Toronto
#1 Art & Design Event
The international arts festival grew to 19 days this year from 10, and included 1,000 artists. A highlight was the on-stage conversation between Amal Clooney and her journalist father-in-law at Roy Thomson Hall during the celeb lawyer’s first visit to Toronto. Sponsors included the province of Ontario and Volvo. Next: June 2019
Toronto
#2 Art & Design Event (up from #3)
The all-night art crawl is expanding eastward into the community of Scarborough in 2018, and it will feature more than 75 contemporary art projects created by some 300 local, national, and international artists. Shopping center Scarborough Town Centre is a new sponsor this year. Next: September 29, 2018
Ottawa
#3 Art & Design Event (up from #4)
Returning to Ottawa’s National Gallery of Canada, the cocktail reception for the country’s best contemporary artists takes place in the Scotiabank Great Hall. Prize money will more than double in 2018, with a total of $240,000 being awarded—including $100,000 to the winner. Grocer Sobeys remains the title sponsor. Next: November 14, 2018
Toronto
#4 Art & Design Event (up from #5)
The independent design festival hosted a record 140,000 attendees at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in 2018 and will grow again in 2019, expanding to 10 days from seven. George Brown College sponsors the fourth annual symposium next year, titled Unlocking the Future of Work. Next: January 18-27, 2019
Toronto
#5 Art & Design Event (up from #6)
With RBC as the presenting sponsor, this international contemporary and modern art fair returns to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in 2018. Attendance grew to a record 23,500 in 2017, when talks, tours, and offsite V.I.P. events helped boost traffic and sales to private collectors and museums. Next: October 26-29, 2018
Toronto
#6 Art & Design Event
About one million viewers took in the world’s largest photography event this year, with 200 exhibits and happenings in major museums, galleries, and artist-run centers. Scotiabank returned as the title sponsor and pop-up marketer Big Digital was a new sponsor. Next: May 1-31, 2019
Toronto
#7 Art & Design Event
“Film, the Great Romance” was the theme for Toronto’s 2018 behind-the-scenes buildings tour, which allowed the public to tour 55 buildings featured in the Toronto film and TV industry. Great Gulf remained the presenting sponsor and Carpenters and Allied Workers Local 27 also provided support. Next: May 25-26, 2019
Ottawa
#8 Art & Design Event
In a ceremony at the Governor General’s residence, Rideau Hall, eight artists each received $25,000 and were feted for their artistic achievements. Vernissage took place at the National Gallery of Canada this year, and the Canada Council for the Arts was the main funder. Next: Spring 2019
Toronto
#9 Art & Design Event (up from #10)
Canada’s largest, longest-running contemporary outdoor art fair debuted a new brand identity this year and modified its name, becoming a “fair” rather than an “exhibition.” Artist participation increased to 360 and visitors increased to 120,000. Sponsors included Shopify and Henderson Brewing Company. Next: July 2019
Montreal
#10 Art & Design Event
The new admission fee at the art fair celebrating all things paper was the likely cause for the drop in visitors in 2018, from about 18,000 to 11,000, but sales of art works increased by 17 percent to $1.2 million. Loto Québec returned as a sponsor. For 2019, look for a doubling of exhibition space. Next: April 26-28, 2019
Toronto
#11 Art & Design Event
The three-day event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018, drawing more than 53,000 design fans to experience work from more than 240 international exhibitors, as well as conferences, parties, and workshops. Miele and Caesarstone were sponsors. Next: January 17-20, 2019
Ottawa
#12 Art & Design Event
The new Canada Room at the National Arts Centre hosted 500 arts patrons for dinner, with another 1,800 joining for the sold-out performance in Southam Hall. Founder Peter Herrndorf received a special award from former astronaut and Governor General Julie Payette. Next: June 2019
