What to know
- Six free Cultural Hotspot projects are showcasing art, music, photography and community creativity in Scarborough this fall.
- Youth artists and photographers are taking the lead on murals, public art and storytelling projects across Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park.
- A new community mosaic project is giving 30 local seniors a chance to create collaborative works of art.
- Most projects will culminate in public exhibitions, mural unveilings or community celebrations in October.
Scarborough’s Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park neighbourhood is getting creative this fall.
As part of the City of Toronto’s Cultural Hotspot program, local artists, youth and community organizations are coming together for a series of projects that will transform public spaces, showcase local talent and celebrate the stories of the people who call the area home.
The projects will shine a spotlight on local murals, photography, theatre and mosaic art, with each one culminating in a public event or exhibition where community members can see the extraordinary works come to life.
Here are six Cultural Hotspot showcases to check out this fall.
1. Danzig Basketball Court Transformation
For the past three years, artist and Behind the Line founder Amir Akbari has worked alongside youth from Scarborough’s Danzig neighbourhood, helping them develop their artistic expression, community engagement and mural-making skills.
That work has grown into the Scarborough Creative & Arts Talent Hub (ScarCATH), a youth-led group continuing to work under Akbari’s mentorship.
The Danzig Basketball Court Transformation will put those skills into action. ScarCATH youth will lead workshops and community consultations that will help shape the design of five concrete benches at the neighbourhood basketball courts.
The completed artwork will be celebrated with a community event held in partnership with Toronto Community Housing and the Danzig Youth Hub.
2. Youth Voices
Youth Voices is a 12-week arts and theatre mentorship project bringing together young people from Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park for free workshops led by Scarborough-based artists and community mentors through The East Scarborough Storefront.
Participants explore everything from visual arts and photography to movement, performance and collective storytelling, while developing creative, communication and leadership skills.
Youth leadership is at the centre of the project, with paid youth leaders helping co-design workshop themes and activities and gaining experience in event planning, outreach and community arts programming.
The project will wrap with a public community celebration in October featuring original performances, visual artworks, storytelling pieces and collaborative creations made by participating youth.
3. Places That Stayed
Four local youth photographers are turning their cameras toward the places that make Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park home.
Places That Stayed is a three-month photography and placemaking project exploring how everyday spaces can shape belonging, connection and community identity.
Through workshops led by Scarborough Cycles’ very own Dr. Marvin Macaraig, guided photo walks and discussions with placemaking experts, participants will learn photography techniques while considering the stories and memories attached to local parks, gardens, gathering spaces and neighbourhood landscapes.
The project will officially culminate with an outdoor photography exhibition in October, showcasing the participants’ work in a local public greenspace.
4. Through Our Lens
Through Our Lens is giving Kingston-Galloway/Orton Park youth another opportunity to document their community — this time by turning their cameras toward the people and places that define it.
The community-led photography and storytelling project includes workshops with guided photo walks and portrait sessions. Participants will photograph neighbours, elders, business owners, local creatives, artists and community organizations, creating a visual portrait of the area through their own perspectives.
The project will lead to a public photo installation in the neighbourhood, bringing together individual perspectives into a shared visual identity that reflects the community. The final exhibition will take place in October.
5. Piece by Piece: Mosaics for Seniors
Thirty local seniors will be getting creative with mosaic art through Piece by Piece, a community arts project presented by Mural Routes that encourages both artistic expression and social connection.
The initiative consists of two 10-week programs, with 15 participants in each cohort. Alongside learning about mosaic traditions and art history, participants will create individual pieces as well as collaborative mosaic panels.
Those collaborative works will eventually become part of a larger permanent community mural across East Scarborough Storefront and Cedar Ridge Creative Centre to be unveiled in October.
6. VIEWS: KGO Made
A new mural is coming to Heron Park Community Centre, and local youth will help create it.
VIEWS: KGO Made by Next Generation Arts is a free eight-week public art and mural program for youth ages 16 to 29.
Through workshops led by community artists and peer mentors, participants will explore painting, design, cultural storytelling and collaborative mural-making.
The project will culminate in a community celebration and mural unveiling at Heron Park Community Centre in October, where friends, family and neighbours can gather to celebrate the finished work.
More Cultural Hotspot events are on the way
Together, these six projects offer a look at the range of creative work happening across the KGO area and neighbouring communities. They are the perfect opportunity to see local residents, artists and young people shape how their neighbourhoods are represented and experienced.
As mural unveiling, community celebrations and event details are being finalized, stay tuned for more updates via the City of Toronto’s website.
