Celebrate Culture Everyday

Lakeshore Arts is:
• A group of residents committed to improving the availability of a full range of arts,
culture and heritage activities within our neighbourhood, encouraging people of all ages
to participate
• A programmer, working in partnership with artists and arts groups to present programming
in the community
• A senior arts partner in the Lakeshore playing a stewardship role in implementing the
South Etobicoke Community Cultural Plan, as funded by the former Metro Toronto

Lakeshore Arts exists to:
• Enhance the quality of life for people who live, work and visit the Lakeshore, through the
integration of arts, culture and heritage into all aspects of community life
• Improve the availability of arts and culture in the Lakeshore Community with art shows,
literary events, workshops, festivals, theatre, music and dance performances
• Provide educational, training and development opportunities for youth and adults in
arts, culture
• Develop and foster community spirit in the Lakeshore and beyond

NOW

Celebrating its 18th year in existence, Lakeshore Arts is an incorporated (May 1997) Not-for-Profit Local Arts Service Organization (LASO) and a registered charity (as of 1999). With a Board of active residents from many sectors including arts, education and business (10 - 15 members), and an additional 100+ volunteers who serve on program committees and help with a variety of tasks.

Lakeshore Arts realized a long time dream when moving from a tiny 2nd floor, windowless office to a 1000 square foot storefront in Mimico, in the fall of 2007. With a beautiful exposed red brick wall and original hardwood floors we found a perfect location to open up The Smith Zone Exhibition Space, named in honour of long time Board member and community leader, Gerald “Jerry” Smith.

The office and gallery space has become a neighbourhood fixture and information hub. The first year saw membership triple. The gallery showcases a growing roster of member artists, partnerships with sister organizations and a display for the results of some of our youth programming. Lakeshore Arts is active in the Mimico by-the-Lake BIA and recognized as a community leader. We are recipients of Laurel Broten’s 2008 “Gem of the Lakeshore” and most recently, nominated for The 2010 Etobicoke Guardian “Urban Hero” Award.

In order to leverage limited resources, Lakeshore Arts has a long-standing tradition of fostering relationships with Community Partners to develop and evolve innovative and interactive programming. These partnerships: Humber College, The Toronto District School Board, The Toronto Public Library, Rotary Club Toronto West, Sherway Gardens and the Mimico by-the-Lake BIA, have become synonymous with the caliber and quality of our events and programming.


THEN

Lakeshore Arts carried forward the work leading to The South Etobicoke Cultural Strategic Plan (1996); in 1999, Lakeshore Arts ensured that culture became one of the five benchmark measures of the quality of life in the South Etobicoke Community Audit; Lakeshore Arts took a leadership position in the $4.5 million revitalization of the Assembly Hall as a community cultural centre.

Lakeshore Arts was a founding member of the Lakeshore Community Partnership (originally the South Etobicoke Regeneration Project – SERP), a unique collaboration of business and industry with government, community agencies and residents dedicated to maintaining and attracting investment in the community. Many of the key members of LCP are also members of Lakeshore Arts, Humber College, the BIAs and industry.

Local industry has been active in sponsorship in support of murals, the music series, the annual juried art show and the community play project, to name a few. We have worked well with the four local BIAs and the Lakeshore Festival , a community event that has enjoyed almost 25 years of continuous success.

Lakeshore Arts was a founding member of the Toronto Community Arts Alliance (TCCA), and works closely with Arts Etobicoke, Urban Arts, and the Scarborough Arts Council to expand the coverage of community arts to include those sections of the City that are currently underserved.