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.
October 4, 2012
Daniels Spectrum (formerly the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre) is open to the public! This cultural hub in Regent Park is now abuzz with performances and events, visual art and dance classes, music lessons, theatre rehearsals, afterschool tutoring, new media skills training, idea sharing, and so much more. Keep reading to see a recap of the opening events at Daniels Spectrum and view more than 250 photos!
Daniels Spectrum (formerly the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre) is open to the public! This cultural hub in Regent Park is now abuzz with performances and events, visual art and dance classes, music lessons, theatre rehearsals, afterschool tutoring, new media skills training, idea sharing, and so much more. Keep reading to see a recap of the opening events at Daniels Spectrum and view more than 250 photos!
Opening celebrations kicked off on Thursday, September 20 with a live radio broadcast of CBC Metro Morning followed by the official Ribbon Cutting press conference where a new name, Daniels Spectrum, was announced thanks to a $4-million lead gift from The Daniels Corporation and The John and Myrna Daniels Charitable Foundation. Later that evening, hundreds of people returned for the Opening Night Celebration. On Saturday, September 22, the building hosted a community Open House for guests to explore the new facility, enjoy snacks and performances and meet the organizations who call the centre home.
Opening celebrations kicked off with a live radio broadcast of CBC Metro Morning with Matt Galloway, featuring stories related to the centre, its tenants and the Regent Park community. Above, Matt speaks with Seema Jethalal, Managing Director of Daniels Spectrum, and Sharmini Fernando, Program Director of Pathways to Education - Regent Park CHC. (Dwight Friesen/CBC)
CBC Metro Morning Host Matt Galloway interviews Adna Ahmed, a community member and client service representative at RBC's Regent Park branch. Matt interviewed more than a dozen people living and working in the Regent Park community. You can listen to the entire broadcast here. (Dwight Friesen/CBC)
Natasha Stephens from CSI Regent Park throws back to studio for the 6:00 am news report while staff and a few intrepid early risers look on.
Outside the centre, local musician and Youth Sub-Committee Member Steve Harmony intros the 8:15 am news. (Dwight Friesen/CBC)
Matt Galloway reports live from the east entrance of the building. (Dwight Friesen/CBC)
Daniels Spectrum project partners and tenant organizations gather for a photo in front of the new sign at the front entrance of the building. At the official Ribbon Cutting press conference, the new name was revealed with the announcement of nearly $9.7-million in philanthropic donations in addition to the $24-million received from the federal and provincial governments. It was also an opportunity to recognize the partnership between Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and the Regent Park Community which made this centre possible.
Later that evening, hundreds of people returned for the Opening Night Celebration.
Guests were greeted by dancers from Sampradaya Dance Creations, an award-winning dance company which showcases classical Indian dance styles.
The reception took place in the new Artscape Lounge with catering by Daniel et Daniel. This bright and colourful space functions as the “living room” of the building and can even host small performances, meetings and parties.
“Welcome” in more than 20 languages.
Toronto-based artist Mangopeeler, aka. Jeff Garcia, sets up shop in the lobby.
Drummers from COBA Collective of Black Artists.
The crowd enjoying a performance by The Tabla Guy (aka. Gurpreet Chana) & Mason Bach, who mix Indian percussion and electronic beats.
Guests slowly made their way into Ada Slaight Hall for the evening’s programme of remarks and performances. Named thanks to a $1.5-million donation from The Slaight Family Foundation, Ada Slaight Hall is designed to host a variety of artistic, cultural, community and educational activities.
Dancers and drummers from COBA Collective of Black Artists started the show.
A surprise performance by Juno Award-winning R&B singer Divine Brown.
Emcees Dwight Drummond and Anne-Marie Mediwake, co-hosts of CBC News Toronto, welcomed guests and speakers.
Wanda Whitebird, a member of the Mi’kmag Nation, performed a traditional greeting and song with Aqua from Native Earth Performing Arts.
Artscape premiered the short documentary, The Making of Daniels Spectrum, which features interviews with over 30 partners, tenants, staff, volunteers, donors and Regent Park community members who helped make Daniels Spectrum a reality. The video was produced by Andrew Gunadie, who also produced the Regent Park Arts video series that was released in August 2012.
Speaking on behalf of the project partners were (clockwise from top left) Deb Dineen of the Regent Park community; Martin Blake, Vice President of The Daniels Corporation; Gene Jones, CEO of Toronto Community Housing; and Tim Jones, President and CEO of Artscape.
Speaking on behalf of the tenant organizations at Daniels Spectrum were Tim Svirklys from ArtHeart Community Art Centre, Natasha Stephens from Centre for Social Innovation, Nicole Griffith-Reid from COBA Collective of Black Artists, Derek Garza from Native Earth Performing Arts, Sharmini Fernando from Pathways to Education, Richard Fung from Regent Park Film Festival and Richard Marsella from Regent Park School of Music.
The evening featured performances by jazz pianist Thompson Egbo-Egbo and spoken word poet Mustafa Ahmed, both artists from Regent Park. They each performed a new work composed specially for the opening of Daniels Spectrum.
Members of Northern Legs Southern Fists end the formal programming with a traditional Lion Dance.
After the remarks and performances, guests were encouraged to explore the whole building, gathering in tenant spaces and hallways.
Inside ArtHeart Community Art Centre's studio.
Signing up for information at the Regent Park School of Music.
The meeting room in Regent Park Film Festival’s offices.
Inside the Native Earth Performing Arts administrative office. Native Earth operates a 3,400 sq.ft. black box theatre space on the ground floor of Daniels Spectrum.
Pathways to Education’s Google Digital Bridge learning lab.
Downstairs, the party continued with a performance by Toronto-based artist and musician Maylee Todd.
And finally, the very busy opening day came to an end.
Click here to view a full album of 250+ photos from the Opening Day on Flickr.
On Saturday, Daniels Spectrum hosted an Open House for the community to explore the new facility, enjoy snacks and performances and meet the organizations who call the centre home.
Graffiti artist Elicser worked on a large mural along Regent Park Boulevard to the east of the building.
Neighbouring restaurant Paintbox Bistro provided fantastic snacks throughout the day. Paintbox Bistro will soon be operating an express-style café out of the Artscape Lounge, serving coffee, tea, pastries and take-away meals.
Artist Christina Ott of Crow Art Design Build works on an installation in the Artscape Lounge. The piece uses old keys (many from the Regent Park community) to create the image of a child on a swing.
Lots of youth from the community stopped by to take a look around.
Councillor Pam McConnell (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) spoke as a project champion and a resident of Regent Park.
Regent Park youth Trevlyn Kennedy performs a spoken word piece.
Youth Sub-Committee member Emilia Barc speaks on behalf of the Regent Park community.
Youth Sub-Committee member Mustafa Ahmed performs a new poem inspired by the centre.
Local singer songwriter and Youth Sub-Committee member Steve Harmony inspires the audience to dance.
Andrew Forde, aka. The Violinist.
Inside Ada Slaight Hall, the Southside Swag dance crew entertains.
Traditional Chinese folk dancers from Little Pear Garden Collective.
Artist and musician Maylee Todd captivates the crowd with her tenori-on.
Gongs & Electronic pairs Philippine gongs with electronic beats.
The Southside Swag dance crew.
Click here to view a full album of 80+ photos from the Opening House on Flickr.
All photos by Garrison | McArthur Photographers, courtesy of Artscape, unless otherwise stated.
