Panel Discussion

The panels at Creative Currents were the heart of the event. These conversations were designed to shift how we talk about creative work beyond buzzwords, beyond the highlight reel. Attendees heard from artists, curators, and community builders who navigated the creative world with intention, care, and real-life experience. Each panel provided a space for shared reflection, practical insight, and permission to show up just as you were, whether starting out, shifting directions, or simply seeking connection.

Finding Your Way in the Industry: Creative paths are rarely straight, and this panel made space to talk about that. Led by a group of Toronto-based curators and cultural workers, the conversation unpacked the myths we often carry about timelines, success, and “making it.” Panelists spoke about the pivots, pauses, and personal moments that shaped their work, offering reflections on resilience, uncertainty, and what it really meant to move forward, even when it didn’t look like it on paper.

Practicing Creatively: Making, Sustaining, Evolving: What does it take to keep going, not just creatively, but emotionally and spiritually? This panel invited artists to speak about the behind-the-scenes of their practices: the rituals that grounded them, how they recognized burnout, and why collaboration could be an act of care. It was a chance to move from the big picture to the everyday, with panelists sharing strategies, tools, and truths that supported sustainability and growth over the long haul.

Workshop

After a full day of listening and learning, Making Waves was an invitation to reflect, express, and reset. This guided workshop offered time to think about what fueled participants’ creative practices and how they wanted to carry that forward. Attendees worked with a “Creative Contract” worksheet that prompted them to name their values, reflect on what they needed, and commit to their next steps. Whether working solo or in small groups, it was a chance to check in with themselves and move with more clarity. No pressure — just space to be honest, creative, and intentional.

Networking

Forget stiff icebreakers and forced elevator pitches. At Creative Currents, networking was about genuine connection and creative energy. Over a shared meal from local favourite Toloache Mexican Cuisine, participants found gentle ways to meet fellow creatives through self-directed prompts, conversation zones, and the collaborative Art Wall. Whether they were looking for future collaborators or just wanted to talk shop with someone who got it, this was a space to show up as they were.

Mixer & Jam Session

The day closed with a celebration, not just of art, but of presence, connection, and everything that was possible when creatives came together. Featuring a live DJ set by Shaunt Raffi, the Mixer offered a chance to keep the energy flowing, whether attendees were dancing, catching up, or just soaking it all in.