A multidisciplinary art exhibition and music festival, in / FUTURE will use the breathtaking West Island of Ontario Place as the setting for an immersive experience of the arts. Ontario Place will be transformed into a creative hub of inspirational art experiences and world music for 11 days only, with the inaugural in / FUTURE.

“We want to ignite everyone’s sense of curiosity around Ontario Place with this festival,” says Layne Hinton, Co-Artistic Director, in / FUTURE. “in / FUTURE encourages you to explore every inch of the West Island because each space will be reimagined through arts-based programming. It invites guests to see what if and what could be, merging nostalgic memories with the new experiences being encountered.”

From September 15 to 25, the entire 14-acre park grounds and buildings on the Ontario Place West Island will be accessible to the public. From the cavernous silo buildings to the IMAX Cinesphere, the entire park will be the canvas and stage for programming by local and international artists, giving guests unprecedented access to these spaces since the park’s partial closure in 2012.

“Ontario Place has been great to work with and very committed to rei-magining the space along with us,” says Rui Pimenta, Co-Artistic Director, in / FUTURE. “Ontario Place represents what I have come to value most in this city–multiculturalism. It was a nearby getaway for many immigrants, including my family, and gave us the opportunity to see something beyond just Toronto. in / FUTURE is inspired by the same goals and aspirations.”

In partnership with in / FUTURE, Small World Music Festival will bring its renowned international musical programming to the central stage. With diverse sounds ranging from Afrobeat to Mariachi, Small World Music will celebrate its 15th anniversary in Toronto by merging its Fall programming with in / FUTURE to generate even greater cross-exposure of new audiences to world music.

“Ontario Place has always highlighted the culture of the province and in / FUTURE is continuing to uphold that mandate with very playful arts programming,” says Alan Davis, Executive Director, Small World Music. “It’s really one-of-a-kind and it’s set up perfectly for us to create even more opportunities for new audiences to discover many diverse forms of music. The art and music will really animate the whole space that in an entirely new way that’s truly unique and special.”

in / FUTURE hopes to serve as an important early step in Ontario Place’s revitalization through cultural programming, ensuring that art and culture remain at the forefront of its long term strategic vision. This
imaginative preview of the space will be the first time that Ontario Place plays host to a largescale
combined art exhibition and music festival.

“It is fabulous to see Ontario Place being used again as a place to present art and culture as well as a place to involve the public, something that was always at the heart of the original vision,” says Eb Zeidler, original architect of Ontario Place.

With collaboration and support from 25 art organizations and over 50 individual Ontario-based artists, in / FUTURE will offer an immersive art experience with a range of cross-disciplinary pieces, surprising guests at every bend and turn as they explore the grounds. Each participating creative partner will mount a site specific project, under a curatorial premise that explores Ontario Place’s history, present, and future.

in / FUTURE will assemble Toronto’s arts and performance communities to present an inspiring celebration of art and culture. A selection of participating creative partners include; Tom Thomson Art Gallery, CAFKA, Peggy Baker Dance Company, Public Access, Onsite Gallery at OCADU, Pleasure Dome, Images Festival, with more partnerships still in development.

in / FUTURE will feature:
● Original film and video series presented in the iconic Cinesphere
● Screenings of original IMAX films from the Ontario Place archives
● Musical programming in the Small World Music Festival Stage
● New media installations and large scale outdoor projections
● Educational programs and interactive activities for youth
● Daily guided tours

Founded by Toronto’s Art Spin, in / FUTURE co-chairs Hinton and Pimenta were compelled to create this festival to reignite the park’s connection to the arts and culture community as it undergoes further revitalization. This imaginative preview of the space will pave the way to Canada’s 150th Birthday celebrations in 2017.

“in / FUTURE promises to be an exciting re-imagining of Ontario Place, a space so rich in history and nostalgia for so many Ontarians,” says City Councillor Mike Layton, Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina. “This celebration of arts and culture offers Torontonians a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to discover the wealth of talent we have in this province and walk away with new memories that transcends generations.”

Festival passes and single-day tickets can be purchased here.
Ontario Place West Island – September 15 25, 2016

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About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca