CLICK HERE to download the full 6-page edition of The Loop Spring 2007 in pdf format
Barns Commitment Part of Culture-Friendly Provincial Budget
The Province of Ontario made a strong commitment to culture in its March 22 budget including a $15 million increase to the annual budget of the Ontario Arts Council and $20 million for the Ontario Trillium Foundation over 3 years. One-time commitments included $10 million to the Ontario Arts Endowment Fund, $5.5 million for Luminato, $5 million for OMDC and $3 million for Artscape’s Green Arts Barns.
In addition to the welcome cash infusion, Ontario Minister of Culture Caroline Di Cocco has tabled Status of the Artist Legislation that aims to give Ontario artists the profile and recognition they deserve. These commitments are a huge step forward for Ontario’s artists and Artscape Foundation applauds the government for them.
The Honourable Caroline Di Cocco made the Barns announcement on January 30th so that construction on the project could proceed as quickly as possible. Many members of the neighbourhood joined Artscape boards and staff as well as government dignitaries including local MPP and Attorney General Michael Bryant and Councillor Joe Mihevc to celebrate the Province’s investment. Minister Di Cocco described how pleased she was to see so many people sharing a passion for the creative and innovative use of a heritage site. “This project will contribute to a dynamic and vibrant community while we preserve historical buildings, provide affordable housing and studio space for artists and encourage arts education.”
In his address to the crowd, Tim Jones, President and CEO of Artscape, echoed the delight of the Minister and described the creation of the project as thinking outside the box.“ The project establishes a new model for space design where artists, environmentalists and community members can rub shoulders and generate the kind of heat and creative energy the City thrives on,” said Jones.
Thinking Big About Culture-Led Regeneration
Artscape is at the most important crossroads in its 20 year history. Like never before, it has the opportunity to respond to the urgent needs of Toronto’s creative sector, become a major player in city-building and solidify its position as a global leader in culture-led regeneration.
Artscape’s response to the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead has been defined in Vision 2011: Thinking Big About Culture-Led Regeneration. Vision 2011 spells out the vision and strategies that will guide our approach to leadership, spacemaking and placemaking over the next five years. It also provides a snapshot of current and future creative buildings, programs, services and initiatives.
The context for Artscape’s work has dramatically changed over the past five years. There is a new and growing understanding about the importance of creativity in building vibrant and resilient communities. Creativity and innovation are recognized internationally as the keys to economic growth, community transformation and solving problems in every imaginable field. Leading thinkers are now heralding the arrival of the creative economy and age.
Artscape has not only become a participant in this global dialogue, it is one of the only organizations that has figured out how to cut through the thick rhetoric surrounding the creative cities agenda and deliver sustainable creative communities on the ground.
Artscape is as always deeply rooted in the arts community but has also developed strong relationships and shared interests with planners, economic developers, environmentalists, city-builders and community activists.
After years of solid incremental growth, Artscape is being encouraged to think bigger at every turn. There has been an explosion of interest in Artscape’s work among creative people as well as communities looking to attract and retain them. Opportunities to develop creative spaces and places abound. The City of Toronto has elevated its aspiration as a major centre for creativity and innovation and Mayor David Miller’s vision of a great city calls on Artscape to play an important role in realizing this goal.
We will use Vision 2011 as a framework to manage the demand for our work. It is grounded in a detailed analysis of how Artscape’s capacity can be scaled up to meet the opportunities before us. It is important to note, however, that it is a picture of what is possible provided that the resources can be found to make it happen. Like all of Artscape’s past successes, translating our vision into reality will hinge on building a multitude of partnerships.
The process of developing Vision 2011 has been tremendously energizing for the board and staff of Artscape. It has provided us with new focus and clarity and boosted our confidence. We hope you will find Vision 2011 as exciting as we do and invite you to join us in helping to make it happen.
Vision 2011 was officially launched as part of the Urban Leadership Series presented by the Canadian Urban Institute on Thursday, February 15th, 2007. To download a copy of Vision 2011, go to www.torontoartscape.on.ca/vision_2011.
Barns Construction Begins
On March 5th, construction began on the Green Arts Barns with estimated completion in 12-14 months. To keep you up to date on the project, Artscape has launched a free email newsletter.
