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Things are moving along at a rapid rate–The Bentway is quickly becoming a reality. The design has advanced in preparation for a phased series of openings in 2017. The area to be completed 1 July 2017 will include: preliminary connecting trails and landscaping; the platform in front of the Fort York Visitor Centre; the initial stages of the large performance space adjacent to Strachan Avenue. A second stage to be completed in winter 2017 will include: the skating trail and building, and a third, to be completed in summer 2018, will finalize the last pieces and complete the full vision for the space including the final trail connections and landscaping, and the full development of the performance space adjacent to Strachan Avenue. Incorporation of The Bentway Conservancy, a new not-forprofit organization that will maintain, operate, and program The Bentway, is almost finalized and a hiring process has begun for key staff positions including the CEO and Director of Fund Development. Working with Artscape, a board is being formed and governance structures, organizational 10 The Fife and Drum
systems, and a programming and curatorial plan are being developed. A close collaboration with Fort York National Historic Site will be essential to successfully realizing The Bentway vision and discussions are underway with the City of Toronto and FYNHS staff to plan for this partnership. Initial conversations have been held with major arts and culture organizations across the City to be followed by a broader Request for Expressions of Interest to organizations in arts and culture, recreation, environment, science and technology, youth and community activism, and more, in the middle of October. Organizations are sharing more about how the community would like to use the space and how they want to be involved. This community engagement and involvement will help make The Bentway a truly great cultural attraction for Torontonians and tourists alike. Finally, a new website (with a new brand) will be launched in the middle of October. It’s an exciting time for The Bentway. Construction on the Gardiner restoration project is coming to a conclusion and work on The Bentway itself will shortly follow, bringing a new vision and future to this neglected and underused space. Stay tuned–there is so much more to come! Kasia Gladki is project co-ordinator, Creative Placemaking Lab, at Artscape.
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