WORKSHOPS & PROGRAMMING
At the Art Gallery of Mississauga, our public programs are designed to engage, inspire, and connect our community through the transformative power of art. We offer a diverse range of financially accessible programming, including drop-in artmaking sessions, workshops, and family-friendly events, all aimed at fostering creativity and dialogue. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or a newcomer, our programs provide unique opportunities to explore contemporary issues, learn from artists, and participate in hands-on experiences.
Join us to discover the vibrant world of art, meet like-minded individuals, and deepen your appreciation for creativity in all its forms.
POETIC VOICES | Rebirth
Join us for an inspiring afternoon of poetry, reflection, and community at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, led by Andrea Josic, Poet Laureate of Mississauga 2024–2026.
Rebirth signifies a self homecoming. It’s the beautiful space after farewell, shedding, and stillness. While the process of necessary endings and starting over can often be equally difficult and joyful, this workshop explores transformation at its sweetest: the moments in between the dormancy and the thriving. Whether you are experiencing personal change, seasonal shift, or creative stagnancy, this workshop encourages attendees to reflect on what rebirth means to them and how they can use it to move forward. Through guided writing prompts, poetry tips and tricks, guided discussions, and an option to perform your work, we’ll dive into the cycles of loss and renewal, endings that birth beginnings, and the joy of starting over. This workshop welcomes poets of all levels—come ready to write and reconnect with yourself in your season of bloom.
🎤 Open Mic:
After the workshop, we invite you to take the stage. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or sharing for the first time, this is a space for your voice.
Open mic sign-ups will be taken at the door on a first-come, first-served basis. Each reader will have up to 3 minutes. Spots are limited—early arrival is encouraged!
☕ Light refreshments will be provided throughout the afternoon.
💬 All are welcome, whether to participate or simply to listen and support.
This event is made possible through the generous support of RAMA Gaming House and Charitable Gaming, Community Good.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Andrea Josic is the City of Mississauga Poet Laureate and is an award-winning poet, journalist, and arts educator. Her work has been featured on CBC Radio, the TTC, Global News, and more. She has over a decade of global slam poetry experience in cities like Vancouver, Houston, and Berlin, and was the champion of the 2020 Toronto Poetry Slam. Andrea channels her passion into classrooms and workshops across Canada, inspiring others to find belonging, healing, and joy.
Drop-In Art Hive: July 9, 2025
Join us in person and explore art-making. This is a free community event promoting mental health and connection through the use of art 🐝
Everyone is welcome. All supplies are provided, and no art-making experience is necessary.
Meet us outside in Celebration Square, just north of the fountain. Look for the Art Hive sign. In the case of inclement weather, see the ambassador desk inside the gallery for information.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to thank RAMA Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming, Community Good for financially supporting this program.
Ask The Curator: My Mother’s Tongue (Virtual)
Join the Art Gallery of Mississauga online for Ask a Curator with Musha Neluheni, TD Programming Curator at the AGM and curator of My Mother’s Tongue.
In this informal conversation, Musha will answer questions about her role at the AGM, her curatorial approach, and the process behind curating My Mother’s Tongue. Whether you’re wondering what a curator actually does day-to-day, how an exhibition comes together, or what it’s like to work in the arts, this is a space to ask.
No question is too simple or too small—we welcome all kinds of curiosity!
Registration is required. All are welcome to join! This special event is generously funded by TD Bank Group, Rama Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming Community Good.
ABOUT THE CURATOR
Musha Neluheni is an artist and curator from Johannesburg, South Africa. She held the position of Contemporary Curator and Acting Chief Curator at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. She was co-curator of the South African Pavilion of the 57th Venice Biennale. She served on the Standard Bank Art Committee and the Theme Panel for the South African Mint. Her exhibition There is Only Light, and Shadow won best curated show at the 2016 Turbine Art Fair. She holds a BFA from Rhodes University. She has written for several publications including online forum The Archival Platform.
Drop-In Art Hive: July 30, 2025
Join us in person and explore art-making. This is a free community event promoting mental health and connection through the use of art 🐝
Everyone is welcome. All supplies are provided, and no art-making experience is necessary.
