Conducting Research and Discussing Interests
As our project continues to take shape, its scope becomes increasingly focused. To generate ideas, our group took a walk around the neighbourhood, exploring various public art installations throughout the redevelopment. During our walk, Leticia shared how building a community for women became a key part of her experience in Regent Park. This sparked a broader conversation within our group about the power of the arts in fostering community and storytelling.
Throughout the week, we worked on collecting potential interviewees, developing thoughtful interview questions, and discussing the significance of art in Regent Park. We also received valuable feedback from our classmates, who provided helpful resources about public art in Toronto, information about Daniel Corporation, and additional interview leads. This feedback has helped refine our approach and expand our network.
A crucial aspect of our project is recognizing how public art intersects with economic justice in Regent Park. The ongoing redevelopment has sparked debates about gentrification, displacement, and who ultimately benefits from the neighbourhood’s transformation. Public art plays a critical role in this context because it has the potential to be a platform for community members to reclaim space and share their stories. We recognize that access to public art creation is in itself political.
We hope that our project will contribute to broader conversations about justice by emphasizing the role of arts in creating more equitable and inclusive cities. By interviewing community residents, local artists and organizations, we aim to advocate for more sustainable investment in public art and cultural programming that supports long-time Regent Park residents, rather than solely benefiting private developers and new residents.
Creative Outputs
Our group has explored several creative directions for our final project. Ideas ranged from creating a zine showcasing public art pre- and post-redevelopment to designing an interactive map that highlights the diverse art initiatives within Regent Park. We aim to develop an accessible and engaging resource that captures the evolving artistic landscape of the community.
A central focus of our project is to archive and preserve the cultural history of Regent Park while also capturing its ongoing transformation. We hope our media will serve as a community resource featuring a guide to local artists, organizations, and public art pieces in the area. Additionally, it will incorporate interviews with local artists and community organizers, offering valuable insight into their experiences, challenges, and future aspirations for Regent Park. Our goal is to amplify the voices of community members while emphasizing the importance of the arts in fostering connection and belonging.
Production Plan
Whether we decide on a zine or a digital map, an important part of our project will be to collect photos and material about public art in the neighbourhood. Over the next couple weeks, we will be doing the most we can to learn about all of the art events happening in Regent Park, photographing the neighbourhood, and interviewing locals, artists, and organizations about their thoughts.
We believe that our project has the potential to highlight the importance of public art in shaping community identity. By sharing these stories, we hope to inspire meaningful dialogue about the role of creative spaces in building community and preserving cultural heritage.
Gantt chart for our project implementation plan
The team members of Ars Comnunitas are Sunnie, Leticia, Amie, Angelina, and Avila (Youjia).