Call for Submissions: The Bentway’s 2019 Community Incubation Program

The Bentway is accepting proposals from emerging artists, designers, urbanists, environmentalists, community organizations, and others for its Community Incubation Program, which animates The Bentway’s grounds through innovative and engaging community programs.

The Community Incubation Program assists a select group of emerging individuals and organizations to incubate innovative and engaging community programs. Examples of funded programs could include temporary public art installations; drop-in music, dance, and performing arts programs; film screenings; community meals; social good initiatives; environmental education sessions/workshops and more. Successful applicants will receive funding, as well as operational planning and marketing support.

Programs must be temporary in nature and take place between September 1 and November 30, 2019.Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider programs that take place during the week, as opposed to solely on weekends, bearing in mind the surrounding communities’ needs and The Bentway’s ongoing calendar of events.

Read the full call >>
Download the application >>
Apply online >>

THEME
The theme for the 2019 Community Incubation Program is Second Nature. The Bentway’s 2019 Community Incubation Program explores the city’s increasingly tenuous connection to natural cycles and systems and questions whether our personal realignment to these phenomena is possible, given how far we have evolved.

CRITERIA
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• The perceived strength of the proposed program
• A demonstrated plan for execution of the proposed program
• The potential impact of the program on The Bentway’s 7 neighbourhoods (Bathurst Quay, CityPlace, Exhibition Place, Fort York, Liberty Village, Niagara, Wellington Place) and their residents.
• The efficacy of the proposed marketing and promotions strategy in engaging the public
• The ability to effectively meet The Bentway’s programming objectives and principles

PLEASE NOTE
The Community Incubation Program is open to individuals and non-profit or charitable organizations who identify as “emerging”. Proposals from corporate partners — unless submitted in partnership with a non-corporate individual or organization — will not be considered.

Programs must adhere to The Bentway’s policies regarding alcoholic beverage service/sales and must also adhere to The Bentway’s Good Neighbour Policy regarding excessive noise after 9:00 PM on weekdays

HOW TO APPLY
Proposals may be submitted online or via email. Please submit the completed proposal via email with the subject line Community Incubation Program 2019 to Community@TheBentway.ca.

Applications will be subject to 2 rounds of approval. Initial applications will be reviewed by The Bentway Programming and Communications staff and those successfully chosen in the first round will be invited to submit a full application, which will be evaluated by the Community Advisory Committee. The application is due April 5 at 12pm.

All submissions are considered confidential.

If you have any questions please reach out to Sarah Munro, Manager of Programming, smunro@thebentway.ca or 416-304-0222 x400.

The Community Incubation Program is overseen by The Bentway’s Community Advisory Committee, whose role it is to ensure that The Bentway remains relevant, inclusive, connected, and responsive to its local community.

About The Bentway
The Bentway is a unique public space that transforms a 1.75km section of land under Toronto’s downtown highway, the Gardiner Expressway, into a new artist canvas and programming platform. Since opening to the public in January 2018, The Bentway has welcomed over 150,000 visitors to experience free year-round programming including public art installations, performances, festivals, recreational activities, and much more. The Bentway is a fully accessible public space.

thebentway.ca
@thebentway

Image: This is Our Place by I/O Movement. Part of the 2018 Community Incubation Program. Photo by Tyler Angell Photography.