I HeART Main Street Program 2024

Presented by STEPS Public Art and RBC through RBC Emerging Artists, the I HeART Main Street Program supports Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and community groups across Canada in engaging artists for economic development and community engagement. 

I HeART Main Street Program 2024 at a Glance

Location: Toronto (Riverside BIA, Roncesvalles Village BIA), Hamilton (Ottawa Street BIA), Ottawa (Downtown Carleton Place BIA), Stratford (Downtown Stratford BIA), and more!

Artists: Ella Mazur, Erin McCluskey, Sherrill Tucker, Talie Shalmon, Laura Dorothie, Susan Edwards, SAVI, Tiffany Bridges, Josslyn Hagan, Montina Hussey, Liz Emirzian, Andrea Rodriguez, Natalie Very B., Allison Gorczyk, NISH

Documentarians: James Lai, Adam Ibrahim, Mainspring Agency, Kris Von Kleist, Ayesha Khan (Stories at the Table)

Year: 2023-2024

Services: Cultural Planning, Public Art Management

About the I HeART Main Street Program

I HeART Main Street (also known as Main Street Art Challenge) is a program by STEPS and RBC through RBC Emerging Artists that supports Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and local artists across Canada in activating main streets with public art, placemaking, and cultural planning.

Since 2020, the program has engaged 50+ BIAs and 220+ artists through over 200 public art installations across Canadian commercial main streets.

Participating BIAs

Riverside BIA (Toronto, Ontario)

Artists took part in Window Wonderland where storefronts in Toronto’s East End were transformed with festive window murals in time for the holidays.

Thanks to artists Ella Mazur, Erin McCluskey, Sherill Tucker, and Talie Shalmon for taking part in this year’s I HeART Main Street Program!

Photo credit: James Lai

Ottawa Street BIA (Hamilton, Ontario)

Ottawa Street BIA engaged with artists Laura Dorothie and Susan Edwards to animate storefront windows in time for Valentine season.

Photo Credit: Adam Ibrahim

Downtown Carleton Place BIA (Ottawa, Ontario)

Downtown Carleton Place BIA took part in the I HeART Main Street Program to capture exciting video moments of their Streetcase Showcase light installation by SAVI. Thanks to the local production team at Mainspring Agency for the visual storytelling of an innovative placemaking project.

Downtown Stratford BIA (Stratford, Ontario)

Downtown Stratford BIA (with the support of STEPS) initiated an artist call in search of local artists to paint street barricades and animate electrical boxes with printed vinyl reflective of the city’s nature and vibrancy. Thanks to artists Tiffany Bridges, Josslyn Hagan, Montina Hussey, and Liz Emirzian for participating in this year’s I HeART Main Street Program.

Roncesvalles Village BIA (Toronto, Ontario)

Roncesvalles Village BIA worked with four artists (NISH, Allison Gorczyk, Andrea Rodriguez, and Natalie Very B.) to animate planters and benches all along the 2 KM main street in Toronto’s west end to discourage vandalism to the functional furniture for the community.

Partners and Funders

I HeART Main Street Program 2024 is presented in partnership with RBC through RBC Emerging Artists and generously supported by Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council.

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