Little Portugal, Toronto · 1282 Dundas St. W
Kilombo Studios is a community photography and creative space rooted in accessibility, self-expression, and visual sovereignty — built for the artists, migrants, and storytellers who needed a space like this to exist.
1282 Dundas St. W · Little Portugal · Toronto, ON
Kilombo Studios was founded in 2024 by Joyce, a multidisciplinary artist who went looking for affordable studio space in Toronto and decided to build it herself instead.
The space at 1282 Dundas St. W was previously home to an immigration consultancy office — for many people, a first point of contact with a new life in Canada. Kilombo honours that legacy. It remains a place where displaced people and those with ties to migration can arrive, create, and be seen.
Since opening, Kilombo has hosted over five community workshops — batik printmaking, concrete décor, DJ spinning, candle and scent-making, French language sessions — reaching more than 50 participants with no marketing budget.
Professional tools at prices that don't exclude the people who need them most.
Your story, told in your own voice, with resources that match your vision.
A space that belongs to its people — not just a venue they pass through.
"Kilombo refers to the sovereign African communities founded by freedom seekers — spaces of refuge, self-determination, and collective creativity. This studio carries that spirit forward."Joyce — Founder, Kilombo Studios
Open to all. Especially built for migrants, Indigenous, Black, and racialized communities.
Serving Little Portugal and the wider Toronto creative community since 2024.
A full-floor studio at 1282 Dundas St. W with everything you need to shoot, develop, edit, print, and share — all under one roof, at prices designed for working artists.
Room 01 · The Studio
Full shooting setup for portraits, fashion, product photography, and editorial work. Ceiling rigs, strobe and RGB lighting, seamless backdrops on rollers, a styling corner with clothes rack and steamer, and an "On Air" sign so your session stays uninterrupted.
Room 02
Film developing and black-and-white printing. Enlargers, safelights, developing tanks, ventilation, and full chemical storage. Learn to develop your own film.
Room 03
High-performance desktops with Adobe Suite, colour-calibrated monitors, Wacom tablets, and SD card readers. Your post-production space.
Room 04
Professional photo printing, zine making, flatbed scanning, paper cutting, and binding. Print your own work and publish it.
The Foyer
A rotating exhibition space, pop-up market, lounge, and workshop zone. Open to walk-ins. Independent vendors can rent wall or shelf space to sell zines, prints, and work. It is the heart of Kilombo — the room where the community actually gathers.
Skill-building for everyone. From your first roll of film to a public exhibition — Kilombo takes you the full distance.
Load your first roll, understand light and exposure, and leave with one roll of exposed film ready to develop.
Develop your own negatives at home. Learn the chemistry, the process, and how to scan and share your results.
Work in the darkroom to produce black-and-white prints from your own negatives. Leave with 3–4 finished prints.
Fold, cut, and bind your own handmade zine using images and handmade paper. A full publication in two sessions.
African textile traditions applied to contemporary printmaking. Wax-resist dyeing on fabric using traditional motifs.
Turn shredded paper waste into handmade sheets for art and zines. Sustainability and craft in one session.
Build a personal photo essay or image series with editorial guidance. A one-session creative development workshop.
Community skill-sharing. Learn from people who carry craft knowledge — and share your own if you have it.
Have a skill to share? Kilombo's open teach-in model invites any community member to propose and run a workshop. We provide the space, materials, and promotion. You keep a portion of registration fees. Your knowledge has value here.
You don't need a formal teaching background. You need a skill, a willingness to share it, and a community ready to receive it. Kilombo provides everything else.
Fill out the form with your workshop concept, the skill you'd like to share, and how many sessions you're thinking. No idea is too niche or too simple.
Joyce will reach out within a week to talk through your idea, confirm the space and materials needed, and set a date that works for you.
Kilombo promotes the workshop, manages registration, provides the space and materials support, and takes care of the admin. You just show up and teach.
Facilitators receive a portion of registration fees. Your time and knowledge have real value here, and we make sure that's reflected.
All disciplines welcome. Photography, craft, language, music, cooking, movement, technology, storytelling. If it's a skill you carry, there is someone in this community who wants to learn it from you.
Tell us what you'd like to teach. We'll take it from there.
Load your first roll, understand light and exposure, and shoot a full roll by the end of the session. All equipment provided. Beginners welcome.
The darkroom is fully set up and ready. Book a free 30-minute orientation session to get access to film developing and B&W printing.
Book OrientationKilombo's first public exhibition. We're calling on members and community artists to submit work. All mediums considered. Free to participate.
The photo studio is open every Thursday from 4–8pm for non-members. No booking required — just show up. $65/hr, pay at the door. Gear available on request. Bring your ideas.
Turn shredded paper into handmade sheets for zines and artwork. Workshop run by the Kilombo community. Materials included.
We're looking for community members to help staff the studio on Saturdays. In exchange: studio credit and first access to new workshops.
Get in TouchKilombo is built to be used. Our rates sit well below the Toronto studio average of $105/hr — because professional space should not be a luxury.
Starter
$300/month
For those starting out or shooting less frequently. Full access to all rooms — at half the rate of most Toronto studios.
Standard
$500/month
The full Kilombo experience. Ideal for active photographers and working artists who need regular studio access.
Drop-In
$65/hour
No commitment. Book when you need it — personal projects, product shoots, headshots, and brand content.
Access should never depend on income. Kilombo has a sliding-scale scholarship fund for workshop access, a community barter and exchange program, and youth pricing for participants under 25. If cost is a barrier, reach out — we will find a way to make it work.
Book a tour, ask about membership, propose a workshop, or just introduce yourself. We want to hear from you.