ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the challenges and solutions associated with an independent art center’s efforts to develop a collective learning space, loosely inspired by Art Hives. The Visual Arts Centre (VAC)—a cultural space in Montreal, Canada, that is comprised of an independent art school, a contemporary art gallery, and an outreach program—has always supported collective learning. The VAC first began as the Potters’ Club in 1946, which was a collective run by a group of women artists. As the VAC has placed so much emphasis on community, informal learning, and creative engagement, it is natural and fitting for the Centre to be inspired by various collective learning spaces. Art Hives foster communities grounded in openness, experimentation, collective learning, engagement, and a sense of belonging—all of which support imaginative thinking, an essential precursor for social change. These powerful spaces can offer inspiration to many arts organizations, as their ethos deeply connects with the mandate of various arts learning locations.
