In an article in the Guardian last week, Charlotte Higgins quoted prime minister Tony Blair: “London has become the creative capital of the world. There have been times when that accolade would have gone to Paris, or Berlin or to New York. Now it belongs here.”

As Canada’s largest art market, Toronto may not have London’s creative attitude, or even that of Paris or Berlin, or Chicago for that matter…(or even Montreal, you might argue…) but that’s not to say that we haven’t got it going on. We do.

And VoCA says it’s high time to celebrate.

Image: gizmodo.com

Ten things we love about the Toronto art scene (in no particular order):

1. OUR MAYOR DAVID MILLER. Beginning with his unbridled enthusiasm for Toronto’s Nuit Blanche this past fall, Mayor Miller continued to support the arts by denouncing the Ontario Municipal Board’s (OMB) approval of three condo developments in the West Queen West triangle. “Creative industries drive Toronto’s economy…” said Mayor Miller. “West Queen West is home to a critical mass of artists and others who make Toronto’s cultural industry what it is….Unfortunately…the vibrancy and vitality of this neighbourhood and the city’s creative community at large is threatened.”

Mayor Miller. Image: enwave.com

2. REALLY GOOD ART, CHEAP. While prices for emerging artists in London and New York skyrocket, there are world-class artists living and working in this city. You can buy exceptional work from excellent, motivated and well-run galleries for under $5000. Look at Clint Roenisch Gallery, Birch Libralato, Diaz Contemporary. Try that in London.

3. YDESSA HENDELES. Our national treasure. Her exhibitions equal, in breadth and quality, the top curated collections in Europe – and we’re not talking about Saatchi. Where would New Yorkers go for a similar experience?

4. THE POWER PLANT TALKS. The best thing about the schedule of internationally-acclaimed curators, artists and collectors that speak at the Power Plant each year is that the talks are rarely sold out. Simon Starling, Robert Storr, Fiona Banner are just some recent speakers…

Turner Prize-winning artist Simon Starling. Image: telegraph.co.uk

5. REEL ARTISTS FILM FESTIVAL. Collector and Associate Director of the Canadian Art Foundation, Ann Webb has organized an annual art film fest through the Canadian Art Foundation that this year included documentaries on artists Vanessa Beecroft, Annie Pootoogook, Richard Tuttle and (VoCA favorite) John Baldessari.

Artist Matthew Barney. Image: revolvergoup.com

6. OAKVILLE GALLERIES. This small gallery has a great collection and is one of Toronto’s best kept secrets. They have often shown under-the-radar national and international artists who have gone on to great acclaim. Stephen Andrews, Roy Arden, Louise Noguchi, Christian Marclay, David Rokeby, Daniel Olson, Jennifer Stillwell, Karilee Fulgem, Paulette Phillips and Alain Paiement, to name a few.

Roy Arden, Crow 2002. Image: monteclarkgallery.com

7. CONTACT PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL. Each year, this struggling festival seems to barely make it, but it always manages to make a big impact on the city. Photo essays are displayed throughout subway stations, on advertising billboards and in art galleries throughout the city. A glossy magazine and festival guide is published, portfolio reviews are organized and generally the whole city gets an eyeful of photography throughout the month of May.

8. Yes, the DRAKE AND GLADSTONE HOTELS. To say that Mr. Stober and Ms. Zeidler’s visions have provided an anchor to the Queen West art and design district is no understatement, is it? The New York Times doesn’t think so.

The Drake Hotel. Image: gorbetdesign.com

9. SARA DIAMOND AT OCAD. As President, Ms. Diamond is committed to turning the Ontario College of Art and Design into an art college for the future. International artists like Michael Snow, Lu Jie, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller speak regularly, and the new OCAD Professional Gallery will open this April with no less a show than the excellent New York/Berlin/Bankok based Thai artist (and OCAD alumnus) Rirkrit Tiravanija.

Rirkrit Tiravanija, Untitled, 2002 at Gavin Brown’s Enterprise, NYC. Image: columbia.edu

10. THE AGYU. The Art Gallery at York Unveristy, under the direction of Philip Monk, has quietly beaten the odds by bringing exceptional programming (Stan Douglas, Fiona Tan, Jeremy Deller, Liam Gillick…anyone?) and unusual initiatives (sponsoring Jeremy Laing’s fashion show at New York fashion week) to an out-of-the-way location. Next month three of Toronto’s more promising artists (Kristan Horton, Daniel Cockburn, Diane Borsato) will be staging performances in collaboration with music/dance/theatre students for one night only.

Stay tuned to VoCA for more info…