2019

Community

Incubation

Program

1) INTRODUCTIONS (5 minutes)

2) ABOUT THE BENTWAY (15 minutes)

3) COMMUNITY INCUBATION PROGRAM (15 minutes)

4) CALL FOR PROPOSALS (15 minutes)

• Q and A (10 minutes)

• TOUR (Optional)

AGENDA

ABOUT THE BENTWAY

Reimagining underutilized land

Creating pathways and connections

New values for a new city

The Toronto Ice Skate Group performon opening day, 2018

MISSIONThe Bentway Conservancy develops, manages and programs the lands under the Gardiner Expressway as a new public space, building shared experiences and a better Toronto.

VISIONWe will change how people build and experience public space.

BENTWAY MISSION, VISION AND VALUES

The Bentway’s programming is of the city and about the city. Through the lens of arts, culture, and recreation we explore both the changing landscape of Toronto and urbanism on a global scale.

• ACCESSIBLE AND WELCOMINGDeliver free and inclusive year-round programming that appeals to a broad base of visitors.

• CONNECTED AND DISCOVERABLE Unite diverse communities through shared immersive, artistic and educational experiences; offer moments of surprise, wonder, fun, and learning.

• GENERATIVEEncourage creative and community partners to embrace the site’s unique conditions, histories, and possibilities to produce new contextual projects.

• PARTICIPATORYEngage visitors as active agents rather than passive audiences.

BENTWAY PROGRAMMING OBJECTIVES & PRINCIPLES

A commitment to community

COMMUNITY INCUBATION

PROGRAM

COMMUNITY INCUBATION PROGRAM

GOALS

1. Animate The Bentway’s grounds, engaging local residents and visitors alike through accessible, participatory, and responsive programming that strengthens community ties and increases visibility to community organizations and interests while meeting The Bentway’s programming objectives and principles

2. Support skill and capacity building opportunities for the selected individuals and organizations.

3. Increase the community’s overall sense of connectedness through free, accessible, diverse, and participatory programs

COMMUNITY INCUBATION PROGRAM

BENEFITS

• A maximum of $6,500 to fund the program

• In-kind venue and staffing support from The Bentway, as can reasonably be expected

• Capacity building workshops in Event Planning and Marketing/Promotion

• Supplementary marketing and promotional support from The Bentway

• Community connections to help support future programs

COMMUNITY INCUBATION PROGRAM

CRITERIA

1. The perceived strength of the proposed program

2. A demonstrated plan for execution of the proposed program

3. The potential impact of the program on The Bentway’s 7 neighbourhoods (Bathurst Quay, CityPlace, Exhibition Place, Fort York, Liberty Village, Niagara, Wellington Place) and their residents

4. The efficacy of the proposed marketing and promotions strategy in engaging the public

5. The ability to effectively meet The Bentway’s programming objectives and principles

Central Talks presents a series of conversations at The Bentway that delve into past, present, and future urban issues.

http://www.thebentway.ca/event/central-talks-by-central-events/

CENTRAL EVENTS

CENTRAL TALKS

September 18, 25 and October 2, 2018

Estimated attendance: 110

“Participating in The Bentway’sCommunity Incubation Program helped me gain experience in creating events in a unique outdoor setting, furthering partnerships with local groups and grow[ing] my network in the urbanism community.”

- Ben Myers, Central Talks

CENTRAL TALKS

IMPACT

I/O Movement’sThis is Our Place is a public space dance residency exploring responses to The Bentway, and culminating in a immersive, participatory event.

I/O MOVEMENT

THIS IS OUR PLACE

October 6, 2018

http://www.thebentway.ca/event/this-is-our-

place-by-i-o-movement/

View the performance:

https://vimeo.com/310377540

THIS IS OUR PLACE

IMPACT

Estimated attendance: 80 – 100

“Having The Bentway share the progress of the event connected us with audiences we would never reach as a small dance project working in Toronto. Your network was a perfect blend for us to share with public art goers, the open-minded, and those local to the area.”

- Lauren Runions, I/O Movement

Through stand-up comedy, poetry, and musical performances, The Bentway Variety Show tackles the stigma surrounding mental health and wellness issues.

http://www.thebentway.ca/event/the-bentway-variety-show-by-michelle-creates-and-manic-media/

MANIC MEDIA

THE BENTWAY VARIETY SHOW

October 7, 2018

VARIETY SHOW

IMPACT

Estimated attendance: 100

“Community partners said that they found [the performance] inspirational, while others expressed that our collective work was an important step forward in creating a platform for artists to share their talents.”

- Ashton D’Silva Marcon, Manic Media

Caterwaul Theatre’s Bent Shadows is a series of shadow puppet digital vignettes that explore the historical traces of Toronto’s ever changing shoreline.

http://www.thebentway.ca/event/bent-shadows-by-caterwaul-theatre/

View the show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWbwAOxdA_4

CATERWAUL THEATRE

BENT SHADOWS

October 23 - October 31, 2018

BENT SHADOWS

IMPACT

Estimated attendance: 150 – 200

“Our partnership with The Bentway has put our name on the radar of folks who are outside of our current community, reach[ing] a larger city audience.”

- Erin Fleck, Caterwaul Theatre

2019 THEME

The 2019 Community Incubation Program is governed by the seasonal theme, “Second Nature”:

“In an urban environment, our connection to natural cycles and systems is disrupted by the increased presence of human intervention and its intended and unintended consequences. Dense urban environments, like Toronto, are increasingly isolated, with smog and artificial lighting obscuring the night sky and excessive construction contributing to the urban heat index, shifting seasonal behaviour. Despite these disruptions, seemingly “invisible” cycles found in nature, such as the waxing and waning of the moon, the ebb and flow of the tide, and the seasonal behaviours of flora and fauna, still impact our daily patterns of behaviour and physiological changes.

The Bentway’s 2019 Community Incubation Program explores the city’s increasingly tenuous connection to natural cycles and systems and questions whether our personal realignment to these phenomena is possible, given how far we have evolved. Throughout the season, artists, activists, scientists and innovators will work to reveal and re-establish lost patterns and knowledge systems, changing our proximity to nature and shifting our understanding of our physical environment.”

The Bowery Project creates opportunities for urban agriculture in Toronto by growing food in vacant city lots.

Bikechain is a not-for-profit cycling org that offers free workshops, DIY repair stations, & pop-up safety checks

The Great Lakes Water Walk invites people from all backgrounds from across the Toronto region to share in a day of "walking for the water”, sharing in traditional ways of showing respect and love of water with Indigenous Grandmothers, Knowledge Holders and Elders.

Red Pepper Spectacle Arts facilitates the annual Kensington Market Winter Solstice, celebrating the start of winter with a lantern-lit procession through Toronto’s Kensington Market.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

HOW TO APPLY

1. Read the full Call for Proposals on our website2. Submit the Application Form

a) Onlineb) Download the Application Form and submit by email to community@thebentway.ca.

Some things to think about:• How does your project address the theme, Second Nature?• Who are your audiences?• How will your project engage The Bentway’s local communities? • What is a reasonable budget for this proposal?

Application Deadline:March 24, 2019 (5:00pm)

There will be another more in-depth application following this round.

Please note:Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Submission of this application does not guarantee selection. The Bentway will notify applicants by April 5, 2019 on the first round status of their application.

QUESTIONS?