TOAF Professional Development Series

An exciting opportunity has knocked at your door — whether it’s a curator’s invitation, gallery representation, a mural commission, a book cover, or a corporate acquisition. Are you ready to make the most of it?

This session will cover navigating contracts, fee negotiations, collaborations, and professional expectations. 

Speakers: Aline Setton, Artist; Lee Petrie, Curator, Gladstone House, The Broadview Hotel, and The Postmark Hotel; and Dianna Witte, Director, Dianna Witte Gallery.

Moderator: Josh Heuman, Head of Artistic Engagement, Koffler Arts 

Dianna Witte is a Toronto-based director and curator of Dianna Witte Gallery, established in 2002 with co-founder Ric Santon. Recognized for her strong curatorial direction and leadership, Witte has played a central role in identifying local and global artists on the cusp of major acclaim. Her work has had a measurable impact on Toronto’s contemporary art scene by providing a sustained platform for artists at pivotal stages in their careers and contributing to the cultural vitality of the city’s art landscape. The gallery has exhibited a diverse roster of artists, including distinguished figures such as Anna Valdez, Per Adolfsen, Jeremy Miranda, and Shara Hughes, as well as rising talents like Vick Naresh, Chloe Chlumecky and Isabella Vella.

Her legendary exhibitions are celebrated for the free beer and thoughtful curation. Outside of the gallery, Witte is also an avid bird-whisperer, car karaokeist, and lifelong backstage pass holder.

Lee Petrie (BA, MA, MMSt) is a curator and arts program manager based in Toronto. In her 25 year career, Lee has worked with hundreds of artists to bring exhibitions and programs to Toronto Pearson International Airport, the Living Arts Centre, the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and the Varley Art Gallery. Lee is Curator for Archive Hospitality, which operates Gladstone House and The Broadview Hotel in Toronto and The Postmark Hotel in Newmarket. She manages the creation and installation of art in the hotels and the resident artist program at Gladstone House. Lee is also Chair of the Toronto Public Art Commission.

Aline Setton (b. 1993) is a Latin American visual artist and first-generation immigrant based between Toronto, Canada and São Paulo, Brazil. Her formation spans three countries: she first studied architecture in São Paulo, where she developed a foundational interest in the built environment and its influence on behaviour and identity. Later expanded her training in the United States, studying studio arts and cinematography, which deepened her understanding of image construction and spatial narration. Then relocating to Toronto, where Setton has established an active studio practice that bridges these interdisciplinary influences.

Working across painting, sculpture, and installation, Setton invites viewers to become active participants in her work. In her two-dimensional pieces, she uses multiple perspectives and subtle illusions of depth to draw the public into compositions built from fragmented archival and personal images. Through layering and juxtaposition, she brings different moments and viewpoints into coexistence, creating narratives that reflect on memory, transformation, and the experience of moving between places. In her three-dimensional works, viewers can navigate her spatial constructions directly, encountering everyday materials and architectural references through new, unexpected lenses.

Josh Heuman is currently Head of Artistic Engagement at Koffler Arts where he is focused on developing a wide array of public programs for audiences of all ages. He has held previous positions in education, exhibitions, and administration at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Salt Lake Art Center; Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University; and Joslyn Art Museum. Heuman has delivered guest lectures and participated in panel discussions at numerous galleries/museums and postsecondary institutions. He earned a BA in Visual Art and MA in Art History at York University.

Experienced curators and artists share insights on navigating the field of temporary public art. The discussion will cover crafting compelling proposals, responding to commissions, and presenting the feasibility of your project in clear, accessible terms to selection panels. How to collaborate with curators and technical teams, and access the materials, resources, and support to bring concepts to life.

Speakers: Rui Pimenta, Curator; Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster, Artist-Duo. 

Moderator: Josh Heuman, Head of Artistic Engagement, Koffler Arts

Julia Jamrozik and Coryn Kempster are a Toronto-based artist duo who have collaborated since 2003. Together they create spaces and objects that interrupt everyday situations in critically engaging and playful ways.  As a multi-disciplinary practice, they operate at a variety of scales, from temporary installations to permanent public artworks. Their practice focuses on ‘social infrastructures’ which seek to build community by fostering playful interactions in physical space. Their academic research focuses on the role of play in the built environment and alternative methods of documentation as a form of historic preservation. They are the authors of “Growing up Modern: Childhoods in Iconic Homes” (Birkhäuser, 2021). 

Their work is in the public art collections of the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly Albright-Knox), Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts (CEPA Gallery) and the Cleveland Public Library. They have exhibited in galleries, produced temporary installations and realized permanent public artworks in Canada, USA, Germany, France, Italy and South Korea, including solo shows at Vtape in Toronto, the Weissenhofwerkstatt in Stuttgart and Gallery Kolektiv 318 in Marseille.

