Canadian public art charity marks 10-year milestone

STEPS Public Art started big.

The organization's first project was transforming a 32-storey residential tower into a vertical canvas titled Phoenix Rising in St. James Town.

Themural was produced in collaboration with artist Sean Martindale and the Toronto Muralists and has received numerous honours since its production.

That was 10 years ago. Since then, the Canadian charity has worked on over 800 public art projects across the country and connected over 1,000 artists to paid opportunities.

"One thing I think is really powerful is when we can collaborate with artists who help to increase representation in public spaces, and then people feel more connected to the places they live," said Alexis Kane Speer, the organization's founder and executive director.

STEPS Public Art offers services in public art management, hoarding exhibits, cultural planning and artist capacity building. It also runs charitable programs that support artists and work to foster vibrant and inclusive communities.

"One of the important roles STEPS plays is we are really the connector between artists and the folks who host the work the property owner, municipality, community organization," Kane Speer said.

The organization gives artists the space to focus on their craft, said Anjuli Solanki, STEPS' program director.

"There is a lot of behind the scenes that people don't always recognize happens to develop an impactful piece that is also community engaged," Solanki said.

"There is a lot of financing and contracting, so we help take care of that so the artist can do what they really love doing."

Artists appreciate the connections

Artist Moises Frank worked with STEPS to create Sharing Stories of Migration a mural at Keele Streetand Eglinton Avenue W. that depicts Saikou Saho, a West African drummer, educator and cultural keeper, sharing knowledge with a student.

"I had the honour of working with him, doing some drumming classes and assisting him, and during that time I was really inspired by his ability to engage youth and tell stories," said the artist, who is also known as Luvs.

Frank says public art has the power to spark conversations within communities.

"A building that could just be mundane can become a place where people talk about something in their neighbourhood," Frank said.

"Having an organization that's helping to make so many projects like that happen, that'swhat makes Toronto beautiful in my opinion."

For newcomer Kseniya Tsoy, securing a space for her artistic vision at Finch subway station was "a dream come true."

Crossroads is a mural project that explores the unique cultural tapestry of Toronto's Willowdale neighbourhood. Tsoy said it was created alongside more than 150 community members.

"Each symbol in the mural was suggested by people from various diverse backgrounds," Tsoy said, adding securing the site was the most challenging aspect of the project for her.

"STEPS found this amazing site, a TTC station, which is a huge honour for me to create art in a public space visited by thousands of people daily."

Art in unexpected places

Kane Speer says STEPS is increasingly working with partnersthat haven't historically been connected to the art world, such ashealthcare spaces,which she sees as an optimistic sign that more people are embracing the benefits of public art.

"I think there is a growing body of support for the role art can play in well-being," shesaid. "I'm excited to collaborate with people outside arts and culture spaces."

In 2023 alone, the organization says it paid over $850,000 in fees to artists and designers, many of them emerging artists from diverse backgrounds.

"We're excited about what we've accomplished in the last 10 years, and we're looking forward to seeing what the next ten years will bring," Kane Speer said.