A unique DIY art space is coming to Chester Station this spring. The long vacant kiosk will be revitalized by a number of local artists into a space that functions as a both a newsstand and an art gallery. The group has started a crowdfunding campaign to get the project of the ground, which has just passed the halfway point of its $4,000 goal.

Calling the kiosk an alternative newsstand, the collective behind the project explains that they will stock commuter mainstays like newspapers, gum, and drinks, but they will also "commission artists' projects that speak to issues of transit, mobility, accessibility, city life, and civic engagement, and address various questions about how news is transmitted in a time of rapidly changing technology."

That means you can expect regular art shows/displays and events along with a variety of zines and art books on offer over and above the standard newsprint offerings. It's an intriguing idea, and one that should help to enrich the experience of commuting through Chester Station. If the concept catches on, it might be nice to see such spaces in other stations across the TTC (a similar space is coming to Union Station). The kiosk opens on May 1st.