Scarborough Gallery Space Advocacy
Community campaign for dedicated art gallery space in Scarborough to showcase local artists and exhibitions.
This is not a traditional artist opportunity but rather a community advocacy initiative calling for the development of dedicated gallery space in Scarborough, Toronto. Artists, curators, and cultural organizations are working to convince the City of Toronto to invest in a permanent, large-scale art gallery in Scarborough to properly showcase local talent.
The initiative highlights that Scarborough, a community of over 600,000 people, currently has only two permanent city-run art galleries: Cedar Ridge Creative Centre and Clark Centre for the Arts. Local artists and supporters argue this is insufficient and that the borough deserves more visibility and dedicated exhibition space.
Key advocates include Peter Marsh, interim president of The Existential Art Gallery of Scarborough and a watercolor painter with 65 years of experience, and Rajni Perera, a multidisciplinary artist and founder of Capsules Studio. Beth Helmers with Scarborough Arts also supports the initiative.
The movement aligns with Toronto's 2024 10-year culture plan, which aims to invest $35 million in culture by 2025 and develop one million square feet of new cultural space. Currently, local artists are creatively hosting galleries in schools, parks, and homes to gain visibility.
The initiative seeks to address the broader problem of artist retention, as many talented Scarborough artists relocate downtown due to lack of studio and exhibition space. Advocates believe proper investment in cultural infrastructure would make Scarborough a vibrant arts hub while improving quality of life.