The Artist Project Toronto returns to Liberty Grand

Art enthusiasts and novices alike can once again look forward to The Artist Project Toronto, as it announces its return to the Liberty Grand for an independent artist fair. A four-day exhibition and sale of contemporary fine art, The Artist Project Toronto will bring together a carefully juried selection of established and emerging artists under one roof Thursday, March 5 to Sunday, March 8.

Created by MMPI Canada, the group behind The One of a Kind and The Interior Design shows, The Artist Project Toronto will welcome close to 150 juried independent artists selected to showcase their work to gallerists, collectors and art enthusiasts in an intimate environment. Selected by a new jury, including Betty Ann Jordan, arts journalist and owner of Art InSite (returning); Christian Bernard Singer, artist and art instructor; and Melony Ward, Publisher, Canadian Art, approximately 85 per cent of the artists will be from Canada.

“We are excited to present the second annual Artist Project Toronto once again at the Liberty Grand,” said Patti Stewart, Vice-President of MMPI Canada. “This year’s jury has done an excellent job in selecting 150 artists from the hundreds of applications we received. I think visitors will be thrilled with both the quality and diversity of work at this year’s fair.”

Supporting the development of young artists, The Artist Project Toronto will once again host the popular Untapped! Emerging Artist Competition. Selected from hundreds of entries, the jury will award 14 up-and-coming artists a free space in the 2009 show. Current students and recent graduates (within three years of graduating) are invited to apply and submissions will be accepted until Monday, January 12. Visitors to the show will be able to meet the winners and cast their vote for the newly created Untapped People’s Choice Award, sponsored by Canadian Art magazine. For more information, please visit http://www.theartistprojecttoronto.com/Untapped!_Competition.php .

New this year will be a video art component, in addition to the Chocolate Competition, where exhibiting artists will create works based on the theme of chocolate be it the taste, colour or texture. Fine art discussions, hosted by leading Toronto art and design experts such as Betty Ann Jordan and Mark Challen, of House and Home Media, will take place throughout the four-day event. Full schedule of events to be announced in January.

Tickets and event details are now available online or onsite from March 5 to 8.

Regular Admission: $12 ($10 online) for adults; $8 for seniors and students

Opening Night Preview Admission: $25 ($23 online)

A portion of opening night proceeds will be donated to SKETCH, a charitable organization that creates art-making opportunities for young people who live street-involved and homeless or who are considered to be at risk (www.sketch.ca).