Toronto creative hub evicted with no warning but they haven't given up yet
Another Toronto creative hub is gone.
OpenConcepts — a grassroots creative hub that's been home to countless open mics, art events, and emerging talents in Toronto — has just been evicted from its space. And not just any space: one of the few remaining venues built specifically for artists who are Black, Indigenous, queer, or otherwise pushed to the margins.
There was no warning. No support. Just an abrupt notice and a demand to leave.
"The eviction started with a notice saying our lease was being renewed for another three years," said Khary Safari, founder of OpenConcepts.
"After two weeks of radio silence, we abruptly got an email with a notice to vacate, with less than the legal 30 days' notice. After we pointed this out, we were finally given the proper 30-day notice. But by that point, the trust had already been broken. We had made plans, invested in the space, and believed we had a future there. That was taken away with no warning and no accountability."
Beyond the sudden eviction, Safari says vague accusations were made against them — claims they firmly deny and say have gone unsupported. "There were tons of claims and accusations made against us that are not only untrue, but completely unsupported. And after speaking with the landlords, they still won't acknowledge or respond to any request for evidence or further information about those claims."
For many in the city's creative community, the news hits hard and, unfortunately, is all too familiar. Toronto has been steadily losing its independent, artist-run venues to skyrocketing rent, gentrification, and city planning that rarely makes space for grassroots culture.
But what made OpenConcepts different was its mission: to be a launchpad, not a legacy institution. "All art spaces are essential to people's health and well-being,” Safari explained.
"The OpenConcepts community, in particular, is so important because we are social beings, and we are all artists. To have a safe space to not only meet and be social, but to support one another and share our art in a meaningful and elevated way, is something that shapes us and our community, which in turn propels humanity."
"OpenConcepts isn’t just a showcase. It’s a foundation. It’s the first stage for so many artists, where they learn their voice matters and where they see what's possible. The space really challenges people in a good way. It makes them want to bring their A-game to the stage and the room itself every time. You can visibly see how people get inspired." And the impact has been real.
But rather than let this eviction mark the end, OpenConcepts is treating it as a pivot point. The team is planning a cross-country tour, bringing their signature open mic model to new cities across Canada — and maybe beyond.
They've launched a GoFundMe campaign to help bring the vision to life. Instead of brooding over the matter, Safari and his team have turned this adversity into an opportunity.
"It all started when we began getting DMs from artists in other cities. They would ask us if we could bring our open mic to them in places like L.A., New York, and London, to name a few. Our obvious question was why? Aren’t there open mics in those big cities? Their answers were always the same: 'Yes, but not like this.'"
"There's a nuance to OpenConcepts, and we want to share it with as much of Canada as we can. Especially now, when there’s so much pride and patriotism in being Canadian. Supporting Canadian art and Canadian artists has never been more important."
The mission behind the tour is simple: to give more artists the chance to experience what OpenConcepts has sparked in Toronto — self-expression, community, and transformation.
Asked what message he'd want to send to city officials or property owners about the value of protecting creative spaces like this, the founder didn't mince words.
"I could answer this in a lot of ways, but if I'm being completely honest, I wouldn't want to tell them anything. Explaining has never affected these people the way we want it to. They either need to see the money or the results. The only thing we can do is show them. And we aim to do just that."
You can support OpenConcepts’ cross-country tour by donating here to their GoFundMe campaign! Follow them on social media to stay updated on their next chapter.
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