To sign up, simply send us an email to: subscribe@torontoartscape.on.ca with the term “Green Arts Barns Community” in the subject line. Once subscribed, you will receive ongoing updates on the Green Arts Barns for the duration of the construction process. The LOOP will also continue to provide you with information about Green Arts Barns volunteers, donors and tenants. This issue features future tenants Toronto School of Art and The Latin American-Canadian Art Projects
Hands On With Toronto School of Art
One of Toronto’s hidden gems, the Toronto School of Art (TSA) has been providing visual arts programming led by professional artists for over 37 years. Nestled in the heart of downtown Toronto’s art scene, TSA offers students a unique opportunity for hands-on studio learning and exposure to emerging art trends by exploring galleries, artist run centres and cultural centres. Courses range from drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media and photography to a fully-equipped digital lab. Class sizes are limited to 16 people and students receive one-on-one instruction. Artists from across the Greater Toronto Area regularly attend their longest running program, Life Drawing Without Instruction.
Focused on fine art training, TSA’s four certificate programs and youth studio attract a mix of emerging and established artists. Programs include a three year Fine Art Diploma; Independent Studio, Digital Art and Portfolio Development certificate; formal training; and private practice. Each program offers something unique to artists interested in expanding their knowledge of art, honing their skills, experimenting, learning with new methods, retraining or creating art for their own interest.
The Green Arts Barns will house TSA’s satellite studio where Wychwood, Hillcrest and St. Clair community youth and adults will have access to traditional TSA activities right in their own backyard. For more information, you are invited to TSA’s Open House & Graduation from April 19-21 or visit our website at www.tsa-art.ca.
Uniting Latin American-Canadian Arts Community
Founded in 2005, The Latin American-Canadian Art Projects (LACAP) is the youngest arts organization moving into the Green Arts Barns next year.
LACAP is the result of a four year development process undertaken by the Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace (SAAFP). The festival began in 2003 as an event commemorating the 30 year military coup in Chile. Organized by the daughters and sons of political refugees, many of whom were artists, the festival was a celebration of life and survival after political trauma.
Since its inception, the festival has been a platform for professional Latino artists. From music and dance to theatre and visual arts, the SAAFP has been a catalyst for establishing Latino artists in a greater community context, promoting and fostering creativity while providing an opportunity for evaluating the role and status of Latino artists in Toronto. The result has been the creation of an artist-volunteer run organization: LACAP.
LACAP is an umbrella organization that evolved out of SAAFP to embark on a broader cultural agenda with goals that include implementing the first “Latin American Heritage Month” in Toronto. LACAP will make their home in the Green Arts Barns and administer the work of member organizations that include: SAAFP, E-fagia Organization, The Colibri Collective, the “Victor Jara” Lane Project and the Solidaridad Museum Project. For further information, please visit: www.lacap.ca.
Artscape Programs + Services Update
The Queen West Art Crawl is an annual celebration of Queen Street West and its artists, businesses, community groups and residents. The fifth Crawl will take place from September 14-16, 2007. Artscape is currently calling for submissions to the vibrant Outdoor Art Show + Sale.
Artscape and the Canadian Urban Institute co-presented a forum for the Urban Leadership Series entitled “Culture-led Regeneration: Who’s Leading the Way?” The event marked the launch of Artscape’s Vision 2011 and had an audience of 140 attendees.
The Retreat Centre at Artscape’s Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts facility on Toronto Island welcomes spring meeting and event rentals from the non-profit, education & government sectors. Its spectacular natural setting is just a 10-minute ferry ride from downtown Toronto.
Artscape’s Research & Consulting team will be hosting two new Culture-Led Regeneration Workshops: Spacemaking in Hamilton, June 7-8 and Placemaking in Kingston, October 23-25. For more information, call 416-392-1038 x49.
In The Development Pipeline
Over the next five years, Artscape will help Toronto build the infrastructure for creativity with greater purpose and conviction than anywhere else in the world. Artscape’s property portfolio will grow by hundreds of thousands of square feet and extend into neighbourhoods outside the downtown core. Outlined here are three of eight projects in Artscape’s development pipeline. For a complete list, go to www.torontoartscape.on.ca/vision_2011.
Queen West Triangle
The area south of Queen West to the railway between Dufferin and Dovercourt is known as the Queen West Triangle. Much has been written in the media about the impending demise of creative space there but the story is far from over. Artscape participated in the OMB cases related to redevelopment proposals for the Triangle. During and after the OMB rulings, Artscape continued discussions with municipal officials, developers and community activists to develop an agreement to secure affordable work and live/work space for artists. Artscape recently appointed an Advisory Committee to assist in the analysis of development proposals in the area. Volunteer committee members include Frank Lewinberg (Urban Strategies and Artscape Board Member), Michael McClelland (E.R.A. Architects), Alex Spiegel (Developer), Margie Zeidler (urbanspace Property Group) and a member of Active 18, t.b.a.
