Toronto Outdoor Art Fair (TOAF) returns from July 8th to July 17th with a brand new hybrid experience, bringing together art lovers from across Canada. TOAF61 will kick off on July 8th with a ten-day online art fair followed by a full in-person art and entertainment fair at Nathan Phillips Square on July 15-17th, all free and open to art lovers of all ages. 

In two years, TOAF online became Canada’s fastest-growing digital platform as a national platform for Canadian art from all regions. TOAF61 is celebrating this massive achievement by hosting an online-only fair with 100 jury-selected artists from across Canada and beyond. This is an excellent opportunity for enthusiasts from across Canada to participate in and explore Toronto’s most loved art fair virtually. 

From July 15th to 17th, TOAF61 takes over Nathan Phillips Square for the much-anticipated return of the in-person 300+ artist showcase. In addition to the open-air fair, the cascading stage will be jam-packed with live music, thought-provoking contemporary dance, and the awesome vibes of TOAF’s unique Beer Garden.  

“Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is back, bigger and better than before!”, says Anahita Azrahimi, TOAF Executive & Creative Director. “For the first time in Toronto’s Outdoor Art Fair 61 year history, we are expanding nationally with the online fair as well as bringing TOAF to Nathan Phillips Square with an even more dynamic program than ever before. If you haven’t been to a TOAF before, this is the year to check it out!” 

FULL TOAF61 FAIR PROGRAMMING 

VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING

Collect and support artists from every corner of Canada, at all career stages and on every budget online. 

Kick-Off with Tiffany Pratt 

Friday, July 8, 12:30 PM – Instagram Live 

Join artist and designer Tiffany Pratt on Instagram Live for an energetic chat with TOAF61 artists to launch the 61st Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. Kick off the Online Fair with a virtual introduction to this year's roster of artists, and get ready to join us July 15-17 at Nathan Phillips Square! 

Artist Studio Tours

July 8 - 17 

Tune in online at torontooutdoor.art for digital Studio Tours recorded by select TOAF61 artists. Meet the artists and discover the creative process behind your favourite artworks in these dynamic 5-minute videos. 

Instagram Live Artist Chats

July 8 - 17 

Artist Chats enrich the TOAF community by connecting artists and engaging our online audience. Follow @torontooutdoorart for 20-minute casual conversations between TOAF61 artists exploring similar themes in their work on IG Live. 

NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE PROGRAMMING 

There is something for everyone at Nathan Phillips Square and everybody is welcomed. TOAF61 has no admission, no art speak, and no intimating walls. Instead, we are offering a full weekend experience of shopping and entertainment with visual arts, dance, cool music, great food and beer. 

Opening Ceremony 

Friday, July 15, 5:30 PM 

Join us in welcoming the artists to Nathan Phillips Square, opening remarks and the announcement of the Fair Awards Recipients.

VISUAL ARTS 

300 Artist Booths 

July 15-17

Browse and buy artwork from the 300 juried artists from across the country. For 61 years TOAF has launched and sustained the careers of Canadian Artists, helping them get discovered and build networks

Art Nest - An ArtworxTO Project:

July 15 - July 17 

Curated by Rui Pimenta

Supported by Toronto Arts Council / ArtworxTO / City of Toronto 

Art Nest is a new TOAF programming initiative that provides six artists – having either

current or past experience participating in TOAF – the opportunity to push the

boundaries of their individual art practices beyond the physical and conceptual limits of

the Fair’s iconic 10 x 10 square foot tent.

Participating Artists 

Erin Vincent

Kal Mansur

Julia Campisi

Sofia Escobar

Rod Mireau 

Aline Setton 

Erin Vincent

Art Tours 

Artists, curators, and collectors will take you on thematic guided Art Tours to share their insights and lead engaging conversations face-to-face with artists in the show. New to TOAF61, we will be offering French and American Sign Language tours. 

Register for an Art Tour HERE or join in on the day of. All Art Tours will start from the Main Info Booth - West of the Reflection Pool at Nathan Phillips Square. 

‘I Covet This’ with Danielle Suppa

Friday, July 15, 12:00 PM | FREE

Danielle Suppa, Owner + Creative Director of SOUVENIR, has a keen eye for beautifully executed, purposefully and lovingly-made objects. Join her as she visits the artists behind her dreamy finds. 

Francophone Artists at TOAF with Dyana Ouvrard

Saturday, July 16, 12:00 PM | FREE

Join Dyana Ouvrard, Director of Le Labo, Toronto's Francophone Media Arts Centre, for a French-language tour of Francophone artists at the Fair.

Art Collectors in Conversation with Hirbod Human 

Saturday, July 16, 1:30 PM | FREE

Join Hirbod Human, an art enthusiast, businessman and TOAF61 Juror, on art collecting 101, infused with his inspiring collecting stories and practical tips. 

Behind Art Nest with Asad Raza

Saturday, July 16, 3:00 PM

Sunday, July 17, 3:00 PM | FREE

Art Nest Artists talk about their processes and imaginations behind creating their first large-scale public artworks in an engaging conversation facilitated by Asad Raza, an expert in public art. Tours highlight three different artists on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Story Walk with Que Rock

Sunday, July 17, 1:30 PM | FREE

Que Rock, artist and TOAF61 Juror, will draw you in with his captivating storytelling, connecting the land and the everyday art around us through his stand-out artists of the Fair.  

