Artscape is a not-for-profit organization that
makes space for creativity and transforms communities.
Artscape is a not-for-profit organization that
makes space for creativity and transforms communities.
We are proud and delighted to announce the names of the artists and organizations signed up to be part of Artscape Youngplace as tenants and owners. Aside from those who prefer to remain nameless, here are the names you'll see on the doors of Artscape Youngplace.
Koffler Centre of the Arts is Canada’s only multidisciplinary, contemporary Jewish cultural institution, with a broad mandate to serve all and present a wide range of artistic programs through a global lens in a specifically Canadian context. Koffler Centre of the Arts is relocating its headquarters to Artscape Youngplace for the next five years, with a focus on its flagship program – the Koffler Gallery. It will continue to offer education programs in visual arts, dance and music at satellite locations in the Prosserman JCC and the new Schwartz Reisman Centre.
“Artscape Youngplace will showcase Koffler Gallery exhibitions, school programs and educational activities, as well as spoken word, music, literary programs and screenings reflecting our eclectic mix. The Koffler thrives on cooperation and dialogue with other cultural, academic and community organizations while fostering interdisciplinary explorations. Artscape Youngplace will further enhance partnership and community building capacities by providing, under one roof, an unparalleled environment of artistic and social diversity that nurtures and inspires across creative fields” says Lori Starr, Executive Director of the Koffler Centre of the Arts and Vice President, Culture of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
The Centre for Indigenous Theatre embraces the spirit, energy and inspiration derived from the culture, values and traditions of Indigenous people. From these roots they seek to elaborate a contemporary Indigenous performance culture through training and professional development opportunities for emerging and established Native theatre artists. From their 3,640 square foot space at Artscape Youngplace, the Centre for Indigenous Theatre will run multiple programs devoted to developing contemporary performance skills from a distinctively Indigenous cultural foundation.
“The Centre for Indigenous Theatre has finally found a home where, for the first time ever, all facets of our organization can be housed under one roof,” said J.L. Watson, Managing Director, Centre for Indigenous Theatre.“We are especially excited about having our long standing creative partners at Red Pepper Spectacle Arts as our neighbours in this dynamic collaborative environment.”
College-Montrose Children's Place (CMCP) is guided by a clear vision of “Healthy Children, Healthy Families, Stronger Communities.” In partnership with diverse families and changing communities, CMCP provides flexible and free early learning and family resource programs and services for children, parents and caregivers in safe and stimulating environments. In its new 4,069 square foot space, CMCP's Family Drop-In program will provide opportunities for adults to interact with their children and other adults, to gain new skills, to learn about resources, and to share their skills and knowledge with each other through play-based activities. Other programs will emerge in response to community needs.
“After years of begging and borrowing space for these vital activities, Children’s Place is thrilled to learn that it will have a home of its own in the Artscape Shaw Street Centre for its head office and the Trinity-Spadina Ontario Early Years Centre,” said Angela Ottolino, Executive Director, College-Montrose Children's Place. “We intend to take full advantage of opportunities to build relationships with our fellow tenants that will enrich our programs and as a consequence strengthen families and our community. We look forward to contributing and benefiting from the potential for innovation and creativity in this vibrant environment.”
Started in 1993, the Intergalactic Arts Coop (I-GAC) is a group of interdisciplinary performing artists that focuses on the research and presentation of new performance work, as well as widening audience perception and understanding of contemporary performance forms. I-GAC’s 1,028 square foot studio at Artscape Youngplace will be a hub for innovation in performance and a centre for artistic research and performance, teaching and coaching.
“[Artscape Youngplace] and the surrounding vibrant neighbourhood is an ideal environment for I-GAC to establish a home for creation and experimentation in the performing arts,” said Susan Lee, I-GAC member. “Resultant creative exploits will be far-reaching and resonate through our community of arts professionals as well as our audiences, students and clients. As members of the Intergalactic Arts Coop we are eager to bring our work to a new space and look forward to contributing to this strong, creative community.”
