All the City's A Stage - Arts in the Parks is Back and Bigger Than Ever!

Summer in Toronto’s parks will once again be bursting with music and dance, theatre and film, art and crafts…and just plain fun. Arts in the Parks kicks off its second spectacular year on June 15 featuring 235 events with more than 450 artists in 38 parks.

For Immediate Release:

All the City’s A Stage - Arts in the Parks is Back and Bigger Than Ever!

Summer in Toronto’s parks will once again be bursting with music and dance, theatre and film, art and crafts…and just plain fun.

Arts in the Parks kicks off its second spectacular year on June 15.

Between now and September 16, the Toronto Arts Foundation is featuring 235 events with more than 450 artists in 38 parks—nearly double the 2016 featured events totals.

In addition there will be dozens more independent shows.

There will be a vast array of family-friendly entertainment throughout the city, all of it completely free.  The priority is on parks in the inner suburbs that would not normally see such entertainment in their local neighbourhoods. There are multiple benefits:  giving a free space to Toronto’s vibrant arts community, building new links between artists and the city’s neighbourhoods and drawing more residents and tourists out to enjoy our parks. 

Arts in the Park 2017 was officially kicked off at Dufferin Grove Park by Mayor John Tory, joined by Toronto Arts Foundation/Toronto Arts Council Director & CEO Claire Hopkinson, Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailão, Mayor’s Arts Advocate Councillor John Filion and Dwayne Dixon, Executive Director of NIA Centre for the Arts and one of the event organizers for Blowout Blocko—one of the featured Arts in the Parks events.

Injecting the announcement with a pulsing punctuation was the acclaimed Nagata Shachu Japanese Taiko drummers, who will also be performing at Arts in the Parks events around the city throughout June.

"Parks are the spaces where our city comes together, where neighbours meet and where Toronto really comes to life, especially in the summer. Arts in the Parks makes it possible for everyone in the city to enjoy the true creativity Toronto has to offer up. I am committed to growing partnerships between the City and the creative sector that promote artistic growth and make our city move liveable,” said Mayor Tory.  

It is inspiring to see how Arts in the Parks has blossomed into an extraordinary exercise in city-building,” said Toronto Arts Foundation CEO Claire Hopkinson.

It capitalizes on two of our most precious resources:  our fabulous artists and our wonderful parks, to deliver terrific free entertainment for both Torontonians and tourists all summer long.”

Ms. Hopkinson thanked the Mayor and Council for their leadership in supporting Arts in the Parks, as well as City Staff for creating a new, free (except for insurance) “Arts and Music in Parks” permit, with a simpler, streamlined process to make it easier for grassroots artistic organizations to obtain the required paperwork.

A new element for 2017 is a Youth Volunteer Program, which opens the opportunity for young people 14 years of age and older to be onsite Ambassadors for Arts in the Parks. The volunteer program is designed to provide youth with skills development and training in community engagement.

Volunteers can visit our website and follow this link to apply: http://bttr.im/0peub  

Arts in the Parks is an initiative of the Toronto Arts Foundation and the Toronto Arts Council, presented in partnership with City of Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation, Arts and Culture Services and Park People.

The full list of Arts in the Parks events can be found at www.artsintheparksto.org, complete with an interactive map to locate events.

Follow Arts in the Parks on social media:

#ArtsintheParksTO
Twitter: @ArtsinParksTO
Facebook: /artsintheparksTO
Instagram @artsintheparksTO

For more information or to arrange an interview with Toronto Arts Foundation CEO Claire Hopkinson:

Sean Mallen-cell: 416-602-9772  sean[at]seanmallencommunications.com