Victoria Village Cultural Space Feasibility Study Released
Toronto, May 3, 2010
 

Toronto Arts Foundation and Working Women Community Centre announce the release of a jointly commissioned report: Victoria Village Cultural Space Feasibility Study.
 

Toronto Arts Foundation has been actively pursuing opportunities to expand the reach of arts programming across Toronto, particularly within priority neighbourhoods.  Working Women Community Centre is the lead organization in a new United Way supported neighbourhood hub and is seeking to incorporate arts activities into its facility. 
The newly released report provides insight into possible solutions for bringing arts programming into community hubs now in development.  The report is relevant not only for the soon-to-open community hub at Victoria Park and Eglinton, but indeed for similar centres opening across Toronto.
 

Neighbourhood hubs are envisioned as catalysts for bringing diverse communities together, particularly within priority neighbourhoods.   While anchor tenants in hubs are usually social service organizations, the arts have been recognized as an important component as they can not only offer inspiration and entertainment but can engage youth, bring seniors out of isolation and cross cultural and linguistic lines. 
 

"As is so often the case with arts programming, the major difficulty is funding" points out Claire Hopkinson, ED, Toronto Arts Council.  "This study provides concrete cost estimates and possible funding solutions as well as outlining some helpful physical plant requirements for incorporating arts practices. I have no doubt it will assist community planners and artists in their endeavours to incorporate more arts programming in all of Toronto's neighbourhoods." 
 

"From the early stages of developing the Victoria Village hub we have been interested in exploring how to include artists.  This report gives us guidance as well as some concrete next steps" says Adriana Beemans, Working Women Community Centre.
United Way Toronto is bringing community hubs to eight priority neighbourhoods through its Community Hubs Strategy. "This research provides valuable insight that will help shape the programs and services that are offered in community hubs across the city," said Gillian Mason, Senior Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Community Partnerships, United Way Toronto. "The arts play a critical role in strengthening our community, especially by providing opportunities to young people by engaging them in arts programs while developing their skills."  

Commissioned by Toronto Arts Foundation and Working Women Community Centre, with support from Canadian Heritage and Ontario Trillium Foundation, the report was written by Ginder Consulting in collaboration with Caroline Hollway and Janis A. Barlow & Associates.

The full report is available for download here: http://www.torontoartsfoundation.org/Our-Programs/Reports