2025 marks the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre’s 30th anniversary and the Mayworks Festival’s 40th! Both have provided a unique space for cross sectoral gathering and art making within a progressive framework of inclusion and social justice.
Having a combined 20 years of involvement with both organizations, exhibition curator Florencia Berinstein says “I love them profoundly for the spaces they have opened up for representation by equity deserving communities and marginalized issues, and for highlighting the many tensions and complexities inherent in this work.” Encompassing many diverse communities of workers, artists, and activists, both organizations have made a material difference to labour, community and cultural spheres.
This exhibit of archival materials is a small act of love and gratitude to two monumental organizations that provides an important reflection of the value that creating these alternative spaces can hold, and the value for presenting issues of labour, work, and social justice into the future.
Florencia Berinstein (she/her) has worked in the arts and culture sector both as an arts administrator and an arts facilitator, in deep collaboration with a broad range of community groups. Florencia was the Festival Director of Mayworks Toronto from 2001-2012 and the Executive Director of the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre from 2013-2022. She has extensive experience in developing and executing community engaged projects that address issues of social justice. Currently, she is a Museum Administrator with the City of Toronto’s History Museums.
Feedback Wall Wednesday to Friday 10am – 4pm & Saturday noon – 4pm
People are invited to add their names and their contributions to the two organizations on an exhibition wall in the gallery. Available during WAHC’s open hours.
Parallel Histories: An Anniversary Celebration Saturday May 17, 2 – 4 pm
Join us for the opening reception of Parallel Histories: An Anniversary Exhibition, with six special guests who will share reflections about WAHC and Mayworks.
Tour and Zine Workshop Saturday, July 26, 1 – 4pm
Join curator Florencia Berinstein for a tour of the exhibition. Afterwards join artist Sonali Menezes in WAHC’s backyard to collect stories and memories into a Zine.
WAHC wishes to acknowledge the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Hamilton, the Province of Ontario, CUPE National, the Canada Council for the Arts, Canada’s Building Trades Unions, OPSEU/SEFPO and Teamsters Local Union 879 for their support of our exhibitions and ancillary programs.
For more information, please contact Sylvia Nickerson, Programming and Exhibitions Specialist, at (905) 522-3003 ex. 29 or sylvia@wahc-museum.ca.
