The Stakeholder Working Group sessions were completed on August 12, 2021.
Public shared vision for an inclusive and accessible St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts
TO Live and CreateTO launched a public consultation process for the reimagining of St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Called STLC NEXT, the project is a City of Toronto initiative to engage the community in a vision for the future of the 50-year-old performing arts centre. As our city emerges from the pandemic, a new vision for STLC can become a motivating force for the community and cultural sector by bringing to life an inclusive and accessible community hub.
Residents and stakeholders were asked to share their dreams for how STLC could be reimagined to provide an accessible, flexible civic hub that will serve traditionally under-represented voices, the cultural sector, the neighbourhood, and the broader civic community.
The consultation process included an extensive series of meetings and specific engagement sessions with local arts, community, and neighbourhood groups. The consultation was specifically designed to prioritize an equity lens to place-making, access to equity-seeking groups, and the use of state-of-the-art technology to support the next generation of creative talent in Toronto.
Letter from Councillor Wong-Tam
Public consultation on the redevelopment of St. Lawrence Centre of the Arts will enable us to re-imagine an important city-owned cultural asset. Improving accessibility and expanding flexible performance space will extend critical support to the public and performing arts companies. There’s an opportunity to rethink the entire public realm strategy and to connect the centre with the beautifully redesigned Berczy Park across the street. I look forward to hearing the public’s feedback on their transformational vision for STLC and the neighbourhood.
Kristyn Wong-Tam
Councillor, Ward 13, TO Live Board Member