Studio Building, National historic site in South Rosedale, Canada.
The Studio Building is a three-story brick structure with large north-facing windows designed to provide artists with natural light for their work. Inside, it contains six dedicated studio spaces distributed across three floors, with additional basement areas for storage and creative purposes.
The building was constructed in 1914 by Lawren Harris and Dr. James MacCallum as the first purpose-built artist studio facility in Canada. Its creation marked a turning point that allowed Canadian painters to work together in one dedicated location.
The building served as a gathering place where Canadian artists could meet and work together on their creative projects. Painters from the Group of Seven found a workspace where they could develop their artistic vision and share ideas about depicting the natural landscape.
The location sits on Severn Street in South Rosedale and is somewhat set back from the main street, so planning ahead helps with your visit. The best time to visit is during warmer months when the surroundings are more green and natural lighting conditions are ideal.
Tom Thomson, unable to afford regular studio rent, lived in a small shack beside the main building for just one dollar per month. His proximity to the other artists significantly shaped his artistic development during his final winters.
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