Paperhouse Studio is Toronto’s first co-op papermaking studio. The studio’s membership is composed of a group of paper artists who decided to pool their resources in order to build a new collaborative environment. With backgrounds in sculpture, photography, printmaking, books arts and jewellery, this diverse group of artists will use papermaking in innovative ways. In their 1,028 square foot studio, Paperhouse Studio will provide a place for artists to expand their papermaking skills, also serving as a centre for outreach. They are interested in establishing a creative arts program for professional artists and the wider community, offering workshops at both beginner and advanced levels and presenting lectures and demonstrations by recognized artists.
“We are very excited to join the Artscape family. We look forward to being surrounded by artists and arts organizations. We thrive on collaboration and think that paper has huge potential for interdisciplinary play,” said Emily Cook, Director, Paperhouse Studio. “We are confident that we are creating a professional paper studio with the space and equipment needed to bring our medium into view.”
SKETCH is a Toronto-based community arts initiative for homeless, street-involved or otherwise marginalized youth. SKETCH is recognized locally, provincially and nationally for its unique, capacity-focused approach to youth engagement and organizing through the arts. Voted one of Toronto’s Vital Ideas Awards and a winner of the Toronto Arts Council Foundation’s Arts for Youth Award, SKETCH engaged over 800 young people in 2010. SKETCH will transform 7,535 square feet of the ground floor into a number of separate studio areas and hot desks dedicated to interconnecting arts practices and opportunities in visual arts and crafts, music, sculpture, and digital media. The artistic vision for activities will include internships and other training opportunities for youth from across Canada in community arts.
“…SKETCH looks forward with enthusiasm to co-create its next ‘home base’ with other art makers turning Artscape’s Shaw Street Centre into a vibrant cultural initiative for emerging artists in the downtown central west area of Toronto,” said Phyllis Novak, Artistic Director, SKETCH. “Artscape’s collaborative process with the neighbours and the school board has spoken great welcome for marginalized young people in this invitation to SKETCH to join in what promises to b, an innovative place making initiative.”
Small World Music Society is a charitable organization that presented its first event in 1997. Since then, close to 400 presentations have solidified its reputation as Toronto’s most adventurous and visionary world music concert presenter. The company has presented many Canadian and Toronto debuts by international performers; has given a platform to dozens of developing Canadian artists of various backgrounds; and has presented innovative, risk- taking programming that uniquely represents Canada and Toronto. In their new 980 square foot studio, Small World will offer educational programming, workshops and presentations.
“Small World is excited to be part of the Artscape Shaw Street Centre,” said Alan Davis, Executive Director, Small World Music Society. “Our new studio there will place us in the heart of a thriving arts community in the midst of the dynamic cultural mix that is Queen St. West. It will allow Small World to grow and better serve a diverse range of communities.”
TYPOLOGY Projects is a not-for-profit project space devoted to artistic and curatorial research, collaboration, and experimentation in the production of exhibitions, editions, and related events. Programming will emphasize small group exhibitions, two-person shows, and site-specific installations with an eye toward stimulating dialogue between artists, art forms, images, objects, environments, and audiences. With a thematic focus on critically engaged, collaborative and cross-disciplinary practices, underrepresented artists and art forms, and community outreach and education in art and exhibition-making, TYPOLOGY Projects will engage and inform audiences from all walks of life.
“It is with great excitement and anticipation that I will be opening TYPOLOGY at Artscape Youngplace,” said Shani Parsons. “With its ideal location and supportive programming for the arts and local community, Artscape Youngplace has created a unique environment for curatorial and artistic experimentation which would not otherwise have been available in downtown Toronto.”
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Dr. Allan Bonner’s infatuation with the arts began after a 14-year career in journalism that began at the CBC. At the CBC, and later TVO, Allan was determined to run programming to serve the public good. Allan is a regular TV commentator, using his background in political economy, education, business, risk, disaster and crisis management. Allan’s research has taken him around the world where he has work with heads of government, CEOs and diplomats. Allan has written several books and is a regular keynote speaker.
Eve Egoyan is a concert pianist who specializes in the performance of new works. She has performed the world première and North American premières of many works by Canadian and international composers. As an improvising musician, Eve has had the opportunity to perform with Fred Frith, Michael Snow, Malcolm Goldstein, Anne Bourne, Martin Arnold, and Casey Sokol. Other collaborations include dance projects, interdisciplinary performance, film work (including the Oscar-nominated Capote) and sound installations. Eve has released seven critically-acclaimed albums, acting as soloist and executive producer on all.
