NEWS

Open-air concerts and artwork that gets to see the light of day

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The Artists’ Garden Cooperative, located at 345 Balliol St., offers arts conferencing in a peaceful and enchanting garden setting.

Founder Susan Brown, who has been running the AGC for 15 years, has been involved in the arts for many years. She was an art educator for the Toronto District School Board for 30 years, and also worked with the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Upon retirement, Brown decided to keep her connection with the arts community. Her beautiful “Zen” garden and structure offer a quiet, reflective space to create art as well as listen to amazing musicians.

The Artists' Garden pavilion offers performers an alternative and nurturing concert space.
The Artists’ Garden pavilion offers performers an alternative and nurturing concert space.

The outdoor Plein Air Concert Series (a French expression meaning “in the open air”) offers performers an alternative concert space, and Brown feels this nurtures learners and audiences alike.

A branch of the AGC is the curating service Artify, which she started six years ago. She says she was motivated by the realization that emerging and veteran artists often lack experience and the inclination to promote themselves, and most were not represented by galleries.

Her ability to promote and market to be well-received by artists and venues alike. Artists who often have trouble with self-promotion love that she is “out there” in the community, singing their praises and securing exhibition venues.

One such venue is the Second Cup at 3233 Yonge St., which often offers up wall space for local artists.

Another going concern of Brown is the promotion of the Bayview Art Tour, where midtown artists open their homes and studios to showcase and sell their artwork. Now in its 15th year, BAT features the works of painters, jewellery makers, sculptors and more.

This year’s tour is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 17-18.

Brown has never received an art grant, but has received Service Canada grants to offer summer jobs for students. She teaches them the mechanics of event planning, promotion and marketing for artists.