Public Art of Tomorrow

MASSIVart had the pleasure of working with the City of Toronto and the Government of Quebec on ArtworxTO Symposium: Public Art of Tomorrow, a free three-day virtual event that focused on the future of public art, on November 22 – 24, 2021.

The event was part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art 2021–2022, an innovative year-long celebration that kicked off the City of Toronto’s new 10-Year of Public Art Strategy, signalling Toronto’s renewed commitment to public art.

As the symposium’s programming team, MASSIVart was honoured to have had the opportunity to bring the most important public art event in Canada’s free, extensive and accessible program to life. Our team curated all the content and various different topics, including the implementation of the entire program.

Organized with the City of Toronto and the Government of Quebec, this virtual symposium celebrated Toronto’s impressive existing public art collection while discussing the future role of art and artists in the public art form.

Keynote speakers, panellists and industry leaders discussed bringing communities together through public art by building better, stronger and inclusive cultural and creative sectors within urban areas.

Public art is at the heart of a city’s development and vitality; by reimagining and animating public spaces, cities can bring people back to plazas, main streets, and neighbourhoods severely impacted by the pandemic. The integration of public art in communities city-wide undoubtedly connects citizens to their surroundings and assists with the social development and sustainability of communities.

Building upon the natural relationship between the City of Toronto and the province of Quebec, the symposium connected arts organizations, industry professionals and businesses from both cities, to encourage working together towards economic recovery. Public art of tomorrow, public art for all.