The COVID-19 pandemic was devastating for artists. With galleries, studios, and stages shut down for over two years, opportunities, income, and connections suffered badly. Despite challenges, Hamilton artists kept writing, painting, dancing, creating, and thriving.
In late 2021, in partnership with artist Mark Preston, Factory Media Centre, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, and funded by the Canada Council for the Arts, Industry put out a call for artists to be part of a video installation highlighting the artist and their work. After receiving over 80 applications, a jury chose the fifteen artists above to participate in the campaign.
The installation originally appeared in the following locations: The Art Gallery of Hamilton, The Cotton Factory, Theatre Aquarius, Vintage Coffee Roasters, Farside, Donut Monster, Cobalt Connects, and GoodBodyFeel.
In 2023, with support from the Healthy Communities Initiative, #IAmStillAnArtist came back bigger than ever and was projected onto Hamilton City Hall, Bread Bar at James & King William, and Theatre Aquarius. It was also shown on a giant mobile screen driving around the city.
