EMBASSY CULTURAL HOUSE

Established in 1983, the Embassy Cultural House was a community-driven gallery and hosted interdisciplinary programs. It closed its physical doors in 1990. In 2020, the Embassy Cultural House was re-envisioned as a virtual artist-run space and community website.
A not-for-profit initiative, the ECH delivers its projects through a dedicated team of volunteers, partners, community contributors and angel investors. Occasional funding through project arts grants also supports the ECH to honour the principle of payment of fees to contributors.

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CURRENT PROJECTS

​An Alternative Cultural History of London, Ontario: Art and Activism

Edited by Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner and designed by Olivia Mossuto
Published by the Embassy Cultural House, September 2024
240 pages, 6 " x 9" full colour offset printing

An Alternative Cultural History of London, Ontario: Art and Activism is the Embassy Cultural House’s 9th printed publication since 2020. This anthology reveals the vibrant yet often overlooked cultures of London, Ontario. The history of collective action within the city is narrated through essays, conversations, poetry, and archival images. It includes texts and images by 36 contributors:

Lillian Allen | Robin Cary Askew | Blessy Augustine | Christina Battle | Ron Benner | Carl Cadogan | Tom Cull | Greg Curnoe | Stan Denniston | Omar El Akkad | Robert Fréchette | Wyn Geleynse | John Greyson | Janice Gurney | Jamelie Hassan | Salah D. Hassan | Tariq Hassan Gordon | Iraboty Kazi | David Neil Lee | Tarek Loubani | Miriam Love | Michael Lynk | Olivia Mossuto | Shelley Niro | Kim Ondaatje | Andy Patton | James Stewart Reaney | Christopher Régimbal | Judith M. Rodger | Jenna Rose Sands | John Scully | Ruth Skinner | Dan Smoke | Mary Lou Smoke | Diana Tamblyn | Don Vincent

Their writings and accompanying images add to the previous histories written about London, Ontario. The emphasis in this anthology is on art and activism and presents a historical perspective beginning in the 1950s through to the present.

​To purchase the publication, please email [email protected] 

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A Community of Trees  Online Exhibition

Though it is not widespread knowledge, trees have the ability to communicate with each other through a variety of means. Their elaborate root systems contain fungi, which can send messages to nearby connected trees to warn of dangers or other predators. Just as humans function best when working together as a collective and a community, trees are best able to thrive when they are a part of a forest, connected to other trees. 

A Community of Trees will highlight the versatility of trees' existence and how they are an important and essential part of the ecosystem.  

This exhibition has been curated by ECH Contributing Editor Emmy Meredith, with the assistance of ECH Curatorial Advisors Ron Benner and Jamelie Hassan. Contributors to the exhibition include Maria Awaraji, José Bedia, Ron Benner, Marlene Creates, Patricia Deadman, Selwyn Dewdney, Richelle Forsey, Alexis Green, Jamelie Hassan, Fern Helfand, Lisa Hirmer, Penn Kemp, Miriam Love, Don McKay, Emmy Meredith, Catherine Morrisey, David Merritt, Olivia Mossuto, Monica Joy, Judith Rodger, Roland Schubert, Ashley Snook, Heather Steinhagen, Diana Tamblyn, and Larry Towell. 

The online launch took place on March 1, 2024. 

View the online exhibition here. ​

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Visit the Hiding in Plain Sight Virtual Tour

Hiding in Plain Sight Exhibition

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​Embassy Cultural House catalogue now online

It is with great pleasure that we are sharing an online version of the now out-of-print The Embassy Cultural House, 1983 to 1990 catalogue. This catalogue was published in 2012 to accompany the survey exhibit “The Embassy Cultural House, 1983 to 1990" presented at Museum London.

The late Robert (Bob) McKaskell curated the survey exhibit, and the catalogue was edited by the late Melanie Townsend. The catalogue also includes essays by historical curator Michael Baker and Toronto-based artist, educator, and activist Rebecca Deiderichs. The Museum London public program included a sold-out concert of an improvizational jazz performance by Eric Stach and local musicians.

With special thanks to Museum London, the estates of both Bob McKaskell and Melanie Townsend, all the contributors and supporters of the catalogue, and Colour by Schubert for making this publication available online to a broader public. Click here to read the catalogue online.

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In memory of curator and writer Bob McKaskell, 1943–2020

​In Memory of Bob McKaskell

It is with a heavy heart that we share the sad news that our good friend Bob McKaskell, independent curator and writer, died on June 30, 2020, from cancer.

He divided his time between Port Dover, Ontario, and Oaxaca, Mexico. While in Oaxaca, he decided to study Spanish, and he had just initiated a program of curating exhibits of Oaxacan artists in his apartment located in the centro historico of Oaxaca. He was a great cook, an excellent gardener, and his pursuit of knowledge was startlingly wide reaching. Anyone who knew Bob understood that his sometimes stubborn nature contributed to his ability to intensely focus in a very particular and detailed way to whatever subjects grabbed his interest.
 
Bob taught contemporary art history for many years at Western University. He was a huge supporter of both Canadian and international artists and had a commitment to challenging art practices, including conceptual art, performance works, and independent artists' projects. While in London, he was involved in programming at the Embassy Cultural House, the Forest City Gallery, Museum London and the McIntosh Gallery. He later became curator at the Art Gallery of Windsor, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, where he built strong friendships and made contributions to the arts community across Canada.
 
We have so many fond memories of Bob. Especially close to our hearts is the survey exhibition he curated Embassy Cultural House: 1983 - 1990  at Museum London in 2012.

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