Gerard Gauci has had a varied career in the arts, encompassing painting, theatre design and art education. Gauci’s studio in Artscape Youngplace will be a hands-on workspace for his work as a painter and theatre designer. The studio will be the site for the construction of scale theatrical models, stage props and costume pieces, and a gathering place for directors, fellow designers and theatre technicians.
“As a long-time tenant at Artscape’s 60 Atlantic Avenue location I know first hand the organization’s history of creating and maintaining inspiring and inspired work spaces for artists,” said Gerard Gauci. “In recent years artists in Toronto have witnessed the disappearance of many affordable studio spaces. I am delighted to know that I’ll be part of a thriving creative community that is owned and operated by an organization dedicated to keeping artists working in and with communities in the downtown core.”
Gillian Iles is a Toronto-based visual artist who exhibits locally and internationally in commercial and artist-run galleries. She has exhibited in cities such as New York, Brooklyn, Chicago, Miami, Montreal and Toronto, and is a founding member of two co-operative artist-run galleries in Toronto: Propeller and Loop. Gillian teaches at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Sheridan College and the Toronto School of Art.
“The proposed interactive nature of Artscape Youngplace interests me greatly, on both a personal and community level, and will present creative possibilities and expand my current practices at a time when I am looking for this kind of challenge and evolution,” said Gillian Iles.
Matthew Schofield is a Toronto-based, Canadian-born artist who has been exhibiting his artwork in commercial galleries and artist-run centres nationally and internationally since 1996. He has exhibited in New York, Brooklyn, Chicago, Miami, Toronto and Florence. In 2001 Matthew was nominated for a Primetime Emmy and in 2006 he was nominated for a group VFX Oscar for his digital matte painting work in film.
“It is terrific that there is a place designed for artists and organizations to congregate and work downtown,” said Matthew Schofield. “I am pleased at the willingness of Artscape to convert and reuse such an interesting building for an arts centre.”
Shabnam K. Ghazi is a sculptor, ceramic artist and multimedia designer who is pursuing her artistic carrier in Canada after several solo and group exhibitions in Iran and Europe. She continued her education in Visual Arts in London (UK) and Toronto. Ghazi has exhibited in several galleries in Toronto, in the Distillery District and at Harbourfront Centre.
“In addition to being in the vicinity of some of the city’s best professional creators, a studio space in Artscape Youngplace would allow me to grow and experiment in a location that is specifically designed to enhance my creative impulses and to provide the space to explore new avenues of creativity. It will allow me to mount more ambitious projects and collaborations with other members of the city’s thriving creative community and to maintain a permanent, stable space for my work.”
Barbara Astman is one of Canada's highly-acclaimed artists whose work has received national and international recognition. Since the 1970s, she has explored a wide range of photographic and mixed-media based work. Her work is represented in many museum, corporate, and private collections in Canada, United States, and Europe. Currently, Astman is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Art Gallery of Ontario and a Professor in the Faculty of Art at the Ontario College of Art & Design. In 1995, the Art Gallery of Hamilton organized a major touring retrospective exhibition, "Barbara Astman: Personal/Persona - A 20 Year Survey. She is represented by the Corkin Gallery, Toronto.
“I have purchased a studio space at the Artscape Shaw Street Centre to provide a secure workspace for myself and to be a part of an exciting new cultural studio model,” said Barbara Astman. “It felt like a great fit! I am very excited by the re-purposing of the old historical school and believe Artscape Shaw Street Centre will become a model for future projects.”
Emily Filler is a full-time professional artist who began showing her work in Toronto after graduating from the Fine Arts Program at Queen’s University in 2005. A painter who works predominantly in oils and acrylics, Emily has had two solo shows to date and has participated in several group shows. Her work has also been featured in several newspaper and magazine publications. She is currently represented by galleries in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Baie-St-Paul, QC.
