The beautiful and monumental Guild Park and Gardens is the home to many historical artifacts and sculptural ruins that were preserved by Guild owners Spencer and Rosa Clark. As Toronto grew and expanded in the mid-twentieth century, many older buildings were being demolished to make room for new office buildings and high rises. The Clarks saw an opportunity to protect buildings that otherwise might have been destroyed. Well, this park full of old relics is about to be home to a new building: The Clark Centre For The Arts.
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Breathtaking Architecture for the Arts Centre
Originally proposed in 2017, Taylor Hazell Architects have added a stunning expansion to the pre-existing Building 191 to create this arts and cultural centre in Guild Park and Gardens. This building can be found just up the road from the revitalized Guild Inn Estate. The new addition will be completed with art studios, offices, a public gallery, an event and exhibition space and community programs. It includes a new level on top of the 2-storey Building 191 and a glass foyer to allow plenty of sunlight and to connect the old and the new buildings together. Many of the surrounding monuments have been integrated into the building designs and the surrounding grounds.
The Arts Services unit of Toronto Arts & Culture will be responsible for operating the Clark Centre for the Arts on behalf of the City of Toronto. About 70-90 public art and community outreach programs, workshops, short-term facility rentals and artist residencies will be offered annually.
After the past year spent not being able to attend galleries, art classes and workshops, the opening of this centre set for later this spring has come just in time. Hopefully, we are able to visit and attend classes at The Clark Centre For The Arts soon enough!