Did you know that May is officially Photography Month? We can’t think of a better way to celebrate than to experience all that CONTACT has to offer!
Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival runs throughout the month of May across the city of Toronto and beyond and it is one of the largest festival of its kind in the world. We were excited to attend the media preview last Friday for a few reasons. We love photography and CONTACT offers the chance to view the works of so many artists, photojournalists and documentary photographers in so many different ways. The artists come from Canada and around the world and feature both acclaimed and emerging talents. The work promises to be thought-provoking, timely, fascinating and so much more. What struck us the most though, is that this festival makes art truly accessible to everyone. You can experience CONTACT in many ways, as broadly and deeply as you choose.
There are over 200 exhibits, installations and events taking place throughout the festival. You can experience CONTACT by visiting many of the museums, galleries and artist-run centres throughout Toronto. Visit Primary Exhibitions featuring artists such as Shelley Niro, Daniel Alexander and Felicity Hammond just to name a few. There are also Featured and Open Exhibitions at galleries and alternative spaces across the city. We marked many of the exhibitions we’re going to visit by flipping through the beautiful CONTACT Festival Guide. We’re sure that you’ll find something that catches your eye too!
Maybe you want to attend an event instead. There are lectures, artist talks, workshops, Curator talks and tours, book launches and screenings. Plan a date with someone special or a girls night out that will introduce you to something new! Or, take some time to stroll throughout the city on a sunny afternoon after enjoying brunch. You can find many Public Installations like John Edmonds’ “Hoods” by Metro Hall along King Street West. Or Wang Yishu’s “Caught In-Between” that can be found at Osgoode Subway Station. Public Installations are free and we will definitely be checking them all out!
You can find out more about CONTACT by visiting scotiabankcontactphoto.com or by getting a copy of the Festival Guide. With the weather finally warming up, it’s the perfect time to explore some of the great photography that CONTACT is offering!