DesignTO Festival 2020 Registration for Independent Projects

The DesignTO Festival brings people together to celebrate contemporary design across the city January 17-26, 2020.

Join the Festival to become a part of an exciting network of creative people, exhibitions, events, and a captive audience of designers and design-lovers. Last year the Festival had 100+ events and exhibitions across the city with 150K+ visitors. From design talks to experimental installations to prototypes to opening parties and curated exhibitions, the Festival featured the work of over 600 artists and designers.

Independently-produced events, exhibitions, and window installations are integral to the Festival’s structure. We welcome all who want to present, discuss, demonstrate, or exhibit design in any field and/or related disciplines. Exhibitors include artists, designers, design firms, local businesses, academic and cultural institutions, and students. Exhibitors are responsible for arranging their own venue in the city of Toronto, including spaces such as galleries, studios, workshops, cafés, schools, lobbies, and businesses.

The 10th annual DesignTO Festival runs January 17-26, 2020, for 10 days. Window installations must run for the entire week, events must take place during the week, and exhibitions must run during some part of the week. Window installations and exhibitions can start before and/or end after Festival Week.

Your exhibitor registration includes:

• A listing on the online Festival Schedule (one page with up to 6 images, 200-word description, 1 associated reception or other event);
• A listing on the Festival mobile App (one page with up to 6 images, 40-word description, 1 associated reception or other event);
• A listing in the printed Festival Guide (event or exhibition name, dates, address, 40-word description) with an anticipated distribution of 10,000 copies city-wide;
• Inclusion in one “What to do” daily e-newsletter; and
• DesignTO venue signage (e.g. Festival window cling, not project-specific).

Deadlines

Early Bird Registration Deadline: Saturday, August 31, 2019 by 11:59pm EST.
Final Registration Deadline: Friday, October 4, 2019 by 11:59pm EST.
Content Deadline (for all listings): Friday, October 18, 2019 by 11:59pm EST.

Categories

Window installation
Event
Exhibition

Fees

$225 + HST for solo designer or ad hoc collective
$275 + HST for small businesses (including shops, artist-run centres, and private galleries)
$350 + HST for large businesses and institutions

All registrations will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please expect confirmation by email within one week of submission. Once accepted, payment is required by e-transfer. Institutions have the option to pay by cheque.

Register by August 31, 2019 and save $25.

Definitions

• A window installation runs the whole duration of Festival Week, and is visible to the public 24 hours a day from the outside of your venue. Depending on the space, the installation may also be viewable from inside your venue during regular business/gallery hours.
• An event runs one day during Festival Week, for a set period of time. For example, events can include a talk, tour, product launch, film screening, party, or workshop.
• An exhibition runs more than one day during Festival Week. It is open to the public during regular business/gallery hours, and may include a window component. It can start before Festival Week, and end after Festival Week. It may also include an opening or closing reception, or artist/designer’s talk.

Why Participate?

• Be a part of Toronto’s diverse art and design community
• Show your work to an enthusiastic audience of designers and design-lovers
• Get exposure through the Festival’s website, mobile App, social media, press releases, e-newsletters, and printed guide distributed at all Festival venues
• Meet and build relationships with new artists, designers, educators, curators, and manufacturers
• Explore new ideas
• Add to your brand capital by self-producing your own programming
• Engage with a captive audience for less than standard advertising rates

Questions?

• See our Frequently Asked Questions page
• Visit us online to see last year’s roster of events, exhibitions, and window installations: http://designto.org/2019-schedule/
• Email questions to Head of Programming Robyn Wilcox: robyn [at] designto.org