Harbourfront Centreis a cultural organization on the waterfront ofToronto,Ontario,Canada, situated at 235Queens QuayWest. Established as acrown corporationin 1972[dubious–discuss]by theGovernment of Canadato create a waterfront park, it became anon-profit organizationin 1991. Funding comes from corporate sponsors, government grants, individual donors and entrepreneurial activities. Harbourfront Centre has a seating capacity of 2,000.
 Aerial shot of Harbourfront Centre site | |
  Location within Toronto | |
| Established | January 1, 1991 |
|---|---|
| Location | 235 Queens Quay West Toronto,Ontario M5J 2G8 |
| Coordinates | 43°38′20″N79°22′55″W/ 43.638834°N 79.3818785°W |
| Visitors | 12 million/year |
| Director | Marah Braye |
| Public transit access | 509 Exhibition or 510 Spadina streetcar from Union Station |
| Website | harbourfrontcentre |
Harbourfront Centre works with over 450 community organizations, and hosts more than 4,000 events a year in many disciplines such as theatre, dance, literature, music, film, visual arts and craft.[1]The development is governed by a 26-person community based volunteer Board of Directors, and is assisted by approximately 2,000 volunteers who generously contribute their efforts and time. Harbourfront Centre is patrolled by its own in-house security team, which works closely with police to ensure that the property is protected.
History
edit
The Government of Canada faced mounting criticism from theCity of Toronto governmentdue to the amount of money being spent forMontrealon bothExpo 67and the1976 Summer Olympics.Hence, the Government of Canada decided that it would build Harbourfront Centre and theGovernment of Ontariowould build nearbyOntario Placein order to revitalize Toronto's industrial harbour and increase tourism to the city. As a result, the Government of Canada committed to buying 100 hectares of land to be appropriated for public use.
In 1972 "Harbourfront Corporation" was established as a federal Crown Corporation. In 1975, the top portion of theCN Towerwas housed at Harbourfront Centre, and schoolchildren were asked to sign it before it was installed. In the following decades, the area saw a number of uses, hosting children's summer day camps in 1978, and hosting theCirque du Soleilwhich performed in the area in 1985. The firstWOMADfestival in Canada was held at Harbourfront Centre in 1988.[2]
Harbourfront Centre was formed on January 1, 1991, as a non-profit charitable organization with a mandate to organize and present public events and to operate a 10-acre (40,000 m2) site encompassing York Quay and John Quay (south of Queens Quay West).
In 1982,Queen's Quay Terminalwas remodelled byZeidler Partnership Architects(the same firm that designed theToronto Eaton Centre). The project transformed the industrial space into a mixed-use building that included shops, restaurants, offices, and exclusive residential condos (it once was the home for PremierMike Harris).
Since its inception, Harbourfront Centre has been introducing Toronto audiences to artists and art forms that would not normally be seen in commercial venues. Artists who have performed at Harbourfront Centre:Celine Dion,Oscar Peterson,Robert Lepage,STOMP,Julio Iglesias,Spalding Gray,Philip Glass,Ann Murray,k.d. lang,Jim Carrey,Feist,Lillian Allen,andGordon Lightfoot.[citation needed]
In 2001, Harbourfront Centre organized "World Leaders: A Festival of Creative Genius," to pay homage to 14 renowned global cultural leaders. The participating artists includedIssey Miyake,Guy Laliberté,Philippe Starck,Frank Gehry,Lily Tomlin,Stephen Sondheim,Bernardo Bertolucci,Robert Rauschenberg,Harold Pinter,Joni Mitchell,Robert Lepage,Peter Gabriel,Quincy Jones,andPina Bausch.[citation needed]Each artist had a dedicated night where they received an award and delivered a talk. In 2004, Harbourfront Centre has hosted the Planet IndigenUS Festival, a multi-day celebration and global exploration of contemporary Indigenous civilizations.
Programming
editHarbourfront Centre runs year-round programming with a combination of indoor and outdoor events. In the winter months more emphasis is put on theatre shows.
Cultural programming
editMain events:
| Title | Date | Disciplines |
|---|---|---|
| Authors at Harbourfront Centre | September to June | Literary |
| International Festival of Authors | October | Literary |
| NextSteps | September to June | Dance |
| Summer Festivals | May to October | Multidisciplinary - Free multicultural festival series |
| World Stage | February to May | Theatre, dance, multidisciplinary performance |
Educational programming
editMain events:
| Title | Date | Age group | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Visits | September to June | Grades K-12 | Elementary and secondary programs |
| Camps | March and July–August | Ages 3–17 | March Break and summer camps |
Venues
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- Harbourfront Centre Theatre (formerly known as theEnwaveTheatre) — 420-seat theatre
- Fleck Dance Theatre
- The Power PlantContemporary Art Gallery
- Visual Arts galleries; exhibition space
- Harbourfront Stage — outdoor concert venue (formerly Westjet Stage)
- Lakeview Market
- World Café
- Toronto Music Garden — designed byYo Yo Maand Julie Moir Messervy
- Studio Theatre
- Brigantine Room
- Marilyn Brewer Community Space
- Lakeside Terrace
- Miss Lou's Room
- Craft & Design — studio for artists creating ceramic, glass, metal and textiles
- Harbourfront Centre Shop
See also
edit- Amsterdam Bridge
- Toronto Maritime Museum
- Toronto waterfront
- Harbourfront- the neighbourhood surrounding Harbourfront Centre
- Toronto Harbour
References
edit- ^""Harbourfront Centre" 9 September 2010Tourism Toronto.".Archived fromthe originalon 16 July 2011.Retrieved9 September2010.
- ^"Ancient cultures, new music", Michael Hollett, p. 19, 4 August 1988Now Magazine.