“I don’t think I can fully express how excited I am about this project. The idea that I will be the owner of an amazing studio space in West Queen West right by the park, the MOCCA, other galleries, amazing shops, and cafes is unreal. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better space to paint in if I tried. I am so grateful to be a part of the Artscape Shaw Street Centre,” said Emily Filler. “As a young artist being able to purchase a studio, owning a space to work in the heart of the city, will be invaluable to my artistic practice. It gives me a sense of security that renting a space never could - knowing that I have a permanent place to do what I love to do. In addition to building equity at the beginning of my career, owning my own studio is also an investment in myself, giving me the confidence needed to continue to grow as an artist.”
Miriam Grenville is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design in Textile Design. She held various studio positions in the wall covering industry before beginning her own studio, Grenville Design. She creates art works that are printed using large format digital print technology, as well as works that are smaller in scale and more intimate in meaning. Often a response to her different societal roles, Miriam’s work is reflective of her position as a designer, maker, artist, mother, and art educator.
“Artscape Shaw Street Centre is responsible for solving two of the biggest issues in my artistic practice: first, the isolated workplace, and second, larger, affordable workspace,” said Miriam Grenville. “Building this space for Toronto’s creative and artistic community is a significant statement that creative workers are valuable contributors to both Canadian society and the Canadian economy.”
Vid Ingelevics has been exhibiting as a Toronto-based artist, independent curator and writer since the late 1980s. His work in a variety of media has often been concerned with questions around the relationship between photography, memory and history. His projects have been exhibited and/or published in Canada, the United States, Europe and, later this year, in Australia. In his new studio, Ingelevics will be working on a variety of video/photography, installation and community-based art projects.
“I am aware that the Artscape Shaw Street Centre project is quite unique not only in Toronto but internationally and offers a model for others in terms of seeing cultural activity, heritage preservation and city-building as integrated goals,” said Vid Ingelevics. “The care with which Artscape has worked with the local community to set up the ownership/rental situations is a key reason I applied to be here. It will save a wonderful heritage building, allowing it to continue to anchor the neighbourhood, and will form a new hub of artistic activity that will bring visitors to the Queen St. W. area. It will result in the formation of a stable community of artists in a city where artists tend to be squeezed out economically as soon as real estate prices go up in the neighbourhoods where they live and work.”
Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith moved to Toronto in 2007 after completing graduate studies in California and is quickly becoming in-demand as a violinist, chamber musician, teacher and coach. Elyssa performs frequently with the Aradia Baroque Ensemble, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Opera Atelier, Orchestra London and the Hamilton Philharmonic. Founder of the Toronto Youth Chamber Orchestra, Elyssa maintains a dynamic studio of private violin students and chamber groups at the Artscape Triangle Lofts. With 526 square feet on the second floor, Elyssa's studio will be an innovative and collaborative space for performance and education.
“Having a rehearsal space and audience in the city is not something that any artist can take for granted. The Artscape Shaw Street Centre is such an important and exciting project. It is a space that will unite musicians and artists with music lovers, parents, patrons, students and the Queen West community at large,” said Elyssa Lefurgey-Smith. "My students will get to share in this momentum and grow up surrounded by all of the forms of art that the Centre has to offer. This is so much more than I could ever offer them on my own. The opportunity to invest in this space so early in my career is truly a privilege. This studio will facilitate so many long term projects, programmes and goals that would not otherwise be possible.”
Midi Onodera is an award-winning filmmaker who has been making films and videos for over 30 years. She has over 25 independent short films to her credit as well as a theatrical feature film and an abundance of short videos. From 2006 to 2012, Midi has made almost 500 short videos or “Vidoddles” for projects that include: A Movie A Day, Movie of the Week and Baker’s Dozen. For 2013, she will be working on “The Classifieds,” a mobile video project that employs classified ads and QR codes.
"I am so pleased to be apart of the Artscape Youngplace space and can't wait to move in! For an artist living in downtown Toronto, studio space has become a rare island in the sea of condo living. Projects such as Youngplace create not only physical spaces of creativity but also communities of artists, curators, supporters and audiences. These communities infuse Toronto with a creative spirit that not only nurtures the city’s soul but also contributes to its’ prosperity and wellbeing."
