Playing in Public

Creator: The Bentway

Project Website: https://play.thebentway.ca

Date of Release: July 7, 2021

The Playing In Public project, held July 2021, involved the exhibition of 16 interactive, playable artist projects – including installations, roaming performances, and pop-experiences – in unconventional spaces like under elevated highways, trails, condo courtyards, and sidewalks. Charting a route between these pieces was a connective “play path”, injecting micro-moments of historical references, reflections, and play into daily strolls around the block. The project sought to celebrate the past, present, and future of play in Toronto, and highlight role play has had in shaping the city. The exhibit also explored how play will continue to change in the post-COVID city, and how it will impact the Toronto’s urban recovery.

Playing in Public put a new spin on history and heritage, using creativity, interactivity, and playfulness, creating new entry points for audiences of all ages, education levels, and abilities. The 16 participating artist groups in Playing in Public hailed from a range of backgrounds, ethnicities, ages, and home-cities, drawing from a range of identities and experiences into their practices.