INSTITUT is a new underground cultural speakeasy living in the basement auditorium of St. Volodymyr Institute at 620 Spadina Avenue — a space that has always been there, right underneath, below generations of students, archivists, curators, and librarians. In its pilot phase (May–September 2026), it runs every Thursday from 5pm until late, featuring music, cinema, literature, and art. Ukrainian and beyond.
We are instituting the PWYC (pay-what-you-can) model — which basically means RSVP ASAP, because it's gonna fill up.
Consider this the first volume of the INSTITUT experiment. Every week, a different hypothesis. Underground at 620 Spadina Ave - around the back, through the lot to the steel doors, down the stairs, past the mechanical room, through the swinging wood laminate door...
INSTITUT 001 panel: UKRAINE'S CULTURAL FRONT ABROAD
5 PM | PWYC | GET TICKETSINSTITUT 001 concert: ORI SHALVA & PRESSGANG MUTINY
7 PM | PWYC | GET TICKETSINSTITUT 001 vintage vinyl: DJ McHI
11 PM | PWYC | GET TICKETS
INSTITUT 001 panel: UKRAINE'S CULTURAL FRONT ABROAD
A conversation about diasporic activism in the arts led by the creators of THE DIVISION.
Consider this the first volume of the INSTITUT experiment. Every week, a different hypothesis. Underground at 620 Spadina Ave - around the back, through the lot to the steel doors, down the stairs, past the mechanical room, through the swinging wood laminate door...
Vol 1: Grab a drink and enjoy a high level conversation about identity politics from two Ukrainian-Canadian front line cultural activists. In a relaxed setting as opposed to a stuffy lecture hall.
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ANDREW KUSHNIR is a Canadian playwright, director, performer, teacher, and community arts worker who calls Toronto home. He is artistic director of the socially-engaged theatre company Project: Humanity, where much of his documentary theatre work is done.
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LIANNA MAKUCH is a second generation Ukrainian Canadian theatre artist. She has traveled several times to Ukraine to research and develop her plays Barvinok and Alina, gaining awards and recognition from both the professional theatre and Ukrainian communities. Lianna received a Dora Award for Outstanding Direction for her for directorial debut, First Métis Man of Odesa, which has been seen on stages nationwide.
INSTITUT 001 concert: ORI SHALVA & PRESSGANG MUTINY
The album release of "Departure" from the city's beloved shanty crew (w DJ) set against a backdrop of traditional Georgian "supra" ballads
INSTITUT 001 vintage vinyl: DJ McHI
Classic reggae, dancehall and dub with some hints of cumbia.