Karrie Emms & Agape Designs
Karrie Emms is a highly esteemed professional speaker, facilitator, and artist who serves as the principal figure of Agape Designs. Holding pivotal roles as the proprietor of Agape Designs, Co-Owner of Gateway To the Arts Gallery, and Executive Director of Nick's Place For Us in North Bay, Ontario, Ms. Emms brings forth a vast reservoir of expertise spanning various artistic modalities, workshops, lectures, and tailored creative sessions.
Amidst the onset of the pandemic, Ms. Emms collaboratively established Gateway To the Arts alongside renowned photographer Dani Lynn Redgrift-Berthelot, situated in downtown North Bay. This visionary initiative culminated in the creation of a 1300-square-foot primary floor gallery and an additional 1300-square-foot lower level space, dedicated to furnishing Northern Ontario artists, irrespective of their age or career stage, with enriching artistic opportunities. Commencing operations on November 21, 2020, the cooperative swiftly evolved into a thriving gallery and vibrant event venue.
Adjacent to the gallery, Nick’s Place For Us serves as a comprehensive youth arts center, harmonizing performing, literary, and visual arts programs under one roof. Honoring the memory of Ms. Emms' nephew Nicholas, tragically lost in a lamentable North Bay incident, the center presently undergoes fundraising endeavors for renovations and program development. With a slated grand opening on December 11, 2023, commemorating the one-year anniversary of Nicholas's passing, ongoing programs are underway alongside continued fundraising initiatives.
Despite the inherent challenges posed by launching amidst a global pandemic, the founders embarked on this endeavor with resolute conviction, cultivating an environment within the gallery conducive to artistic growth and collaborative synergy among artists, ranging from seasoned practitioners to emerging talents.
Ms. Emms' artistic repertoire encompasses a diverse array of mediums, including pen and ink, pencil, acrylic and watercolor paints, chainmaille, crochet, among others. Her offerings encompass workshops, art classes, bespoke events, birthday celebrations, team-building exercises, and fundraisers, adaptable for audiences spanning all age groups. Recent endeavors have also witnessed her engagement in speaking engagements focusing on themes such as grief and the arts, women in business, and the healing power of creativity.
With a professional tenure exceeding two decades in the realm of public speaking, Ms. Emms eagerly anticipates the opportunity to impart her extensive knowledge once more. At the core of her philosophy lies the belief that inherent artistic aptitude resides within everyone, alongside a fundamental necessity for self-expression. Furthermore, she emphasizes that prior artistic experience is not a prerequisite for embarking on a journey of exploration, growth, and enjoyment, as the realm of self-expression and creativity knows no bounds..