The TORONTO 2015 Games mission is to ignite the spirit through a celebration of sport and culture. The Games will be further enhanced by embracing the diversity, humanity, culture and passion that exists in both of these arenas.

 

To make this happen, the TO2015 Arts and Culture program presented by CIBC is creating an accessible, diverse large-scale festival that showcases excellence, creativity and a commitment to inspiring and innovative cultural events.

 

The unique TO2015 Arts and Culture program is composed of:

Toronto Electric! — free outdoor public events

AquaCulture — a water-themed festival

Higher Ground — unique fine arts collaborations and commissions

 

Toronto Electric!

Outdoor events will light up downtown Toronto with free, popular and accessible programming in all artistic disciplines. Proposed outdoor stages include David Pecaut Square, Nathan Phillips Square, Ontario/Canada Square, Mel Lastman Square and/or the John Street cultural corridor.

 

AquaCulture

AquaCulture will be an exciting celebration along Toronto’s waterfront coinciding with the 2015 UN International Decade for Action, "Water for Life”, allowing us to fully embrace and animate our lakefront, inspire our artists and engage and celebrate water ecology in and around Toronto.

 

AquaCulture will be held along Toronto’s waterfront—from Cherry Beach to Ontario Place—and at waterfront areas around the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH). Programming will include water sculptures, installations, video projections on water, canoe ballets, underwater photography, films, theatre, fashion shows, national and international pavilions on water platforms, and all forms of contemporary and classical music played on barges on the water’s edge.

 

Higher Ground

This multi-disciplinary performing arts program will feature a variety of programming including new cultural hybrids, commissions and quality marquee events showcasing the rich cultures of Canada, the Caribbean and the Americas.

 

TO2015 is committed to working with communities across the GGH to promote Toronto’s cultural diversity, including its Aboriginal cultures and Canada's official languages using a variety of methods including partnering with existing events/activities, commissioning new, original work, creating new artistic hybrids, and sponsoring and promoting third-party activities. The TO2015 Arts and Culture program is committed to developing partnerships with local and regional organizations, including major arts and cultural institutions to maximize the scale, scope and legacy of the program.

 

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TO2015 Arts and Culture Advisory Council

Established in 2011, the Arts and Culture Advisory Council is an advisory and planning forum drawn from artistic, government and cultural communities. The council works to ensure the TORONTO 2015 arts and culture component is unique to the region while celebrating the broader Pan American cultures.

 

The TO2015 Arts and Culture Advisory Council assists in defining the strategic vision and direction for the arts and culture element of the TORONTO 2015 Games.

 

This diverse and creative council is encouraged to bring unique ideas and expertise to help create a world-class cultural event for Toronto and the GGH region. It will also ensure that the vision reflects the TORONTO 2015 brand and image and delivers a legacy beyond 2015. It was also created to provide expert advice on operations, delivery, programming evaluation, commission and legacy projects, as well as community engagement programs.

 

TO2015 Arts and Culture Advisory Council members