OTHERWISE STUDIOS

a space for art making + community building

Otherwise is an inclusive space in what is currently known as Guelph Ontario, hosting creative minds of all ages for art-making and community building. It’s a studio, a classroom, a stage, a gallery space, a creative meeting spot, and anything you may need it to be!

With a focus on fostering a creative and inclusive community hub, Otherwise offers diverse opportunities for collaborating, gathering, teaching, skill-building, innovating, and mess-making. We aim to make a brave space that allows people to feel comfortable making mistakes and encouraged to learn new skills.

Otherwise is situated on the ancestral homelands of the Anishinaabek Peoples, specifically the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. Our virtual workshops and continued collaborative work spans across what is currently known as Canada, and so we ask you to reflect about the land you learn and create on.

Colourful prints hang with clothespins on a metal frame on a colourful wall with a rainbow. Aprons hang on the metal frame on the right.

our story

Otherwise Studios was a dream built with three things in mind:

  1. building a safe, brave community space for skill-building and mess-making,
  2. fostering collaborations, and
  3. working towards making the arts more accessible.

As a hub for artists, creatives, and facilitators, we're always looking for innovative ways to keep everyone making, learning and most importantly, staying connected. Each event, gathering and class is carefully designed with these things in mind at every step of the way to make truly unique experiences that meaningfully contribute to the arts community.

Person wearing an orange corduroy shirt smiles, holding a door open that has an Otherwise Studios sign on it. Turquoise and navy blue curvy lines decorate the top of the picture.

Otherwise Studios is owned and operated by Ahmri Vandeborne (she/her) whose personal practice overlaps with her work at Otherwise in more ways than she originally realized. Ahmri is an interdisciplinary artist and curious-hearted community facilitator. Using collaboration as an essential tool, her practice explores spacemaking through public installations, live visuals, and immersive community experiences.

Ahmri believes in the power of art as a vessel for community care and in the importance of accessibility in the arts sector. Her facilitation style is playful, experimentative and encouraging of anyone who wants to explore their creativity.

Ahmri holds a BAH with Distinction in Studio Art, with minors in French and Art History, from the University of Guelph.

Vintage turquoise couch with colourful pillows sits against a white wall with salon-style hung artwork.

Otherwise Studios was co-founded in June 2019 by Ahmri Vandeborne and Abby Nowakowski. In January 2021, Abby moved to Ottawa Ontario with her family, and Ahmri took on the role of sole owner to continue growing the Otherwise story.

Thank you to the Otherwise community for following this journey and for being here now. Otherwise Studios can't wait to create something special with you and your loved ones.

All photos on this page taken by D3viPhotography.