5 ways to get in on Toronto’s burgeoning arts and culture scene

by Nicole Gottselig

Toronto’s thriving art scene boasts loads of options for travellers who like a side of culture infused with their visit. Take in an indoor or outdoor art crawl, get your hands on a paintbrush, party at a museum after dark or volunteer at the world’s leading film fest the next time you’re in town. [Image credit: iStock.com/shironosov]

Venture off the Queen and Dundas path and make your way north to the industrial strip on Dupont for an afternoon gallery hop. Gallerists have migrated to the edgy strip on Dupont (starting around Dovercourt and running past Landsdowne) , resurrecting spaces such as a former credit union, industrial and commercial units, and a brick warehouse into not-your-average gallery spaces.

Galleries to check out and hours:

• AC Repair Co.: Saturday: noon to 6 pm, by chance or appointment.
• Warner Gallery: By appointment only.
• Cooper Cole: Wednesday to Friday: noon to 6 pm; Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday to Tuesday, By appointment only.
• Angell Gallery: Wednesday to Saturday, noon to 5 pm.
• Canvas Gallery: Monday to Saturday, 10-6; Sunday, noon to 5pm.
• Neubacher Shor Contemporary: Wednesday to Saturday: noon to 5 pm, or by appointment.
• Erin Stump Projects: Wednesday to Saturday: 11 am to 6 pm.

Spend an afternoon painting your own statement canvas over coffee and conversation at Paintlounge – paint, easels, and plenty of instruction provided. In the east at Paint Cabin, sip beers between focused strokes on your canvas, or at a watercolour or wood cut workshop – no experience required. “I often see a quiet group quickly transitioning to outrageous social laughter with new friends, completed by a creative art piece everyone takes home and is proud to display to others,” says Gord Wong, Paint Cabin owner. Or, get creative at these painting and drawing nights in Toronto.

Toronto doesn’t fool around when it comes to mixing art with one-of-a-kind events and experiences. Here are 7 must-experience art events in Toronto:

• Art Toronto: An international contemporary and modern art fair at Metro Toronto Convention Centre (October).
• Nuit Blanche: Public and private spaces are transformed into contemporary art experiences from sundown to sun up (September).
• Doors Open: Architectural, cultural and historical buildings offer a rare glimpse into their interiors (May).
• AGO First Thursdays: One of North America’s most distinguished art museums, transforms into one of the city’s most coveted party spots (Thursdays throughout the year).
• ROM Friday Night Live: Canada’s largest museum of natural history and world cultures hosts an epic Friday night party after regular hours (Fridays throughout the year).
• Salon 21 at the Gardiner Museum: A performance and lecture series featuring contemporary Canadian and international composers (Fridays throughout the year).
• Friday night jazz at Ripley’s Aquarium: Live jazz, drinks and refreshments surrounded by marine life (second Friday of each month).
• Art Attack: A live and rousing art auction for Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

One of the best ways to truly experience a city is to spend time with the people who live there. Converge with culture lovers at a meetup mixer or event. Go behind the scenes, meet heaps of new people, help celebs at the red carpet and watch plenty of free films by volunteering at The Toronto International Film Festival. The world’s leading public film festival relies on 3,000 volunteers to ensure its success every year. Or, volunteer at Luminato when Toronto’s massive performance, visual art, music festival takes over locales across the city.

• Kensington Market: A literal feast of the senses, stroll the Market for hordes of graffiti, building murals, kitschy sign posts and the sole blue Pac Man ghost hanging from a telephone wire (if someone hasn’t snatched him up).
• Graffiti Alley: A full kilometre of high-calibre graffiti, running west from Spadina Avenue to Portland Street.
• Winter Stations: Bundle up and cruise the waterfront for the larger-than-life art installations.