Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation, and the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre Community Advisory Committee have announced the list of seven arts and social enterprise organizations that will soon call the new Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre home. The selected organizations include:

• ArtHeart Community Art Centre

• Centre for Social Innovation

• COBA Collective of Black Artists

• Native Earth Performing Arts

• Pathways to Education

• Regent Park Film Festival, and

• Regent Park School of Music.

The new Daniels Spectrum is designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects. The tenant organizations were selected for their proven ability to engage with communities, to encourage artistic creation, to advance learning and offer an inter-cultural experience. Currently under construction, the Centre will offer participating organizations 60,000 square feet of space located at Dundas Street East between Sumach and Sackville Streets.

“Working with the community and future tenants to re-imagine what an arts and cultural centre can be in a revitalized Regent Park has been fantastically interesting,” said Tim Jones, President & CEO of Artscape, the not-for-profit organization responsible for overseeing the development and ongoing operation of the Daniels Spectrum. “As the vision and partnerships continue to come together, it is clear that the Daniels Spectrum will be among the most diverse and dynamic places in Canada.”

Toronto Community Housing, The Daniels Corporation and Artscape formed a joint venture to develop and operate the new Centre in consultation with the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre Community Advisory Committee. In addition, the governments of Canada and Ontario are each investing up to $12 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund program.

"Toronto Community Housing is pleased to donate the land for this project," said Tom Burr, Director Regent Park Development for Toronto Community Housing. "We understand the important role the arts play in the transformation of the community."

"The Arts & Cultural Centre will stand as a tribute to innovation and diversity,” said Martin Blake, Vice President of The Daniels Corporation, the development and construction partner for the entire 69-acre revitalization. “We are proud to be associated with the community organizations that will provide a wonderful outlet for this area’s exciting creative energy."

First Floor: “Experience”

The first floor of the Daniels Spectrum includes a 400-seat performance/event space and a large outdoor performance court managed by Artscape and two creation/performance studios operated by COBA Collective of Black Artists and Native Earth Performing Arts. This space is dedicated to music, dance and theatre performances, film screenings, cultural festivals, community events and dialogue on building great neighbourhoods and cities around shared experiences.

”Celebrating its eighteenth year of existence, COBA Collective of Black Artists has a profound appreciation for the blessing of a home in the Daniels Spectrum,” said BaKari Segun Lindsay, Artistic Director of COBA Collective of Black Artists. “To have a vision, and then have it realized by a gesture of this magnitude is nothing short of a miracle that speaks volumes to the power of spirit and perseverance.”

Second Floor: “Learning”

The second floor of the Daniels Spectrum is devoted to developing talent in music, visual arts and film, building a sense of place and understanding the history of the local neighbourhood. Learning studios operated by ArtHeart Community Art Centre, Pathways to Education, Regent Park Film Festival, and the Regent Park School of Music, will ensure residents in Regent Park and surrounding neighbourhoods have opportunities to expand and nurture their creative potential.

"Being a tenant in this Centre is extremely important for ArtHeart,” said Adriana Beemans, President of the Board of Directors, ArtHeart Community Art Centre. “It will enable us to leverage resources, partner with innovative partners, be part of the exciting future of the Regent Park revitalization, and most importantly ensure that Regent Park residents are able to access and benefit from creative and high quality visual arts programming.”

Third Floor: “Innovation”

The third floor is home to 60 non-profit/social mission organizations and will be operated by Toronto’s Centre for Social Innovation. This space provides a platform for emerging and established social and arts entrepreneurs working to solve challenges in their communities and around the world.

“The Daniels Spectrum is an incredible opportunity for the Regent Park community and for the city as a whole,” said Eli Malinsky, Director Programs & Partnerships, the Centre Social Innovation. “Even more than creating a much needed arts and cultural facility, this project demonstrates how diverse partners can work together to revitalize a neighbourhood and build a better Toronto. The Centre for Social Innovation is honoured and excited to be part of this important project.”

Give to the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre Capital Campaign

Donations to support the Artscape Foundation’s fundraising efforts for the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre Capital Campaign can be made by visiting the Foundation’s giving pages on CanadaHelps: www.canadahelps.org Keyword: Artscape Foundation, select Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre as the Fund/Designation, or by contacting Alanna Jones, Manager of Development, Artscape Foundation at 416-392-1038 x 29 or alanna@torontoartscape.on.ca.