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Lakeshore Arts will be teaming up with artists to add a series of new murals to the Eighth Street

Skatepark this summer. The ongoing Eighth Street Skatepark Murals project aims to enhance the skatepark while supporting local artists and has been made possible with support and enthusiasm from Councillor Mark Grimes.

The Eighth Street Skatepark Murals Project is an ongoing project initiated by Lakeshore Arts in 2017, with the goal to enhance the Etobicoke-Lakeshore community skatepark and showcase the talents of local mural artists. The murals painted this summer will add to the already-existing murals created since 2017.

This summer 2020, with funding allocated by Councillor Grimes and through City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto program, Lakeshore Arts will manage the creation of four new murals at the skatepark as well as provide some maintenance to some of the already existing murals. In addition to the hiring of professional artists, this year’s project will provide mentorship in the field of mural art through opportunities for artist assistants, a mural project coordinator, and local youth, in an effort to build and support the mural art talent in the city.

Project staff visited the skatepark in June to interview those who use the park and to receive community feedback about the project. Throughout the month of July, community members, the skate community, and individuals who use the skatepark are encouraged to fill out an online community survey to share ideas for the types of murals or themes they would like to see at the skatepark.

This year’s Call for Artists seeks exciting concepts describing how artists would approach designing a skatepark mural that responds to the existing space in an innovative or playful way. Interested artists must apply by August 5, 2020.

Additional information and updates on the project, including the Call for Artists, and the online community feedback survey link can be found on the Lakeshore Arts website at www.lakeshorearts.ca/eighth-street-skatepark-mural-project/.

Lakeshore Arts is a registered charitable not for profit community arts organization dedicated to engaging all peoples using multidisciplinary art forms as a way of enriching lives and strengthening Toronto’s communities. 

StreetARToronto (StART) is a suite of innovative programs designed specifically for streets and public spaces. Initiated in 2012 as an integral part of the City’s Graffiti Management Plan, StART has been successful in reducing graffiti vandalism and replacing it with vibrant, colourful, community-engaged street art. StART programs encourage active transportation (walking and cycling), make our streets more beautiful and safe, showcase local artists, mentor emerging talent, reduce overall infrastructure maintenance costs and more.