With increasing densities and challenges in creating new public spaces, we need to creatively make the most of every space in our city. Toronto is seeing a growing interest in innovative ways to inhabit and enliven our public spaces and find new ones. Park People is looking for people who have bold, creative, and radical ideas for Toronto’s parks, plazas, schoolyards, laneways, streets, and other publicly-accessible open spaces.
The Public Space Incubator program aims to encourage and support the next generation of creative public space projects. By providing access to funding and professional networks, this second round of our Public Space Incubator will support tangible pilots that test new, innovative ways to bring under-used public spaces to life.
With a focus on innovation, partnerships, programming, and scalability, the Public Space Incubator will provide five projects with up to $50,000 in funding per project. And, as an incubator, will support successful applicants in implementing projects by connecting them with a network of professionals. Take a look at the five winning projects from last year for some inspiration.
Park People invites applications from groups and collaborators including but not limited to: community groups, student groups, artist collectives, non-profits, public sector agencies, designers, and registered charities. Private for-profit businesses may not be the sole applicant, but can be part of an application as a partner.
Projects must take place within publicly-accessible outdoor open space in the City of Toronto, whether privately or publicly-owned. Projects can also be temporary or permanent, where temporary is defined as at least four consecutive weeks or a series of events. One-time events are not eligible. If a project is pitched as permanent, the proposal must consider how it will be maintained. Projects should be completed by the fall of 2020.
The Public Space Incubator is a program of Park People and is generously funded by Ken and Eti Greenberg and Balsam Foundation.
The first stage of applications — which calls for Letters of Intent — is due by March 22. More information about rules and eligibility is available via the Park People website, linked here.