Meet us outside in Celebration Square, just north of the fountain. Look for the Art Hive sign. In the case of inclement weather, see the ambassador desk inside the gallery for information.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to thank RAMA Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming, Community Good for financially supporting this program.
Drop-In Art Hive : August 6, 2025
Join us in person and explore art-making. This is a free community event promoting mental health and connection through the use of art 🐝
Everyone is welcome. All supplies are provided, and no art-making experience is necessary.
Meet us outside in Celebration Square, just north of the fountain. Look for the Art Hive sign. In the case of inclement weather, see the ambassador desk inside the gallery for information.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to thank RAMA Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming, Community Good for financially supporting this program.
Drop-In Art Hive : August 13, 2025
Join us in person and explore art-making. This is a free community event promoting mental health and connection through the use of art 🐝
Everyone is welcome. All supplies are provided, and no art-making experience is necessary.
Meet us outside in Celebration Square, just north of the fountain. Look for the Art Hive sign. In the case of inclement weather, see the ambassador desk inside the gallery for information.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to thank RAMA Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming, Community Good for financially supporting this program
Drop-In Art Hive : August 20, 2025
Join us in person and explore art-making. This is a free community event promoting mental health and connection through the use of art 🐝
Everyone is welcome. All supplies are provided, and no art-making experience is necessary.
Meet us outside in Celebration Square, just north of the fountain. Look for the Art Hive sign. In the case of inclement weather, see the ambassador desk inside the gallery for information.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to thank RAMA Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming, Community Good for financially supporting this program
Drop-In Art Hive : August 27, 2025
Join us in person and explore art-making. This is a free community event promoting mental health and connection through the use of art 🐝
Everyone is welcome. All supplies are provided, and no art-making experience is necessary.
Meet us outside in Celebration Square, just north of the fountain. Look for the Art Hive sign. In the case of inclement weather, see the ambassador desk inside the gallery for information.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to thank RAMA Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming, Community Good for financially supporting this program
View Past Events
CLOSED for Private Event
My Mother’s Tongue | Artist Talk (Online)
Join the Art Gallery of Mississauga online for an engaging artist talk featuring Joi T. Arcand, Insoon Ha, Baljit Singh, and James Webb, some of the artists behind the captivating works in My Mother’s Tongue, which is curated by the AGM TD Programming Curator, Musha Meluheni.
This moderated conversation will offer insights into their artistic practices and explore themes like language, incarceration, and exploitation in their artwork.
Registration is required. All are welcome to join!
This special event is generously funded by TD Bank Group, Rama Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming Community Good.
Beer & Brushes | “Fun”draiser
Beer and Brushes
🎨🍺 An Evening of Art, Beer & Community
June 12, 2025 | Painting begins at 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Old Credit Brewing Co. – Taproom, Mississauga
Join us along for a relaxed and creative night out at Beer and Brushes, hosted at the cozy taproom of Old Credit Brewing Co.! Hosted by Artist, Singer, and Songwriter Carla Gonzalez-Casanova, guests will sip, paint, and connect with fellow art lovers as you customize your own beer mug while enjoying the best local brews.
Your $50 ticket ($45 for AGM members) includes:
✔ One beer mug to paint and take home
✔ All painting supplies
✔ Cash Bar serving Old Credit Brewing Co. fresh beer
✔ Your first pint of Old Credit beer (or non-alcoholic beverage of choice)
✔ Tasty snacks
✔ A fun, social, creative evening!
Want to paint more? Add another beer glass for just $7—supplies included.
Whether you’re an experienced artist or just in it for the beer and good vibes, Beer and Brushes is a fantastic way to unwind and make something uniquely yours.
All proceeds support Art Gallery of Mississauga programming, helping us bring more accessible arts and culture to the community.
Spaces are limited—grab your ticket now and raise a glass to creativity!
NOT A MEMBER? Want to save on events like this? Become a member of the Art Gallery of Mississauga today! CLICK HERE TO JOIN
MINDFULNESS WORKSHOP | Honouring My Mother’s Tongue
What stories live in your body? What words live on your tongue, even if you rarely speak them?
In honour of Filipino Heritage Month, we invite you to My Mother’s Tongue, a sensory-rich, heart-opening workshop that explores how language, memory, and culture shape who we are, especially for first-generation Canadians, immigrants, and those living between worlds.
