Upcoming Events
At the Creative Community Impact Association (CCIA), we host events for artists, educators, mission-driven creatives, and those working at the intersection of art and social justice. Our workshops and gatherings focus on community building, resource sharing, and skill development, providing participants with the tools and networks they need to make meaningful change in their communities.
Currently, our in-person workshops are held within the Halifax Regional Municipality. We are expanding our reach through virtual events and planning small gatherings in other communities across Canada, broadening access while maintaining the intimate, community-focused experience that makes our events meaningful.
We design our events to be warm, approachable, and accessible. Our events are free, pay-what-you-can, or have a set ticket price with a number of complimentary spots reserved for underrepresented or historically marginalized groups.
Each gathering is an opportunity to connect, learn, and grow in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Writing for Accessibility in the Arts
Presented in partnership with Visual Arts Nova Scotia (VANS)
Instructor: Jacquelyn Miccolis
Date/Time: Wednesday, Feb 25th , 2 :00 PM - 3:30 PM AST
Location: Virtual Workshop (Zoom)
Suitable for: Artists & Arts Organizations
Registration and Fees: Managed by Visual Arts Nova Scotia
$15 per person, $25 for two representatives from the same organization
Register via Visual Arts Nova Scotia
Join multidisciplinary artist and CCIA Executive Director, Jacquelyn Miccolis
for a professional development workshop presented in partnership with Visual Arts Nova Scotia.
This session supports artists and arts organizations in making their art and communications more accessible to diverse audiences. Participants will learn how to craft inclusive, engaging descriptions that honour artistic intent while improving accessibility.
Topics include best practices for:
-
Writing effective alt text
-
Creating accessible image captions
-
Developing accessible exhibition and promotional materials
Participants will leave with practical insights and strategies they can apply directly in their own work.
Community in Colour: Exploring Connection | Free Workshop
Facilitator: Jacquelyn Miccolis
Date/time: Tues. March 10th | 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Location: Astor Theater & Arts Centre
Address: 219 Main Street, Liverpool, Nova Scotia B0T1K0
Suitable for: Adults | Registration: required
What does community mean to you? How do art and connection intersect?
Join us for a playful, hands-on watercolour workshop for adults designed to spark
conversation, creativity, and connection. Together, participants will begin with a
guided group activity to explore the meaning of community.
No art experience is required, and all supplies are provided. Participants will learn simple watercolour techniques to create their own artwork. This workshop is ideal for artists, educators, and community members, and for anyone seeking a creative, welcoming space to reflect, connect, and make art.
Our Educational Values
-
Art as Pedagogy: We treat creative practice as a form of learning, teaching, and community dialogue.
-
Equity & Access: We’re committed to making arts education financially and culturally accessible.
-
Skill & Reflection: Our workshops combine tangible tools with space for critical thinking and imagination.
-
Peer Learning: We believe education happens in community, not hierarchy.
-
Led by Artists: All facilitators are practicing creatives grounded in real-world work.
Past Events
Imagining a Better World: Creating & Connecting | Free Workshop
Facilitator: Meghan Weber | Assistant: Jacquelyn Miccolis
Date/Time: Sat. Jan 10th, 2026 | 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Location: Open Book Coffee
Address: 3660 Strawberry Hill St. | Kjipuktuk (Halifax)
Suitable for: Adults | Registration: required
This workshop invites participants to create and connect while looking
both inward and outward as we consider what a kinder and more
just world could look like.
The session begins with a brief guided Loving-Kindness meditation and
continues with hands-on vision board making. Through creative practice,
we explore how rest, self-compassion, and slowing down can act as forms of
resistance that challenge capitalism, hustle culture, and the expectation to constantly produce.
Rooted in a gentle and accessible social justice lens, this workshop offers space to reflect on how personal well-being is connected to collective care. This workshop is ideal for adults interested in creativity, social awareness, and personal reflection. No art experience is needed, and all supplies are provided.
Photographer: Meghan Weber | These images were taken during the workshop and highlight key moments from the session.
Queer Art as Pedagogy: Creative Practice for Justice and Community | Free Virtual Workshop
Facilitator: Karlee Campbell (Ontario)
Date/Time: Thurs. Dec 4th | 7:00 - 8:00 PM AST (6:00 - 7:00 PM ET)
Location: Virtual Workshop (Google Meet)
Suitable for: Adults | Registration: required
(Space is limited to keep the session interactive and community-centered
This virtual workshop invites artists, educators, cultural workers, and
creative, mission-driven people from across Canada to explore poetry
as a tool for learning, connection, and collective imagination.
Together, we’ll approach art not just as self-expression, but as a way of
thinking, reflecting, and growing in community. It is a practice that can
help us envision a more just, caring, and inclusive worlds.
Rooted in the belief that art can be both personal and connected to the world around us, we’ll use poetry, world-building,
and gentle writing prompts to explore how queer creativity can open space for care, justice, and collective transformation.
Who This Is For
This workshop centres 2SLGBTQIA+ voices and experiences.
We welcomes allies who want to learn, imagine, and create in community.
Accessibility & Participation Notes
-
Free to attend
-
Live auto-captions available
-
You are welcome to keep your camera on or off
-
Gentle, 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming space
-
No prior poetry experience is required
-
Participate in any way that feels right for you
To honour participant privacy, we did not capture group photos. This photo shows our facilitator prior to the start of the session.
Community in Colours: Exploring Connections | Free Workshop | In partnership with Halifax Public Libraries
Facilitator: Jacquelyn Miccolis
Date/time: Sat. Nov 1st | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Bedford Public Library
Address: 15 Dartmouth Road, Bedford, NS B4A 3X6
Suitable for: Adults | Registration: required
What does community mean to you?How do art and connection intersect?
Join multidisciplinary artist and Creative Community Impact Association
founder, Jacquelyn Miccolis, for a reflective, discussion-based workshop that
uses hands-on watercolor exercises as a tool for exploring ideas about community,
connection, and creativity.
This workshop is ideal for artists, educators, and socially-engaged creatives, though all adults are welcome. No art experience needed, supplies provided.
These images were taken during the workshop and highlight key moments from the session.