Our friends at Art Starts are celebrating their 20th anniversary on Thursday with a celebration and discussion of the role the arts play in the city at their Yorkdale Mall subterranean headquarters. The discussion is moderated by our Sr. Editor, Shawn Micallef. It’s free and there will be cake afterwards.
WHEN: Thursday October 18th from 2pm-5pm
WHERE: Yorkdale Community Arts Centre in the Lower Level of Yorkdale Mall
HOW MUCH: Free
WHO: veteran city councilor Joe Mihevc; Artist, Writer and Art Starts Co-founder Robin Pacific, Art Starts Program Director Katherine Earl, ArtReach Director Shahina Sayani and West Side Hub’s Managing Director Andrea Boucaud.
Art Starts in partnership with the Neighbourhood Arts Network (NAN) is excited to present “Community. Art. Change. Celebrating 20 Years of Artists Engaging Communities”, a panel discussion and birthday party to honour Art Starts’ 20th Anniversary. The event takes place Thursday October 18th from 2pm-5pm in the Yorkdale Community Arts Centre in the Lower Level of Yorkdale Mall. There will be cake.
Toronto is a hub of community-engaged arts activity. From Weston Mount-Dennis to Steele’s L’Amoreaux, from Regent Park to Lawrence Heights, artists play crucial roles in neighbourhood-building projects. Back in 1992, when a group of four artists came together in the Eglinton Oakwood area in hopes of addressing community tensions and celebrating the diversity of the neighbourhood, the term community arts didn’t exist. Twenty years later, the organization they formed – Art Starts – is part of a flourishing group of organizations and artists who are transforming the city into a more vibrant, beautiful and liveable place. Art Starts will mark this occasion by coming together with a group of artists, cultural workers and activists to explore the role artists play in instigating social change and in building community.
The panel features: veteran city councilor Joe Mihevc; Artist, Writer and Art Starts Co-founder Robin Pacific, Art Starts Program Director Katherine Earl, ArtReach Director Shahina Sayani and West Side Hub’s Managing Director Andrea Boucaud. It will be moderated by acclaimed author, Toronto Star columnist and Spacing editor Shawn Micallef.
Secure a free ticket for the event at http://communityartchange.eventbrite.ca
