Message From the Director

FALL 2011

Dear Friends,

Just the other night, an artist friend – who, like me, is a recent immigrant to Canada – commented that the Koffler is making itself an integral part of the Toronto, and by extension, the Canadian “mosaic.” I asked what she meant, and she said that Toronto is the most diverse city in the world, comprised of millions of stories, and that the Koffler is now a profound voice within those stories. I pressed further, and she added, “Look at all the programming you are doing of all different kinds, all over the city. You’ve decentralized from one centre into different venues within the diverse Toronto communities, making the Koffler part of the larger multicultural mosaic.”

I had to reflect on her comments. It’s true, our spectacular new building is still in process and we will be breaking ground soon, but in the meantime we’ve been experimental, bringing our programs to many thousands throughout the GTA. It’s a model we may continue to follow even after we have our own permanent home. After all, to truly make a difference in communities, shouldn’t we also go out to them?

This leads me to welcoming you to our season. Our new 2011-12 Program Guide is now available – click here to download. This is the guide to keep and refer to all year long as it comprises the full range of our exhibitions, literary, music, dance and visual arts programs and classes. What’s a contemporary Jewish cultural institution doing presenting a show about artists’ fascination with mandalas? Or one artist’s vision of the historic and geographical mapping of our city? Come and find out at the Koffler Gallery Off-Site at 80 Spadina. We are honoured to present an entire day of Jewish literary programs at this year’s International Festival of Authors. We’re thrilled to work with the Art Gallery of Ontario on related programs for their major fall exhibition. At last, our newly named Toronto Jewish Book Festival will take place downtown at the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon at the Toronto Reference Library and culminate with the Helen and Stan Vine Canadian Jewish Book Awards. And, as always, our classes in visual art, music, literature, dance and ceramics continue at our facilities in the Prosserman JCC on the Sherman Campus.

A great institution needs a great Board of Directors, committee chairs, loyal members, new and ongoing supporters, artists, students, scholars, critics, volunteers and staff. We thank you all. If you have not yet become an Envision member, please consider joining. We have amazing member evenings lined up that will give you access to artists, galleries and experiences that you cannot find anywhere else.

So mark your calendars and be part of the conversation!

Lori Starr
Executive Director
Koffler Centre of the Arts