Art Starts City-Wide
Art Starts also offers specialized programs in other neglected corners of the city. By facilitating programs in neutral spaces, we are able to bridge communities that may not otherwise find themselves working together. One of our ultimate goals is to connect youth across Toronto in order to help facilitate a strong network of inspired community art enthusiasts who can continue to challenge the boundaries of art-making in a community context.
Dusk Dances – Earlscourt Park
Art Starts is proud to have formed a three year partnership (2009-2011) with Dusk Dances to co-produce an outdoor dance festival bringing innovative contemporary and traditional dance to public parks as the sun sets. Our collaborative Dusk Dances festival takes place in Earlscourt Park, in the St. Clair and Caledonia neighbourhood. Each evening the park resonates with the energetic sounds of the Samba Squad, and the resulting crowds are engaged by a wide variety of performances including five eclectic dance pieces that unfolded in different areas of the park. Every year the turn-out has been phenominal and we can only anticipate even more community engagement and support in the years to come!
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Graffiti Transformation Project
Every summer we hire emerging artists between the ages of 15 and 20 to work with professional mural artists. Together they conceptualize, design and produce a mural to animate neglected walls across the city. So far we have worked to transform many walls including most recently at Steeles & L’Amoreaux in 2008, Dundas & Dupont in summer 2009, and most recently the underpass at the north entrance to the Yorkdale Subway Station in summer 2010. Keep an eye out for more Art Starts murals popping up around the city in the years to come!
photos from 2010 – coming soon!
The Urban Griots of T-dot
The Urban Griots of T-dot was a program for youth aged 16-22 facilitated by critically acclaimed dub poet, actor and playwright D’bi Young and Coordinated by Rea MacNamara. Over a period of ten weeks, participants explored the four elements of dub poetry: language, rhythm, political content and orality and addressed issues of race, gender/sexuality, identity, class, community, family and self-esteem. The program culminated in the creation of a theatre piece and book entitled “PN numero uno: jinch malrex” written, conceptualized and performed by the griots. Their work was a huge success and resulted in a feature interview on the CBC radio show Big City, Small World with host Garvia Bailey.
Art In XS
Art Starts arts-based summer camp for children aged 8-13 years old and run annually at our Villawayz and Dufferin & Eglinton sites. Including week long creative intensives exploring visual arts, dance, music, sculptural explorations, theatre and performance, craft, literary arts and illustration. Using a variety of artists across these diciplines all programs are coordinated by Program Managers Erin Schachter and Yvette Martin.
photos coming soon!
The School of Rap
An 8 week program facilitated by Dan-e-o, a brilliant socially concious Toronto hip-hop legend. The School of Rap focuses on the history of hip hop and it’s influence on contemporary culture. Participants are given the opportunity to write and record original hip hop tracks and perform at a live event in the community.
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Wintercity
As part of the The City of Toronto’s Wintercity Festival at Nathan Phillips Square, Art Starts’ artist Douglas Hurst and a team of volunteers helped over 500 Torontonians create their very own Funky Fleece Knot Hats.
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Though the Lens