Fair Awards Tour

Saturday, July 16, 10:30 AM 

Sunday, July 17, 10:30 AM | FREE

Discover a selection of TOAF61’s award recipients for a deeper look into their works and what made them stand out to judges. Hosted by TOAF Team. 

Live Painting with StreetARToronto (StART) 

July 15-17, Zone D

Watch talented mural and street artists create artwork live and in-person while they explore individual themes. Works are available for purchase! Bid on final works at the StreetARToronto Booth.

StART Photo Exhibit 

July 15-17, Zone D

At this exhibit, you can explore and purchase professional canvas and gator board-mounted photographs of some of the brilliant street art around Toronto. The current exhibition features the evolution of StART projects throughout its 10-year history, using Toronto's unique architecture as its picture frame - not just an amazing art piece, but a piece of Toronto history too! 

DANCE 

If I Should Stumble

Saturday, July 16, 12:00 PM & 2:30 PM

Sunday, July 17, 12:00 PM & 2:30 PM

"Vertigo is the conflict between the fear of falling and the desire to fall" - Salman Rushdie

This movement installation uses stairs as both stage and nemesis in its expression of a fall from grace as dancers unpack the resiliency and challenges of women in day-to-day life. Goodwin interprets themes of personal power, female comradery, and spectacle in her choreography and vision. 

Choreography: Jenn Goodwin

Song Credit: "Uja" from Tanya Tagaq's album Animism

Costume Design: Sarah Doucet

CHALKING - Presented by ĀNANDAṀ Dancetheatre

Friday, July 15, 7:00 PM  

Saturday, July 16, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM 

Sunday, July 17, 3:00 PM 

“What does it mean to align oneself in space and time?

Chalking deconstructs a body’s rotational possibilities -- turning, spinning – into a vocabulary of tension and resistance, inscribing absence at the very heart of the body’s presence with others. 

Five performers build and unbuild an idea of circularity. A specific language that is at once unfamiliar, yet somehow inclusive of the multiple aesthetics that the dancers represent is articulated. A language that in one way has the precision of an ancient form but one that is rooted in functionality rather than the decorative/narrative”

- Padmini Chettur

Choreography: Padmini Chettur.

Composition: Maarten Visser

Dance Artists: Nithya Garg, Tanveer Alam, Brandy Leary, Robert Kingsbury, Atri Nundy

Rehearsal Direction: Harikishan S Nair

ĀNANDAṀ Artistic Producer: Briana Brown

Supported by ArtworxTO, Toronto’s Year of Public Art

MUSIC 

In Partnership with Small World Music. Curated by Small World Music.

Big Smoke Brass Band

Friday, July 15, 5:00 PM | Beer Garden

Kick off the Fair with high-energy sound as Big Smoke Brass Band, a leading voice in the Canadian Brass scene erupts in joyful celebration.

Maria and The Band

Saturday, June 16, 1:00 PM | Beer Garden

Sunday, June 17, 4:00 PM | Beer Garden

Revel in vibrant music from the Canadian and Brazilian group rooted in traditional forró "pé de serra" music and shaped by influences ranging from blues to arabesque.

Ammoye

Saturday, June 16, 4:00 PM | Beer Garden

Sunday, June 17, 1:00 PM | Beer Garden

Move to Ammoye's future-forward reggae sounds that pull from dancehall to R&B influences as her infectious voice invites you to reflect on justice and empowerment.

DJ Sawtay

Saturday, June 16, 5:30 PM | Beer Garden

Revel and groove to DJ Sawtay's skilled spinning of Hip Hop, Funk, and Soul.

KIDS ZONE 

We invite our young audiences and their families to fun, stimulating, and high-quality art workshops with professional art educators and to a lovely art collecting program. 

Budding Art Buyers

Friday, July 15, 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Saturday, July 16, 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Sunday, July 17, 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Kids Zone @ Plaza

For young art lovers and budding collectors aged 14 and younger! Experience the beauty and wonder of discovering, searching and collecting a precious work of art. Purchase artworks by artists of the Fair for $10, $15, or $20 (cash only). Thank you to TOAF artists who have donated small artworks to this program to nurture the next generation of art admirers and collectors. No adults allowed! 

Colourful World by The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery 

Saturday, July 16 - Sunday, July 17

11:00 AM | 12:30 PM | 2:00 PM

Presented by The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery. 

Kids Zone @ Plaza

Dive into a world of colour, collage, and layers as Nilou Salimi facilitates this Power Kids workshop inspired by Biba Esaad, last year’s Power Plant Emerging Artist Award recipient. Explore a favourite memory or a dream for the future by creating outline images and layering on colour, texture, and design! Curated for young art makers, but all ages are welcome!

BEER GARDEN AND FOOD

Henderson Brewing Co

July 15-17 

For the seventh year, Henderson Brewing Co is the official beer partner of TOAF. Henderson will be onsite all weekend for visitors 19+ to enjoy. Henderson makes beers to spark ideas, tell stories and, most of all, be refreshing and enjoyable

Food Trucks

July 15-17 

An assortment of food trucks will be onsite all weekend. Vendors include: 

Dreamland Cotton Candy     

Tropic Love       

The Hungry Moon        

I love Churros          

Tacos Don tito  

For more information visit the main cultural hub for TOAF61 at TOAF.ca.