Building the Space i wish existed (join me?) ✨

a Portal of Possibility! 🌈

Art Club // Alt Crits: a Portal of Possibility

Have you ever felt like sharing your art wasn’t safe?

Like you had to shrink, explain, over-justify, or guard your work, or make yourself smaller, just to be in the room? Even though you were simply trying to exist as you are, express from that place and tend to your art?

Maybe you’ve experienced relational bullying, cultural insensitivity, or the endless micro-aggressions that come with being the “other” in some ‘creative’ spaces. Maybe you’ve stopped showing your work - not because you stopped making, but because the cost of sharing became too high.

If so: I see you. And sadly, relate.

This is why i’m building something new.

A tender meadow alternative. A softer space for us.

Spacemaking as Sanctuary!

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What is Art Club // Alt Crits?

A small-group, supportive, online space for artists, makers, and creative souls to share works-in-progress, reflect, and receive thoughtful feedback - with care.

It’s part studio group, part reflection space, part encouragement circle.

We meet every other week for up to 90 minutes.

Over 6 sessions, you’ll show up for your work - and each other.

Together, we’ll:

• Grow confidence in speaking about our work

• Reflect deeply on our creative process

• Be witnessed, and witness others - without competition

• Stay accountable to our practice (and to each other)

This isn’t about perfection or performance.

This is a portal of possibility - a place where process is sacred, where feedback is thoughtful, and where your art doesn’t have to defend itself.

This is a horseshoe-shaped space - open, expansive, and non-hierarchical. Rooted in generosity and encouragement.

Designed with trauma-informed awareness, and built on the belief that your nervous system matters when making and sharing art. Feeling safe-enough to create and be seen is essential.

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Why an “Alt Crit”?

Because the traditional crit model is broken for many of us.

For some, it's been outright traumatic. For others, just quietly exhausting -competitive, hierarchical, or riddled with ignorance and institutional bias.

In this space, there are no ‘sharp elbows’.

We sit beside each other. We show up with curiosity.

We practice being in process together.

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Who is this for?

This is for those of you who’ve ever felt fearful, shut down, silenced, misunderstood, or misinterpreted when sharing your creative work.

It’s for those who want to commit to their practice but need some structure, support, and accountability.

It’s for artists and creatives of all ‘levels’ who:

• Want to reflect on their work, not just present it

• Thrive in spaces of mutual care and curiosity

• Believe art can be powerful without being polished

• Long for encouragement, not competition

All bodies, backgrounds, and disciplines are welcome.

If you’re reading this and feeling a gurgle of yes in your chest - this might be for you.

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What you’ll receive:

• A small, supportive cohort (4–6 people max)

• Six 90-minute live Zoom sessions (every other week)

• Optional weekly art club / co-working-co-creating drop-ins

• An asynchronous feedback channel

• Connection, encouragement, momentum

• Recordings will be made with consent - more on that soon.

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💫 Want to join the pilot group?

I’ll be sharing more and opening spots first to paid Substack subscribers (with a generous discount).

Before I open bookings, I’d love to know if this is something you’d be interested in.

If you’re curious, willing, or just want to keep in the loop, please take 2 minutes to fill out this short form:

👉🏽 Register your interest here

You’ll be able to indicate:

• Your timezone + preferred days/times

• Whether you’re available in July or August

• If you’d like to join the pilot round

• Any accessibility needs or questions

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Final thoughts

I’ve been holding creative spaces for 20+ years - and I’ve also felt excluded from others.

I’ve designed, led, shared and facilitated workshops, artist residencies, community programmes and groups, and events and talks at not-for-profit, cultural, academic and corporate organisations.

And I still long for the kind of space i’ve never quite found.

So I’m building it. Slowly, intentionally, with a lot of heart.

Ever-centering creativity and embodiment baybee! ✨

This is a soft yet strong space to grow your work.

A place where we cheer each other on.

A place where there’s no need to compete - because we all win when we keep creating. There is room for all of us.

Thanks for reading this.

I’m building this because i need it too.

Let me know if this resonates with you.

Let’s make something kinder and rooted in care - together.

Dionne 💜