Idea Project
Idea Project is the proposed redevelopment of Artscape’s headquarters in Liberty Village as a full-service resource centre for artists and creative entrepreneurs. This collaboration with TEDCO might aptly be described as the creative sector equivalent of the MaRS Project. Located at the epicentre of one of Canada’s most important hubs of creative enterprise, Idea Project will be the social heart of the village. Architects Alliance’s preliminary design for the project marries the gritty industrial feel of Liberty Village while adding a distinctly modern twist. Fundraising will soon get underway and construction could begin as early as the summer of 2008.
Givins Shaw School
Artscape and Toronto District School Board have met to explore innovative ways to re-use a 70,000 sq. ft. school on Shaw St. just north of Queen St. Teeple Architects have generously donated services to assess the viability of adapting the building to serve as a multi-tenant arts complex. Artscape and TDSB are collaborating on a community consultation process for the project. A preliminary feasibility study is expected to be completed in June of 2007.
Artscape On The Road
Interest in Artscape’s approach to culture-led regeneration continues to grow. In the first months of 2007, Artscape has taken its act on the road to Hong Kong, Richmond, Saskatoon, Timiskiming and Vancouver as well as hometown audiences for events organized by the Canadian Urban Institute, Toronto Society of Architects, Ontario Business Improvement Area Association and Toronto City Summit Alliance.
Artscape’s Consulting Department has also been hard at work on: a strategic framework for a downtown arts and culture cluster in Kitchener; a cultural district development strategy in Saskatoon; a Toronto creative cluster mapping initiative; a feasibility study to redevelop the Ottawa Arts Court complex and surrounding properties; and a practitioner’s manual focused on culture-led regeneration case studies.
Bill Young — Angel Investor
Venture philanthropy is redefining how corporate donors and sponsors work in partnerships with non-profit organizations and charities. The old model of funding charitable work in Canada is about to get a shakeup, and leading the charge are venture philanthropists like Bill Young.
At a young age, Bill served as CEO of Hamilton Computers and then CEO of Optel, a telecommunications company. In 2000, Bill’s investment in his cousin Bob’s software company, Red Hat, provided a huge windfall. Bill decided to use his wealth to start Social Capital Partners (SCP) – a venture philanthropy firm. “Money has never been a driving force for me,” he says. “I felt this incredible sense that now I’ve got a chance to do something really interesting – to give back.”
Social Capital Partners invests in businesses that employ people who are outside the economic mainstream. Instead of having to rely on government funded programs designed to help people on social assistance, SCP is trying to go one step further and actually give them a job in a real business and get that business to be profitable. It’s a new model that Bill believes will deliver social outcomes in a self-sustaining model.
But Bill also wears another hat by being the donor-advisor on his parents’ fund at the Hamilton Community Foundation. The idea behind his parents’ fund is to seek out innovative and breakthrough ideas in the non-profit sector and provide the early stage funding that is normally very difficult to attract.
One of the Young Fund’s “investments” is a $200,000 grant to the Green Arts Barns because Bill believes the whole concept behind the Barns is one of those unique models that deserves support.
Artscape is grateful to Bill Young and the Young family for being our angel investors.•
Mark Your Calendars
The Green Arts Barns Campaign continues to gain momentum. You can support the project by purchasing tickets to the Green Arts Barns gala fundraising event to be held at the Palais Royale on Thursday, October 18, 2007. Organized by local residents dedicated to raising $100,000, this event will be built on the tenets of the Green Arts Barns, featuring the culinary creations of celebrity chefs and local restaurateurs while the works of local artisans are featured in a live auction. To support this local event by getting involved or purchasing tickets, contact Elizabeth Dalgleish at 416-392-1038 x 29 or at elizabeth@torontoartscape.on.ca.
A Beautiful Idea Inspires Poet Laureate
Author of 18 books of poetry, champion of “culture as civic ambience” and Toronto’s 2nd Poet Laureate, Pier Giorgio Di Cicco, charmed audiences at Artscape’s 20th Anniversary Celebration with a poem inspired by and dedicated to Artscape.
Artscape,
is a landscape, civil, beautiful,
where the artist is citizen, at last
and again, where the city survives
because it imagines
more than it earns,
and so deserves itself.
it is the space between lovers of the city,
who understand
that lifestyle is not a place of grace,
Artscape is the weave
between the immense and the lonely,
between the deaf and those full of music,
it is a city block looking, not for its owner,
but for a casual afternoon between the
busy and
the ecstatic.
Artscape is the architecture
of the space between people,
without which the towers will fall.
Until the space is the art of the people
mixing insights
with the genius of love
we will not have the city
of tomorrow,
until creativity is the air we breathe,
until intimacy is restored with imagination,
we will not rest;
until then, thank you Artscape
happy birthday, and congratulations
for being a beautiful idea.
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