Artist impression of the proposed art trail on Villiers Island. Photography courtesy: Norm Li AG+I
Toronto has received a $25m donation to create an outdoor public art trail along its waterfront – the largest art donation in the city’s history.
The Pierre Lassonde Family Foundation offered the donation at a press conference at Sugar Beach on 28 June 2022. Around $10m will fund two permanent artworks – one by a Canadian artist and the other by an international artist – at Villier’s Island in Toronto’s Port Lands.
The other $15m will be used to create a new non-profit organisation to manage the art trail, which will be open-air, free and accessible to the public. In addition to the permanent works, a curated programme of contemporary artworks by local, national and international artists will also be in rotation.
Outdoor museums, trails and walking routes gained prominence during the pandemic, especially in cities when lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions shuttered museums and art galleries. See more about the initiative at Waterfront Toronto.
