Background

Arts in the Parks is an annual summer-long, inclusive arts initiative that takes place in an average of 32 parks per year across Toronto.  


Arts in the Parks (AITP) supports events that are free and family-friendly including theatre, music concerts, film nights and workshops for children, families and neighbours. It promotes community-building and encourages local residents to enjoy parks in a new manner. Artists benefit too! With performance and exhibition space in Toronto becoming increasingly expensive and scarce, this initiative provides a partial solution. Arts in the Parks also positions artists as the producers of their events, which encourages artistic excellence and builds production skills. Artists are offered guidance on selecting the park most suited to their programming, how to navigate the often-confusing permitting process, and how to get people out to their event.

Artists have been performing in Toronto parks for decades, but the idea of Arts in the Parks -- tying all these events and activities together and creating greater access for artists and for communities -- is fairly new. The Animating Toronto Parks grants program was launched in 2015 followed by the Arts in the Parks program in 2016. Over the last three years, Arts in the Parks has animated 55 individual parks with 597 artist-produced events, reaching 330,984 people in neighbourhoods across the city of Toronto. Audiences are growing and communities are enthusiastic about Arts in the Parks coming to their neighbourhood.


Arts in the Parks
2016 - 2018

  2016 2017 2018 Total
Audience 20,534 152,000 158,450 330,984
Events (unique) 32 34 45 111
Event occurrences 121 194 282 597
Parks animated 25 34 36 55
Wards with featured events (44 wards model) 24 28 28 34
Number of artists/arts groups/companies  30 29 33 59
Staff hours on-site 1,352 916 932 3,200
Volunteers 246 246 336 828
Youth volunteers N/A 23 68 91
Volunteer hours 790 1132 1010 2932
Surveys collected (audience, volunteer, artist, community organizer) 805 1,023 1,321 3,149

 

ARTS IN PARKS NUMBERS
Artists and Arts Groups

 

In 2018, 36 parks were animated by 282 events produced by 33 artists and arts groups; those who responded to our survey told us:

  • 100% of artists and arts groups agree they benefit from being part of Arts in the Parks
  • 88% of artists and arts groups participate because they want to engage with specific sites (parks) and environments
  • 100% of artists and arts groups participate because they want arts to be free and accessible in neighbourhoods

                                                                  - Arts in the Parks Evaluation Report 2018