FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Toronto, September 1, 2020 – Lakeshore Arts have teamed up with a group of artists to add a series of new murals to the Eighth Street Skatepark this month. The ongoing Eighth Street Skatepark Murals project aims to enrich the skatepark while supporting local artists. It has been made possible with support and enthusiasm from Councillor Mark Grimes and the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto program.
The Eighth Street Skatepark Murals Project is an ongoing project initiated by Lakeshore Arts in 2017, with the goal of enhancing the Etobicoke-Lakeshore community skatepark and showcase the talents of local mural artists. The murals painted this summer will add to the already-existing murals created since 2017. The project is made possible through funding allocated by Councillor Grimes and through the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto program.
Lakeshore Arts will manage the creation of five new murals at the skatepark and provide some maintenance to some of the already existing murals. From September 14th to 22nd, artists ‘Flips’, Ian Gabriel, Jieun Kim, Natalie King, Natalie Very B, and Rowell Soller will paint new murals on sites across the skatepark. The project will also provide mentorship in mural art through opportunities for artist assistants and a mural project coordinator to build and support the mural art talent in the city.
Project staff visited the skatepark in June to interview those who use the park and to receive community feedback about the project. Throughout the month of July, community members, the skate community, and individuals who use the skatepark were encouraged to fill out an online community survey to share ideas for the types of murals or themes they would like to see at the skatepark. A Call for Artists sought artists to submit exciting concepts describing how artists would approach designing a skatepark mural that responds to the existing space in an innovative or playful way.
Learn more about Eight Street Park mural project: www.lakeshorearts.ca/eighth-street-skatepark-mural-project/.
About our partners
StreetARToronto (StART) is a suite of innovative programs designed specifically for streets and public spaces. Initiated in 2012 as an integral part of the City’s Graffiti Management Plan, StART has been successful in reducing graffiti vandalism and replacing it with vibrant, colourful, community-engaged street art. StART programs encourage active transportation (walking and cycling), make our streets more beautiful and safe, showcase local artists, mentor emerging talent, reduce overall infrastructure maintenance costs and more.
Have any questions or concerns please email Tara Dorey, Project Coordinator at skateparkmurals@gmail.com
