Organization
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
About
Canada's leading contemporary outdoor art fair has been happening every second weekend in July since 1961, rain or shine, in the heart of downtown Toronto at Nathan Phillips Square. Over 360 emerging and established contemporary visual artists and makers, working in an array of disciplines, come together to showcase and sell their work directly to the public. The artist is always present at Toronto Outdoor Art Fair. 130,000 art lovers and collectors flock to Toronto every year to discover new works and new talents for free in a vibrant and welcoming environment. Collectively our visitors spend over 2 million dollars* on buying art, contributing to the economic prosperity of our participating artists and the cultural vibrancy of our city.
Local Information
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Fair pivoted to an online platform. For 2021 we plan to offer a hybrid event, or artists can choose to participate online only from anywhere in the world. During a time where showcase and sales opportunities for artists have halted due to the pandemic, TOAF was able to replicate the sense of community and enthusiasm for contemporary art that has been woven into TOAF’s DNA for the past 59 years. By hosting artist-led Studio Tours, Instagram Live artist chats and virtual panel discussions, TOAF became the online hub for artists and art lovers to gather and connect. Showcasing 300+ participating artists, the first online iteration of the fair created income and exposure for independent artists during a much needed time. For the month of July alone, TOAF garnered over 800,000 page views—a 300% increase in visitor traffic to the website and facilitated sales of over 600 artworks throughout Canada, the US, and as far as Japan and Hong Kong.
Network Affiliations
No network affiliations