Artscape announces $9.7 Million in Gifts towards $38 Million Daniels Spectrum

TORONTO, September 20, 2012 - Artscape today announced the individual, foundation and corporate gifts for the $38 Million Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre. The centre has been renamed Daniels Spectrum in appreciation of a $4 Million lead gift from The Daniels Corporation and the John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation. A total of $5.7 million in additional charitable gifts has been contributed to build this new cultural hub and ensure it remains both affordable and sustainable over the long term.

This private and corporate philanthropy is in addition to the $24 Million invested by the Governments of Canada and Ontario ($12 Million each) previously announced in 2009, and other sources. Located at 585 Dundas Street East, Daniels Spectrum is a platform for cultural exchange and collaboration, and the newest addition to downtown Toronto’s thriving cultural landscape.



In addition to the lead gift, a $1.5 Million gift from The Slaight Family Foundation will be recognized through the naming of the 400-seat performance space as Ada Slaight Hall. The naming of Artscape Lounge has been made possible by a $1.25 Million gift from an anonymous donor. MDC Partners Courtyard has been named in recognition of a $0.5 Million gift.  The announcement was made by Artscape Campaign Cabinet Co-Chairs Robert J. Foster and Judy Matthews and Tim Jones, President & CEO of Artscape at the official opening ribbon-cutting ceremony at Daniels Spectrum, led by The Honourable Glen Murray, Member of Provincial Parliament and Councillor Gary Crawford (Ward 36 Scarborough Southwest). The event was attended by Toronto civic leaders, tenant organizations and members of the Regent Park community.

The Daniels Corporation has partnered with Artscape, Toronto Community Housing and members of the local community to develop the innovative 60,000-square-foot, purpose-built facility, which is designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects. The Daniels Corporation is also partners with Toronto Community Housing in the development and construction of the Regent Park revitalization.

"The concept of giving back to the greater community has always been a cornerstone of Daniels' corporate philosophy,” said Martin Blake, Vice President, The Daniels Corporation. “We are proud that our gift has helped to bring Daniels Spectrum to life in Regent Park. The potential for positive impact of this cultural hub in Regent Park and in the broader community cannot be overstated, and it will ultimately be our legacy."



“Ada Slaight Hall will be an unrivaled performing arts venue in this city. We are thrilled to contribute to the long-term sustainability of this space, and look forward to both established and emerging Canadian artists using it as a platform for their talents,” said Gary Slaight, Chair of The Slaight Family Foundation. “This gift honours my mother Ada Slaight and her legacy as a great supporter of charitable initiatives in Toronto.”



“We are extremely grateful to our government and philanthropic partners whose generosity made this dream possible,” said Robert Foster and Judy Matthews, Co-Chairs of the Artscape Campaign Cabinet. “This extraordinary support to Artscape Foundation for Daniels Spectrum demonstrates that Toronto is a global city that is creative, diverse, tolerant and caring.”

A summary of major gifts from individuals and corporations is as follows:
 

The vision for the Daniels Spectrum was developed from the ground up, through a process of community consultation; it is the result of more than four years of collaboration with project partners Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and members of the Regent Park community. The development of a new cultural hub was a long-standing ambition for Toronto’s Downtown East neighbourhood, and a key element in the social and community development goals of the Regent Park revitalization. This dynamic collaboration is illustrated in a short video, The Making of Daniels Spectrum.



Daniels Spectrum is home to seven dynamic tenant organizations — ArtHeart Community Art Centre, Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), COBA Collective of Black Artists, Native Earth Performing Arts, Pathways to Education Regent Park CHC, Regent Park Film Festival, and Regent Park School of Music.

In addition to its role in the ongoing day-to-day management of the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre, Artscape will continue to bring the Centre to life with dynamic programming for 2013, to be announced later this fall.

For a schedule of fall 2012 events and more information on Daniels Spectrum, including a video mini-documentary series, tenant profiles and a brief history of Regent Park, visit www.regentparkarts.ca

- 30 -

Media Contacts:


For Artscape


Luisa Trisi

Big Picture Communications

T: 416-481-1161/416-456-0499     E: ltrisi@sympatico.ca



Liz Kohn

Director of Communications, Artscape

T: 416-392-1038, ext. 25     E: liz@torontoartscape.on.ca


Karen Whaley

Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Artscape

T: 416.392.1038 x48     E: karen@torontoartscape.on.ca

For The Daniels Corporation

David Eisenstadt, The Communications Group
T: 416-696-9900 ext. 36     E: deisenstadt@tcgpr.com  



For Toronto Community Housing

Sara Goldvine
T: 416-981-4252     E: Sara.Goldvine@torontohousing.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Regent Park Arts Non-Profit Development
Daniels Spectrum has been constructed and is owned by Regent Park Arts Non-Profit Development, a joint venture created by Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and Artscape. Regent Park Arts Non-Profit Development is a new corporation that will be governed by a Board of Directors with representation from the joint venture partners and the local community, including a Toronto Community Housing tenant from Regent Park. Regent Park Arts Non-Profit Development has engaged Artscape to be the operator of Daniels Spectrum.

Artscape

Artscape (www.torontoartscape.org) is a not-for-profit organization that makes space for creativity and transforms communities. Established in 1986, Artscape has transformed a portfolio of underutilized buildings across Toronto into dynamic community assets that serve to enable innovation and creativity, including the award-winning Artscape Wychwood Barns and multi-tenant arts facilities in the Queen Street West, Liberty Village, Toronto Island and Distillery District neighbourhoods.

Toronto Community Housing

Toronto Community Housing (http://www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing provider and home to more than 164,000 tenants with low and moderate incomes—about six per cent of the City of Toronto's population. Toronto Community Housing employs 1,400 staff in a broad range of jobs, who deliver its mission to provide affordable housing, connect tenants to services and opportunities, and work together to build healthy communities.



The Daniels Corporation

The Daniels Corporation (www.danielshomes.ca) is one of Canada's preeminent builder/developers with a reputation for quality and integrity in all forms of residential construction. Named the Tarion Warranty Corporation's 2012 High Rise Builder of the Year and the recipient of the 2012 Toronto Arts and Business Award presented by the Toronto Arts Foundation, Daniels has built more than 23,000 homes throughout the GTA.  Daniels was chosen to partner with Toronto Community Housing to revitalize Regent Park—69 acres in Toronto’s Downtown East. Committed to community, Daniels champions neighbourhood initiatives that enhance residents’ quality of life and supports numerous charities and non-profit organizations.

The Slaight Family Foundation

The Slaight Family Foundation has contributed more than $30 million to hospitals, the arts and youth-driven initiatives, including the Hospital for Sick Children, CAMH, War Child Canada, World Vision, Free the Children, the United Way of Toronto and the Bloorview Kids Foundation. As a major champion of the arts in Canada, the Foundation has proactively supported homegrown talent through its generous contributions to the National Arts Centre Foundation, Canadian Film Centre, MusiCounts, the Canadian Opera Company, TIFF, the Shaw Festival, Manifesto Festival of Community and Culture, Luminato, and the Walrus Foundation among many others. The Slaight Family Foundation has a long history of involvement in the Regent Park community as supporters of Dixon Hall Music School for over 20 years.