I HeART Main Street Summer/Fall 2022

A STEPS PROJECT

Presented in partnership with RBC Royal Bank, I HeART Main Street enters its third summer of public art projects with Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and Canadian artists across Ontario as part of main street recovery. Through pro-bono creative placemaking support and paid opportunities for local artists, STEPS continues to support BIAs in bringing more public art and community engagements to strengthen business-community relationships and foster vibrant public spaces.

Project at a Glance

Locations: Various locations across Ontario, including Toronto, North York, Stratford, Hamilton, Timmins and more!

BIAs: Willowdale, DUKE Heights, Downtown Bolton, Mount Pleasant Village, Downtown Timmins, Pape Village, Ottawa Street, Downtown Stratford, Riverside, Weston Village, Downtown Milton and more!

Artist(s): Hour Studio Space (James Lai and Alexis Venerus), Kyle Jarencio, Peru Dyer Jalea, Leyland Adams, Alessandra Vai, Gaby Franks, Raz Latif, Katherine Theresa Montigny, Moises Frank, Caitlin Taguibao, Gosia Komorski, Kaya Joan, Elise Conlin, Sharon Trottier, Mishiikenh Kwe / Autumn Smith, Kellen Hatanaka, Meghan Cheng, Moonlight Murals Collective, Omar (Oms) Hopkinson, Andrés Correa and more!

Year: 2022

Project Photographer/Videographer: Kyle Jarencio, Anushay Sheikh, Brian Coleman, Beth Bierema, Kris Von Kleist, Mike Streeter, May Shi, and Selina McCallum

Services: Creative Placemaking, Main Street Recovery

52

BIA collaborations since 2020

$84,000+

in-kind services provided to small business groups

100+

artists commissioned since 2020

$150,000+

paid to artists and designers

17+

cities represented across Ontario

About I HeART Main Street

I HeART Main Street began in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support communities and equity-seeking artists through challenging times. Through unique public art activations (such as murals, street furniture revitalization, storefront wraps, sidewalk decals, light installations, and more) and community engagement workshops, this program works with Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to realize creative placemaking projects that foster vibrant public spaces and community connections.

Check out the latest public art projects happening across Ontario that are also eligible for awards and prizes to support future placemaking initiatives! If you are a BIA or community group in Northern or rural Canadian communities, learn more about the I HeART Main Street Program and how to apply for the next round.

“RBC is proud to support I HeART Main Street and the artists who make powerful impacts in our communities. This year’s art challenge showed how transformative visual art can be when installed in a public setting. I’m thankful to see projects by talented artists who beautify our neighborhoods and make art accessible.”

– Stefan Hancherow, RBC Royal Bank Art Curator and I HeART Main Street Award Committee Member

Participating BIAs and Artists

Use the arrows to go through photos of the colourful and impactful public art projects happening across Ontario! Every project is considered for the I HeART Main Street Awards that recognizes BIAs and artists for innovation, community, and transformational impact through their public art activation.

August Public Art Activations

Downtown Bolton BIA

Artist Alessandra Vai worked with Artist Assistant Gaby Franks and local students on a series of painted picnic table activations inspired by trilliums, heritage homes in the local Bolton community, and historical buildings and city skyline.

Willowdale BIA

Artist Peru Dyer Jalea (PERU143), with assistance from Leyland Adams and visual documentation by Kyle Jarencio, created a mural for the new Willowdale BIA in Toronto’s North York. The community welcomed the new mural with celebrations with local businesses and Willowdale residents.

Downtown Timmins BIA

Artist Katherine Theresa Montigny created bright and colourful artwork for street poles and boxes that can be found around the main streets of Downtown Timmins.

Mount Pleasant BIA

Mount Pleasant BIA worked with artist Raz Latif to create 6 window illustrations on selected storefronts. The artworks reflect the Mount Pleasant Village landscape and bring forth the warmness and vibrancy of the Midtown neighborhood.

DUKE Heights BIA

Hour Studio Space (artists James Lai and Alexis Venerus) created a unique photo gallery in the DUKE Heights BIA office’s lobby, with a sculptural collage that celebrates the community’s vast landscape.

Pape Village BIA

Pape Village BIA worked with five artists (Moises Frank, Caitlin Taguibao, Gosia Komorski, Kaya Joan, and Elise Conlin) to create a series of small ground murals that animate Pape Avenue’s intersections.

Ottawa Street BIA

Ottawa Street BIA worked with local artists Sharon Trottier and Mishiikenh Kwe / Autumn Smith to street pole wraps that draw attention to the Indigenous presence in the area and facilitate a community paint event at the BIA’s sidewalk sale.

Downtown Stratford BIA

Downtown Stratford BIA commissioned artist Kellen Hatanaka to create this mural, titled “The Perfectionist”, that reconsiders and dispels stereotypes of Asian representation within Western culture.

Riverside BIA

As part of the 2022 CreateSpace Public Art Residency, artist-in-residence Meghan Cheng took part in STEPS’ Inspired Art Impact pilot project in partnership with I HeART Main Street to transform the front of Korman & Company offices in East Toronto with her “You Were Here” light installation composed of hundreds of butterflies that glow with LED lights triggered by the motion of passersby.

Weston Village BIA

Weston Village BIA worked with Moonlight Murals Collective to bring this mural to life, which celebrates cycling in the Weston Village neighbourhood then and now with references to the nearby Humber River Trail.

Downtown Milton BIA

This new mural by Omar (Oms) Hopkinson and artist assistant Andrés Corre celebrates the unique and inspiring elements of Downtown Milton. Each letter visually explores a theme of importance to the town of Milton: Multiculturalism, Interest, Lifestyle, Timelessness (First Nations), Old Milton, and Nature.

STEPS Public Art App

Find I HeART Main Street projects near you with the STEPS Public Art App, a free mobile and web application with an interactive map of STEPS projects, self-guided walking tours and artist profiles. This app is updated regularly with new photos, videos and projects to help you explore your city and virtually visit public art projects in other cities!

The STEPS Public Art App is best experienced on your mobile device via the App Store or Google Play (also accessible via the Web App on your browser). Please rate and review to help spread the word and enhance your experience with the digital platform.

I HeART Main Street Awards

Every project is considered for the I HeART Main Street Awards that recognizes activations that have made a significant impact on the community! BIAs and artists have a chance to win financial and in-kind support prizes to realize future placemaking initiatives. Projects are evaluated by an Award Committee composed of cultural representatives and winners will be announced soon. Learn more about the awards and see past winners.

Project Partners and Funders

I HeART Main Street is presented in partnership with RBC Royal Bank and generously supported by Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and funding provided by the Government of Ontario.

I HeART Main Street funder logos including RBC Royal Bank, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, and the Government of Ontario

Our Main Street Recovery Service leverages the power of public art and creative placemaking to support Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and local community groups to foster meaningful relationships and paid opportunities for artists. Supports include community cultural planning, call-for-artists facilitation and permanent public art management.