Registration is open
FUTURES ARTS · FALL 2026
Come make work with
Disabled artists.
Virtual this fall. Six Saturdays online. Closing with a virtual gallery and an online opening party. Free for Disabled and neurodivergent youth 18 to 30, Canada-wide.
FUTURES Arts · Fall 2026
What is FUTURES Arts?
FUTURES Arts is a free, virtual arts program. Open to Disabled and neurodivergent youth aged 18 to 30, Canada-wide.
This is where you make art alongside Disability arts communities actively shaping Canadian culture. Six Saturdays making original visual art. Your program starts October 24. It closes with a virtual gallery and an online opening party.
Camera optional. No networking pressure. Small group. Led by Disabled and neurodivergent artists who have been where you are.
Six Saturdays of making.
You leave with a virtual gallery and an online party to share it.
A small virtual cohort of Disabled and neurodivergent artists. Show up as who you are.
ASL at every session. Camera off always okay. Recordings and transcripts, every time. You don’t have to ask.
Disabled artists are challenging what gets valued in this country. You belong in that conversation.
Disabled artists are making and leading. FUTURES Arts puts you in the room where that work is happening.
You are not here to watch. You are here to create.
No diagnosis required. Come as you are.
You don't need to call yourself an artist.
No portfolio. No experience threshold. It can live in a sketchbook, a Notes app, or a practice you haven’t started. You still belong.
This cohort is for people who have not shown work publicly before.
Access comes first. Not upon request.
Every FUTURES program starts with access built in. This cohort includes ASL interpretation at every session.
● Quiet room available
● Scent-free spaces
● Pacing and rest built into every session
● Support for communication needs, cognitive access, and fatigue
Questions about access? DM @access.studio.official or email studio@accessnow.ca. We’ll give you a straight answer.
Meet the facilitators
Bethany Schaufler-Biback
Arts practitioner and PhD candidate at the University of Toronto. Her research explores Disability community and access at live performance. She has worked as a stage manager, producer, and accessibility coordinator.
Six Saturdays online. A virtual gallery and an online opening party.
FUTURES Arts: Visual Arts runs every Saturday from October 24 to November 28. 11:00AM to 3:30 PM ET, online.
The cohort is small, so you will know the people in the room. If you miss a session, you pick up where you left off.
The program closes with a virtual gallery and an online opening party. You decide what goes into the gallery. Bethany and Emily help you prepare.
October 24 to November 28, 2026
Saturdays, 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM ET
Virtual. Zoom link sent after registration
Small group, virtual
Virtual gallery, online opening party (date to follow)
Eligibility
■ Aged 18 to 30
■ Disabled or neurodivergent
■ A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee
■ Ready to make art this summer, no experience necessary
30 spots. Registration closes October 17, 2026.
FAQ
Do I need to be an experienced artist to apply?
Is there a cost?
No. FUTURES Arts is fully free, thanks to Canada Service Corps. No registration fee, no supply fee. You cover nothing.
Do I need a diagnosis to apply?
What accessibility supports are provided?
Access is built into every part of this program. Every session includes ASL interpretation, recordings, and a written transcript. Camera off is always okay, and you can join by chat if that’s easier. We build in pacing, rest breaks, and low-stimulation options throughout every session. Tell us what you need and we will plan for it. Email studio@accessnow.ca or DM @access.studio.official.
What if I can’t make it to every session?
What if programs have let me down before?
Free arts program. Virtual. This fall.
Registration opens October 17.