The Power Plant

With the Percent for Public Art Program, the Toronto Official Plan encourages the inclusion of public art in all significant private sector developments across the City. This serves to beautify the buildings and open spaces of the urban landscape. It also serves to provide artists an additional creative platform and income potential.

The Power Plant co-presents a workshop for artists led by Ben Mills, Vice President of Public Art Management, and Dean Drever, artist. During this workshop, participants will learn about the steps and stages involved in proposing, creating and installing public art for private sector developments. Mills and Drever will share strategies that can strengthen or weaken a proposal.

Ben Mills has spoken on the subject of public art at numerous conferences and events and, as a strong proponent of art in the public realm, he has managed and completed over 50 public art projects. Dean Drever is a Canadian sculptor, currently living and working in Toronto, who has completed numerous public art commissions including Bear with Salmon, commissioned for the Epcor Tower in Edmonton; Pass the Hat (2014), commissioned by Jim Shaw; and Eagle V.1., commissioned by Ferncastle (Esplanade) Inc. (2018).

ABOUT HORIZON In Fall 2018, The Power Plant and YYZ Artists' Outlet teamed up with seven other contemporary visual art and film organizations in Toronto for a two-year initiative, called HORIZON, funded with an Open Door grant from the Toronto Arts Council. During the first phase, the nine partner organizations conducted focus groups and town halls to gather information about the needs of emerging and established artists in and around Toronto. Now into the second phase, the organizations are developing and offering programs that address some of the artists’ needs.

This workshop is limited to 20 participants.

Please email info@thepowerplant.org by 25 February 2020 to express your
interest in participation, and include a current résumé. Those selected will be notified by 17 March 2020.