Art Toronto: Shining a light on emerging artists in challenging times

During the early days of the pandemic, we were confronted with the question of how we connect with others when we can’t share the same space. For the arts community, this disconnect—the abandonment of the physical spaces it relies on like museums, galleries and shared studios—presented a philosophical dilemma.

It’s one the arts ecosystem has had to sit with to find a way forward, says Stephanie Lupinacci, senior manager of Social Impact at RBC.

We’re so accustomed to enjoying or consuming [art] physically—[but] we are not entering the digital era, we’re in it, says Lupinacci. COVID-19 has expanded that exponentially by, five or ten years … and I think, with the art communities, we really didn’t give much consideration to what that means for artists.

Rethinking how to support the arts in a digital world

Artists help us make sense of who we are and the time we’re living through—that nowness we so often lose between future and past. In a way, COVID-19 called on the arts ecosystem that supports and funds artists to also reflect the times we’re living in. For arts organizations, says Lupinacci, that means adapting the way it promotes the arts by giving equal weight to both person-to-person interactions and digital exposure.

How are we ensuring all of our programs that we’re funding still offer the physical in-person [experience] when we actually reconvene to the new normal? she asks. But it’s also about how the ecosystem ensures we continue on that digital journey and offer exposure opportunities that are enabling our artists to continue to profile and expand their networks through digital experiences.

The RBC-supported Art Toronto 2020 was a prime example of that transitionary moment for artists. The annual event—dubbed “Canada’s Art Fair”—stitches together virtual exhibitions, curated collections, talks and tours in galleries and museums across Canada . Mia Nielson, director of Art Toronto, says: “it’s exciting to work with a committed partner in RBC, their support of the art market and fostering culture in Canada is crucial to creators.”

Emerging Canadian artists share their unique points of view in video series

Under the RBC Emerging Artists Project , a video series, From Within, profiles five of Canada’s notable emerging visual artists, the space they work in and their unique view of the world.

The vision for the series was not just to look at what emerging artists are creating but to hear them reflect on what motivates them to create—what shapes their inspiration and outlook on the world? When we understand an artist’s journey, we have a deeper understanding and appreciation for their work.

RBC has a long tradition of supporting the art community in Canada, says David Agnew, CEO of RBC Wealth Management Canada. We’re proud to continue our lead sponsorship of Art Toronto and bring together the best of the Canadian art community in this virtual environment.

Finding new audiences across Canada

Lupinacci says a digital pivot is about safeguarding and protecting artists, allowing for digital growth in a world that’s shown no sign of going back to the way it was before. We’re providing them a bigger and a broader bandwidth, she says. It gives Canadians across the country, whether they’re in a remote community or major city with multiple galleries, the opportunity to experience artists and art they might not be able to otherwise find.

The video series, which profiles Anique Jordan, Marigold Santos, Jagdeep Raina, Darcie Bernhardt and Caroline Monnet, was presented virtually at Art Toronto 2020.

We know the true nature of artists is to be able to share their artwork and it’s really important to us that RBC is providing them opportunities to showcase and provide exposure opportunities to them, says Lupinacci.

“The new world will blend virtual and physical environments but beyond that, how we interact and how we share spaces are impossible questions to answer at this moment in time.”