A look back at Year One at Artscape Daniels Launchpad
On November 27, Artscape Daniels Launchpad celebrated one year of opening its doors to Toronto’s creative community. Over the year, Launchpad has provided learning and networking opportunities to over 4,500 creatives from our community. Using Launchpad’s creative studios, members have launched fashion lines, prototyped new furniture designs, recorded tracks, handcrafted jewellery and created ground-breaking, immersive installations. Here’s a brief look at some of this year’s most important milestones:
The Toronto Artscape Foundation Bursary Program
The Toronto Artscape Foundation Launchpad Bursary program launched in March with our first cohort of emerging creatives. Since then, we’ve welcomed four more cohorts for more than 640 recipients. Bursary recipients received access to the Creative Studios, Digital Media Lab workshops and credits, Launchpad Learning programs and workshops, as well as tickets to social events. The Toronto Artscape Foundation aims to fund 1/3 of all Launchpad members through the Bursary program, thanks to the generous support of funders.
The Royal Conservatory of Music headlined CONNECTIONS in 2019 with R&B and Hip Hop covers in The Commons.
CONNECTIONS, Launchpad’s Monthly Event Series
Launchpad’s monthly CONNECTIONS event brings together 300 artists and creative industry professionals in a vibrant, playful and social atmosphere that reflects the creativity, diversity and energy of the Launchpad community. Members of the Launchpad community are chosen to showcase their work through large-scale, multimedia, interactive activations in the facility’s studios alongside leading Toronto and international artists.
COFO X Launchpad Design Challenge
Our partners COFO Design launched an exclusive design challenge for Launchpad members, focused on small household goods, home decor items and accessories. Winners of the challenge had the chance to see their designs come to life and into production for an upcoming COFO Design collection. Winners will be announced soon!
Doors Open Toronto
In May, Artscape Daniels Launchpad participated in Doors Open Toronto, an annual event showcasing some of the most architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across Toronto. Attendees got a tour of Quadrangle’s award-winning design, with an inside look at the innovation that takes place at Launchpad on the daily.
Blāque Book featured a live mannequin showcase at Nuit Blanche 2019, featuring the fashion designs of Launchpad Members, Mer Des Dieux and Zoba Martin. (Photo: Lindsay Kwan)
Nuit Blanche at Launchpad
On October 5, Artscape Daniels Launchpad pulled an all-nighter for Nuit Blanche, with three independent projects by boundary conditions / performance assembly, Gustavo Cerquera Benjumea and Mønochef, as well numerous pop-up art installations by Launchpad Members AY Lawson, Jasmine Yerbury, Samantha-Jane Ince, Karn Goode, Emma Burzynski and Blāque Book featuring Mer Des Dieux and Zoba Martin designs. Thousands of people flocked to Launchpad as an anchor destination in the new Waterfront district.
Creative Studio and Digital Media Lab Workshops
Officially launched in Fall 2019, the Creative Studio and Digital Media Lab workshops provide an opportunity for artists and aspiring artists to unleash their creativity in everything from indigo dyeing to 3D printing, lost wax casting to using the CNC Router. Take a look at the full offering here.
Rock Your Reel Warner Music Canada
Warner Music Canada presented an exclusive opportunity for Artscape Daniels Launchpad members to create original video content for musical artist, Big Wreck. Launchpad Member, Mike Regis was awarded $3,500 to produce and deliver a conceptual music video based on the new song, One More Chance.
Artscape Daniels Launchpad held its first SUMMIT, a two-day event focused on digital growth for creatives.
Launchpad SUMMIT – Digital growth for creatives
From November 30-December 1, Launchpad held its first SUMMIT, a two-day event that welcomed over 500 attendees. Fireside chats, panel discussions and hands-on workshops featured 70+ creative luminaries such as Fashion Designer Hayley Elsaesser, Director X and Toronto Raptor, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, as well as speakers from DesignTO, Vice, Etsy Canada, Nuit Blanche, ImagineNATIVE, Google Canada, Sony Music Entertainment, TIFF, Arts & Crafts, Refinery29, and more.
Of course, our most important milestone has been the incredible growth of Launchpad’s creative community. Whether you are an active member working in the Creative Studios daily or an emerging creative attending several Launchpad Learning sessions over the year, you have made Launchpad’s first year a memorable one.
