News Releases - Toronto Public Library

Toronto Public Library, the Neighbourhood Arts Network and Ontario Culture Days are pleased to announce the fifth year of Culture Days @ The Library. During the previous four years of this popular   program, nearly 8000 people have participated in 217 activities at library branches in every corner of the city. The program was created as a way to help artists and arts groups share their creative work with the public during Culture Days, a pan-Canadian celebration of arts and culture. Now in its sixth year, Culture Days takes place annually on the last weekend in September. For more information, visit www.on.culturedays.ca. 

Toronto Public Library is offering free venues to Toronto-based artists and cultural groups wishing to be part of Culture Days on September 25 and 26, 2015. This partnership enables artists to take their practice out of their private studios into the accessible spaces of library branches so that the public can discover and engage with their work. Past participants describe Culture Days @ the Library as a great opportunity to connect with new audiences and to build strong community relationships. From Etobicoke to Scarborough, North York and downtown Toronto, some 50 TPL branches spanning the city will provide venues at no cost.

Toronto-based individual artists, small and medium-sized professional arts groups as well as volunteer-run cultural organizations, collectives or groups that wish to organize their events at a Toronto Public Library branch are invited to submit an application by May 5, 2015. Activities in all artistic disciplines are encouraged as well as those that appeal to families and audiences of diverse ages. To be considered for a space, the arts activity must be free and interactive.

Toronto Public Library staff will review the applications, make their selections and contact activity organizers directly for any additional information they may require and to make arrangements. Library branches are providing free space but cannot provide any financial assistance, including funds for supplies or equipment. Participants do receive substantial administrative, marketing and promotional support for their activity via the joint efforts of Culture Days, Toronto Public Library and Neighbourhood Arts Network.

More than 50 Toronto Public Library Branches Open their Doors

 “We hosted ‘Roma Dance Celebration’ with Iana Komarnytska and Paromita Kar for Culture Days 2014. The event was phenomenally successful with some 130 people in attendance! The fun and dynamism of the event was clear when 20 kids hopped on stage to join the dancers.” - Rose Marie Spearpoint, Branch Head, Palmerston Branch

	Iana Komarnytska performs at Culture Days @ the Libarary: Roma Dance Celebration at Palmerston Branch Culture Days 2014. Photo by Kevin Jones

Each year approximately 50 Library branches participate in Culture Days across the city. Artists applying to the program are asked to select from the following regions of the city:

-          East Toronto (Eastwards from Don Valley)

-          West Toronto (Westwards from High Park)

-          Central/Downtown (South of St. Clair, between High Park and Don Valley)

-          North Toronto (Northwards from St. Clair

-          Any area of the city

Downtown locations are in high demand so we strongly urge applicants to choose at least one other area of the city to improve their chances of being selected for the program. Many branches outside of the downtown experienced excellent attendance at their Culture Days activities in 2014.

How to Participate

A simple application form is now on-line. Applications will be accepted from now until midnight May 5, 2015.

Applicants will be matched with the appropriate library branches based on the suitability and interactive nature of the activity. Those applicants who meet the criteria will be contacted by Toronto Public Library Branch Heads in May and June to discuss in detail their activity and may be required to submit further information related to space requirements, equipment, etc.

Notification and Confirmation

Culture Days will send out a confirmation email by June 15, 2015.

About Culture Days

Culture Days is a collaborative, Canada-wide volunteer movement to raise the awareness, accessibility, participation and engagement of all Canadians in the arts and cultural life of their communities. Launched in 2010, the annual Culture Days event takes place in nearly 900 Canadian cities and towns during the last weekend of September, generating an extraordinary amount of enthusiasm in the process. This year’s Culture Days weekend will take place on September 25, 26 and 27, 2015. Once again, the event will feature free, hands-on, interactive activities that invite the public to participate “behind the scenes”— and to discover the world of artists, creators, historians, architects, curators, and designers at work in their community. To learn more, please visit www.on.culturedays.ca

Ontario Culture Days is supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of Ontario in recognition of Celebrate the Artist Weekend. 

About Toronto Public Library

Toronto Public Library is one of the world's busiest urban public library systems. Every year, 19 million people visit our branches in neighbourhoods across the city and borrow 32 million items. To learn more about Toronto Public Library, visit our website at torontopubliclibrary.ca or call Answerline at 416-393-7131. To get the most current updates on what's happening at the library, follow us on Twitter @torontolibrary.

About Neighbourhood Arts Network

Neighbourhood Arts Network is the place where arts and community engagement meet. Neighbourhood Arts Network helps artists and community organizations do what they do best: enrich Toronto and transform it into a more vibrant, beautiful, and liveable city. We catalyze new relationships and conversations, collect research and share information. We envision a Toronto where all residents are empowered to discover and shape the cultural life of their communities. Neighbourhood Arts Network is a signature initiative of Toronto Arts Foundation. To learn more, please visit www.neighbourhoodartsnetwork.org

For more information about Culture Days @ The Library, please visit www.on.culturedays.ca.

-30-