The New Art of Suburbia: Panel Discussions and Podcast

An upcoming Spacing Magazine theme will be “The Suburbs” — we’ve tried hard to include writing about Toronto’s  inner boroughs in our print magazine and on this blog, but think we need to dedicate an entire issue to these interesting places that will be where much of Toronto’s future unfolds. We’ll be putting that issue together in 2009, but until then we’re pleased to be partnering with the Scarborough Arts Council and The Centre for Creative Communications at Centennial College on a series of public discussions on our suburbs. These are “Live-to-Podcast” events, and we invite you to join us in our studio audience to participate in the taping of this lecture series that will later be available via online video and, yes, podcast. Join the Facebook group here.

Once seen as quiet bedroom communities far from the noise of the urban core, Toronto’s inner suburbs have become centres of activity – culturally vibrant, diverse and ever changing. The New Art of Suburbia, a two-evening panel discussion and forum, will address these changes and implications for arts and culture. Dealing with changes in the development and urban fabric of Toronto, speakers from a variety of backgrounds will tackle pressing questions:

—What is the nature and role of creative communities in the suburbs?
—How can we better understand and support arts and cultural activities in the suburbs?
—How can we create and support a vibrant arts scene in suburban communities?

Session 1: Not So Quiet: Welcome to the New Suburbs

WHEN: Monday, December 1, 2008, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Centennial College Residence and Conference Centre / Markham Room
School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culture, Centennial College
940 Progress Avenue, Scarborough
PANEL: Ian Chodikoff, Editor, Canadian Architect Magazine; Janet Fitzsimmons, West Hill Community Services;
 Nate Horowitz, Dean, School of Communications, Media & Design, Centennial College

Moderator: Matt Blackett, Spacing Magazine

Facebook event page.

Session 2: The Suburban Art Scene

WHEN: Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Centennial College Residence and Conference Centre /Scarborough Room 
School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culture, Centennial College
940 Progress Avenue, Scarborough
PANEL: Catherine Hernandez, Dora Award-nominated author of Scarborough Stories 
Rafael; Gomez, Director, ThinkTankToronto; 
Erika DeFreitas, Visual Artist and Curator

Moderator: Shawn Micallef, Spacing Magazine

Facebook event page.

The New Art of Suburbia will respond to a burgeoning interest in the development of Toronto’s suburbs and provide a forum for discussing the challenges and opportunities in supporting and sustaining cultural and artistic activity in these communities. The New Art of Suburbia is a joint venture of Scarborough Arts Council, The Centre for Creative Communications, Centennial College and the School of Hospitality, Tourism & Culture, Centennial College. Spacing Magazine is the media partner for the series.

Photo by Danielle Scott.