Inspired by the Art Gallery of Mississauga’s current exhibition My Mother’s Tongue, this workshop invites participants into a space of reflection, creation, and connection. Whether you speak Tagalog, Ilocano, Bisaya or carry your mother’s tongue in scents, songs, stories, or silence, this experience will help you reconnect with the deeper meanings of language and identity.
Led by multidisciplinary artist Jennifer Rabanillo, this 2-hour gathering is an invitation to explore your heritage through all five senses. Participants will engage in guided reflection and art-making using cultural textiles, memory prompts, mixed media, and familiar cultural scents and sounds.
You’ll be invited to create a personal piece – a visual poem, memory board, or abstract expression – that captures a word, feeling, or fragment of your “mother’s tongue.” You don’t need to be an artist. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to explore what has been passed down to you, whether through language, lullabies, food, or family traditions.
This is a space for remembering and reimagining. A space to honour the voices of our mothers, our ancestors, and our own evolving identities.
About the Facilitator: Jennifer Rabanillo
Jennifer Rabanillo is a multidisciplinary artist whose work lives at the intersection of storytelling, spatial design, and cultural identity. With over two decades of creative experience, she blends her talents as an interior designer, art director for television, author, and filmmaker to craft meaningful and immersive experiences that honour heritage, healing, and self-expression.
Trained at the Interior Design Institute, Jennifer’s design aesthetic is rooted in storytelling through space: using colour, texture, and layout to evoke emotion and memory. Her visual language has graced the sets of major productions across Canada, where she has served as an art director for television, known for creating cinematic worlds that feel both intimate and impactful.
As the author of The Self-Love Club, Jennifer has shared her personal journey through the lens of wellness, cultural identity, and self-worth, resonating with readers navigating life between worlds. Her passion for visual storytelling extends to film, where she writes, directs, and produces projects that explore the immigrant experience, generational healing, and the nuances of belonging.
Whether curating spaces, framing shots behind the camera, or guiding workshops in community settings, Jennifer’s artistry is deeply rooted in the belief that design and storytelling can be powerful tools for connection, reflection, and transformation.
Drop-In Art Hive : July 2, 2025
Join us in person and explore art-making. This is a free community event promoting mental health and connection through the use of art 🐝
Everyone is welcome. All supplies are provided, and no art-making experience is necessary.
Meet us outside in Celebration Square, just north of the fountain. Look for the Art Hive sign. In the case of inclement weather, see the ambassador desk inside the gallery for information.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to thank RAMA Gaming House Mississauga and Charitable Gaming, Community Good for financially supporting this program
Mississauga Youth Weeks: Art Hive
An Art Hive is a community-based, inclusive space designed to foster creativity without the pressure of formal instruction. It’s a place where people of all ages and skill levels can come together to explore, create, and connect. At its core, an Art Hive is about sharing ideas, supporting one another, and enjoying the creative process. No prior art experience is required—just bring your curiosity, creativity, and willingness to try something new! This program is run in partnership with the Art Gallery of Mississauga.
Ages 13-19.
This is a drop-in event, and tickets do not guarantee admission. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for attendees. Please note that space is limited.
Sauga Connections for Older Adults
Hosted by the City of Mississauga.
Presented by the Art Gallery of Mississauga, join Education and Programming Manager, Abbey Humphreys-Morris, for an exhibition overview of our last exhibition, Inside. Outside. Of.
Inside. Outside. Of | Opening Reception
The Art Gallery of Mississauga invites you to the opening reception of Inside. Outside. Of. Join us for an afternoon to celebrate the exhibition opening alongside the artists and curators. Refreshments will be provided. Registration is recommended but not required.
Art Hive @ Clarkson Community Centre
Join us in person and explore art-making at the Clarkson Community Centre on Wednesday February 5, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. This is a free community drop-in program promoting mental health and connection through the use of art 🐝
Everyone is welcome. All supplies are provided, and no art-making experience is necessary.
No registration. This is a drop-in program.
The Art Gallery of Mississauga would like to thank the Mississauga Foundation for supporting this program.
Sauga Connections for Older Adults
Hosted by the City of Mississauga.
Presented by the Art Gallery of Mississauga, join artist Kathleen Downie to hear about her practice as an artist and art therapist.