History

Regent Park already has a vibrant, diverse and ever-growing cultural community – a soft infrastructure of significant size and scope. Regent Park residents have expressed the desire to celebrate and sustain their cultural traditions both for each other and the larger community. In addition to resident-led celebrations, a number of not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations are also based in the Regent Park area. A number of these organizations have been active for many years developing and providing arts and cultural programs which explicitly serve – and reflect – the local community. To date, however, there has been no “hard infrastructure” within which to focus this large body of work and to create the milieu within which collaboration and cross-pollination naturally occur.

A Community Advisory Committee, comprised of locally-based arts, cultural and community leaders and working hand-in-hand with Toronto Community Housing and The Daniels Corporation, has guided the process through initial research and consultations through to the creation of a Case for Support and application for Infrastructure Stimulus Funding in spring 2009. Toronto Community Housing and The Daniels Corporation issued a formal Request for Proposals for the facility operator of the new arts and cultural centre in 2009.

Artscape replied to the request in July 2009 and was selected as the facility operator for the project. Artscape, Toronto Community Housing, and The Daniels Corporation all share a strong commitment to the principal of community stewardship of the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre and will be working with the seven non-profit arts and social enterprise organizations to ensure they have a strong voice in the development and operation of the centre.

The announcement of Infrastructure Stimulus Funding in December 2009 has enabled the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre to provide a home for the cultural activities occurring in the Regent Park neighbourhood and cultural organizations operating in the east downtown. At 60,000 sq. ft., the size of the building will also enable arts and cultural organizations with a broader base to find a home in Regent Park.