FIRST EVER all city artist studio tour launches Toronto Studio Commons November 20th

Torontonians are invited into the spaces where creativity happens to experience the value of our artistic community first hand.

Launch Event: November 20th, 8:00 pm, Hacklab.TO 1266 Queen St. West Suite #6 Followed by weekend of studio tours throughout the city!

Contact: hello@torontostudiocommons.com

Web: www.torontostudiocommons.com

For the first time in Toronto’s history, Toronto creative spaces are joining together under a new umbrella organization called the Toronto Studio Commons.

Founded by a new generation of artists and entrepreneurs, Toronto Studio Commons is a diverse group of independent artist studios, workshops and collaborative spaces, sharing a common goal of promoting artistic and creative expression in our city.

TSC represents a wide range of operating structures, such as open studios, galleries and shared spaces.

Due to rising rents and condominium development, the gentrification of the downtown core has destroyed many of these spaces and is putting the current spaces under threat. Toronto Studio Commons has committed to maintaining a presence of vibrant artists and studios in the downtown core through peer to peer support and public outreach. We will act to support each other in creating and maintaining artist driven spaces.

Toronto Studio Commons recognizes the importance of the artist studio in maintaining vibrant healthy urban communities and stands in strong support of initiatives protecting affordable, creative work space in our neighbourhoods.

All around the world cities are recognizing the importance of supporting artists. London, England’s mayor Boris Johnson, has formed a committee to save studios and cultural spaces. He called the cultural sector “hugely important to our economy”. His report notes that tourists spend £13bn in London, England every year, with eight out of ten people citing culture as a reason to visit.

In Toronto, our population sees the value in Toronto’s cultural spaces but does not have the same focus on the value of saving these spaces.

74% of Torontonians say that the arts benefit the community.

81% of Ontario residents believe that government should invest in the arts.

80% of Torontonians think that municipal investment in art in public spaces will boost the local

economy ( Toronto Arts Council )

On the weekend of November, 20th, 21st and 22, Toronto Studio Commons invites Torontonians to see that value first hand and embark on an all city studio tour to celebrate Toronto’s diverse group of independent artist studios, workshops and collaborative spaces.

Over the weekend all the spaces will be opening their doors to the public. Come and see where creative workers develop their ideas. Each space will be hosting activities for the public, including, studio tours, demos, workshops, artist talks, collage party, science experiments and much more!

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

LAUNCH PARTY

Friday, November 20th 2015 at Hacklab.TO

1266 Queen St. West Suite #6 Toronto, ON M6K 1L3

8pm - 11pm

Screen-print your own tote bag, immerse in virtual reality and studio demos.

DJ

Food & Drinks!

FREE

STUDIO CRAWL

Saturday, November 21st 2015 and Sunday, November 22nd 2015

11am - 8pm

Action Potential Lab Akin Collective ArtCave Articulations Creative Blueprint Graven Feather Hacklab.TO

Inlight Studio

Nest Collective and Studios Paperhouse Studio

PIO! Centre for Drawing

Walnut Studios

The White House Studio Project

CLOSING TEA PARTY

NOVEMBER 22, 2015. at Inlight Studio

302 Carlaw ave.

Unit 116

Toronto, ON. 3pm - 7pm