’s new space! 42 ft. in diameter, this dome-shaped structure is located on a small patch of land in south Mississauga on 887 Hydro Road. Originally built and dreamt of as a space to shield from loneliness and isolation, the hopes of togetherness have finally been reached physically in this economically and environmentally sustainable structure as Frog in Hand director Colleen Snell describes.
The structure comes from Arctic Acres, a Canadian brand that supplies a variety of geodesic domes that offer a unique shape to the traditional box greenhouses. The same dome purchased by Frog-in-Hand is also used to house entire communities in Nunavut according to Arctic Acres.
Arts Activation Coordinator, Mandy says of the dome’s off-grid nature, “…the concept of exchanging expertise for space is incredibly radical! Removing the barrier of fronting capital before an artistic process begins can allow artists to dig deeper – and discover public-facing ways to use the expertise that can aid the development of their work. Space without the rental fee!”
This dome, and the adjoining shipping containers, house not only the Frog in Hand crew but also provide collaborative efforts with various creatives in the city. From residents, and activators to external partners and Frog in Hand members, it aims to be multi-functioning and accessible to a variety of activities and audiences with a special focus on Mississauga-based dancers.
The Art Shelter (and Frog in Hand) use the term ‘exchange’ as a trading system for those interested in using their new space. This allows for the sharing of more ideas and creative outlets that benefit the Lakeview community and those around them, as artists, creatives and residents. The Karma Exchange model they have implied will be “pay for space with their time” as mentioned.
Frog in Hand is a Mississauga-based dance-theatre company that focuses on using dance to uncover, make, and share stories. They are community-focused and committed to sharing resources, knowledge and experiences through creation, production and education. Frog in Hand won a MAC Makemaker Microgrant in 2023, which supported their production of Noir that same year.
We’re eager to hear what the community is dreaming about!
Colleen Snell
Of their company, Frog in Hand says, “We carefully attend to what we make and how we make it. We craft innovative work reflecting our passion for movement as a medium to transcend language. We are committed to engaging spaces in ways that recognize and honour diverse stories and storytellers. We create site-specific experiences as platforms for artistic exchange, collaboration and social change.”
From my research, this is one of the only geodesic domes available publicly to creatives in the city so please do take advantage of the space. This dome is the largest option Arctic Acres offers, and it will provide ample room for various creatives. Although off-grid, there will be many opportunities for Frog in Hand members and the tiered usage system they have in place. Both Colleen and Mandy of Frog in Hand encourage those with ideas and projects to reach out directly through their website and stay in the loop on social media.
The dome was officially opened in late 2023, but expect ample public programming starting in Spring 2024, especially surrounding dance and theatre engagement. To start, every first Sunday of the month, the Art Shelter will be hosting a Jam Session from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm in which movers, musicians, singers, actors, designers, and creatives of all kinds (and levels) are welcome.
See their latest reveal video below!
