The Toronto Public Library (TPL), the Neighbourhood Arts Network (NAN) and Culture Days are pleased to continue Culture Days @ The Library for a second year. This exciting partnership was created to help artists and arts groups share their creative work with the public. Now in its third year, Culture Days is a pan-Canadian celebration of arts and culture. For more information, visit www.culturedays.ca.
Kir Stefan the Serb Choir; Photo by Christian Badanjak
CALL FOR ARTISTS: CULTURE DAYS @ THE LIBRARY
The Toronto Public Library is offering free venues to Toronto-based artists and cultural groups wishing to be part of Culture Days on September 28-29, 2012. This partnership enables artists to take their practice out of their private studios into the accessible spaces of library branches so that the public can discover and engage with their work. Past participants describe Culture Days @ the Library as a great opportunity to connect with new audiences and to build strong community relationships. From Etobicoke to Scarborough, North York and downtown, some 40 TPL branches spanning the city will provide venues at no cost.
Toronto-based individual artists, small and medium-sized professional arts as well as volunteer-run cultural organizations, collectives or groups that wish to organize their events at a TPL branch are invited to submit to the simple application by April 30, 2012. Activities in all artistic disciplines are encouraged as well as those that appeal to families and to audiences of diverse ages. To be considered for a space, the arts activity must be free and interactive.
TPL staff will make their selections from among the applications and contact activity organizers for further information. Decisions will be based on the suitability of the activity for the branch’s venue space and the interactive nature of the activity. This program cannot provide any financial assistance for supplies or equipment; however, participants do receive administrative, marketing and promotional support for their activity via the joint efforts of Culture Days, TPL and NAN.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
A simple application form is now on-line. Applications will be accepted from now until April 30, 2012.
Applicants will be matched with the appropriate library branches based on the suitability and interactive nature of the activity. Those applicants who meet the criteria will be contacted by Toronto Public Library Branch Heads in the latter part of May to discuss in detail their activity and may be required to submit further information related to space requirements, equipment, etc.
NOTIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION
Branches will send out confirmation notifications by May 30, 2011.
The following branches have committed to hosting Culture Days activities. The majority of activities will be scheduled on Saturday, September 29, with a limited number scheduled on Friday, September 28. For location and other details about each branch, go to http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/hours-locations/index.jsp
PARTICIPATING BRANCHES
| Agincourt |
Evelyn Gregory |
Mount Pleasant |
| Albert Campbell |
Gerrard/Ashdale |
North York Central Childrens’ Dept |
| Amesbury Park |
Guildwood |
Northern District |
| Annette Street |
High Park |
Pape/Danforth |
| Beaches |
Humberwood |
Parliament Street |
| Bendale |
Jane/Sheppard |
Queen/Saulter |
| Brentwood |
Kennedy/Eglinton |
Riverdale |
| Bridlewood |
Leaside |
S. Walter Stewart |
| Centennial |
Lillian H. Smith |
Sanderson |
| College/Shaw |
Main Street |
Spadina Road |
| Don Mills |
Malvern |
Taylor Memorial |
| Downsview |
Maryvale |
Weston |
| Dufferin/St. Clair |
McGregor Park |
York Woods |
| Eglinton Square |
Morningside |
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ABOUT CULTURE DAYS
Culture Days is a collaborative, Canada-wide volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. Launched in 2010, the annual Culture Days event takes place in more than 800 Canadian cities and towns during the last weekend of September, generating an extraordinary amount of enthusiasm in the process. This year’s Culture Days weekend will take place on September 28, 29 and 30, 2012. Once again, the event will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes”—and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community. To learn more, please visit www.culturedays.ca
Culture Days in Ontario is supported by the Ontario Arts Council, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Government of Ontario in recognition of Celebrate the Artist Weekend.
ABOUT TORONTO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Toronto Public Library is the world’s busiest urban public library system. Every year, more than 18 million people visit our 98 branches and borrow more than 32 million items. As cornerstones of their neighbourhoods, our libraries connect people to each other and to their community, inspiring the spirit of exploration, the joy of reading and the pursuit of knowledge for people of all ages and backgrounds. To learn more, please visit www.torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131.
ABOUT NEIGHBOURHOOD ARTS NETWORK
Neighbourhood Arts Network is the place where arts and community engagement meet. NAN helps artists and community organizations do what they do best: enrich Toronto and transform it into a more vibrant, beautiful, and liveable city. We catalyze new relationships and conversations, collect research and share information. We envision a Toronto where all residents are empowered to discover and shape the cultural life of their communities. Neighbourhood Arts Network is a project of the Toronto Arts Foundation. To learn more, please visit www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org
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Culture Days contact:
Aubrey Reeves, Culture Days Ontario Manager
(416) 646-7469 aubreyreeves@culturedays.ca
Toronto Public Library contact:
Anne Marie Aikins – Manager, Community Relations
Toronto Public Library Communications, Programming and Customer Engagement
(416) 393-7212 aaikins@torontopubliclibrary.ca
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For more information about Culture Days, please visit www.on.culturedays.ca
