Flaunt It Studio’s Coworking Office, which includes access to external monitors, Macbooks, and iPads. Photo: Sariena Luy
Inclusive Local Economies
Flaunt It Studio: An Inclusive Creative Coworking Space in Jane-Finch
2024

In our work, we have seen how long-term relationships between communities and funders can influence neighbourhood resiliency. Over the last few years, Metcalf has been developing relationships with organizations and leaders from Jane-Finch, a neighbourhood undergoing a massive transformation with the development of the Finch West LRT and where a high concentration of Toronto’s working poor live.

Located in the neighbourhood, Flaunt It is a grassroots youth-led artist collective that provides resources and opportunities for women, girls, and femmes from underserved communities to excel as artists, activists, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Flaunt It Studio — Jane-Finch’s first creative coworking space — offers an affordable workspace, beauty salon, and state-of-the-art videography and photography studio for young entrepreneurs.

 

Flaunt It’s values displayed on the wall of Flaunt It Studio’s Coworking Office. The photo is of two Jane-Finch residents and leaders, Amina Ahmed and Kherto Ahmed.

Photo: Sariena Luy

Flaunt It Studio’s Coworking Office is equipped with high-speed internet, access to all Adobe Creative Cloud software, and premium access to programs like Canva, Skillshare, WeTransfer, ChatGPT, and more. The room supports local youth who do not have adequate spaces to work in at home and need the appropriate computers, laptops, iPads, and equipment to support their creative and professional endeavours.

Photo: Sariena Luy

Flaunt It Studio’s door murals. The left door to the Beauty Salon was designed by Khloe Daniels and the right door to the Coworking Office was designed by Amy Tran and Tatsbita Sadikin.

Photo: Sariena Luy

Flaunt It Studio’s Beauty Salon can be rearranged and set up in a variety of ways to support any beautician — nail technicians, lash technicians, hairdressers, makeup artists, tattoo artists, and more.

Photo: Tatsbita Sadikin

Jane-Finch resident and professional Sephora makeup artist Isabella Kuol using Flaunt It Studio’s Beauty Salon to create content for her social media and makeup portfolio. All the furniture and equipment needed to make high-quality content (e.g., ring lights, tripods, backdrops, etc.) is on site.

Photo: Sariena Luy

Isabella Kuol putting on false eyelashes onto Seidy Barrie for a live makeup demo held in Flaunt It Studio’s Beauty Salon.

Photo: Kelly La

Flaunt It Studio’s Creator Lab has easily accessible backdrop rolls in various sizes and colours installed into the ceiling.

Photo: Sariena Luy

Flaunt It Studio’s Creator Lab is equipped with beginner-friendly to professional photography/videography equipment.

Photo: Sariena Luy

Shay Myers from Finance for the Culture hosting a free financial literacy workshop for the community at Flaunt It Studio in February 2024.

Visit Flaunt It Studio to make a booking and to see upcoming events.

Photo: Sariena Luy