Rui Pimenta practiced as a visual artist from 2000-2014, exhibiting his work extensively in Canada and internationally. Since then his creative focus has shifted towards programming and curatoriation. In 2009 he founded Art Spin, an arts organization now entering its 13th year of presenting site-specific, multidisciplinary programming in unique/alternative spaces and best known for its bicycle art tours. He was the Co-Director for Median Contemporary (2008-10) and has curated projects for the Toronto Artists Project, the Toronto Outdoor Exhibition, Eastern Front Gallery and the Government of Portugal. He has served on various arts council juries, was a member of the City of Toronto’s Public Art Strategy Advisory Committee and currently sits on The Bentway Advisory Committee. His curatorial aspirations are largely motivated by the enthusiastic pursuit of creating engaging and accessible ways to present art in public space. 

His curatorial aspirations are largely motivated by the enthusiastic pursuit of creating engaging and accessible ways to present art in public space.

Josh Heuman is currently Head of Artistic Engagement at Koffler Arts where he is focused on developing a wide array of public programs for audiences of all ages. He has held previous positions in education, exhibitions, and administration at The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery; the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; Salt Lake Art Center; Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art at Utah State University; and Joslyn Art Museum. Heuman has delivered guest lectures and participated in panel discussions at numerous galleries/museums and postsecondary institutions. He earned a BA in Visual Art and MA in Art History at York University.

What do art professionals really look for when reviewing a resume or CV? Which experiences make you stand out, and which can be skipped? This session will cover: 

• Practical strategies to highlight achievements that matter to galleries, curators, and institutions
• What counts: grants, residencies, publications, exhibition history, awards,  art fairs and more
• How to evolve your resume to reflect growth and prepare for new opportunities
  

Speakers: Stanzie Tooth, Contemporary Artist; Jim Shedden, Curator, Special Projects & Director, Publishing, Art Gallery of Ontario; Camila Salcedo, Artist, Curator and Facilitator.

Moderator: Josh Heuman, Head of Artistic Engagement, Koffler Arts

Thinking of walking into a gallery and pitching yourself? You need to know what actually works.  Join us for insider insight straight from the gallerists with practical tips on how they select artists, how to approach them, and the essentials of networking and building lasting relationships in the art world.

Hear from Gallerists: 

• Kyle Matuzewisk, Co-Director, Bau-Xi Gallery
• Robyn Zolnai, Director, Stephen Bulger Gallery
• John Gagné, Director, Gagné Contemporary
• Rebecca Travis, Associate Director, United Contemporary
• Hannah Scott, Associate Director, Simon Bentley Fine Art

This Mixer is brought to you in partnership with the Art Dealers Association of Canada

Getting your work into TOAF starts here. From Studio to Square is your essential guide to navigating the application process with confidence, clarity, and focus. This series shows you how to make your portfolio stand out — from preparing and photographing your work to understanding exactly what jurors are looking for.

Whether you’re applying for the first time, returning with a new body of work, or just curious about the process, these videos give you the practical tools, insider tips, and step-by-step guidance to move from your studio… all the way to Nathan Phillips Square.

Subscribe to our corresponding newsletter series! Each Monday from December to February, you’ll get these actionable tips and tools delivered straight to your inbox, along with behind-the-scenes stories and TOAF trivia to keep you inspired while you prepare. 

What should you pack for the Fair? How do you write a strong artist statement or deal with rejection when your application doesn’t go as planned? What are jurors actually looking for, and how do you make your booth stand out when you arrive at the Fair?

TOAF’s Artist-to-Artist Series is a collection of short, insightful videos created to support artists at every stage of their Toronto Outdoor Art Fair journey. Featuring advice from past and present TOAF artists, this series covers everything from building a compelling application and promoting your work on social media, to navigating booth setup, weather challenges, and meaningful conversations with the public.

Whether you’re a student applicant, a returning exhibitor, or simply curious about what makes TOAF such a unique experience, these quick clips offer real tips and reflections straight from the community itself.

Speakers: Carrie Perreault, Annie Tung,  Rui Pimenta, Sandra Tarantino, Sandra Tarantino

How do you find the right balance between scarcity and accessibility when it comes to prints and reproductions of your art? How can you maintain the value of your work without saturating the market or diluting its impact? How many is too many? 

As an original art-only fair, TOAF often receives questions about our reproduction policy, edition sizes, and the use of multiples. To generate this valuable conversation, we’ve invited seasoned artists and professionals to share their insights on best practices, including edition limits, types of acceptable reproductions, and more. 

We hope to shine a light on these concerns and help artists set clear guidelines. Expect a lively, informative discussion on this hot topic!

Speakers: James Fowler, Melanie Egan, and Robyn Zolnai.

Making the leap from studio practice to public art can feel daunting for many artists. Transitioning from small-scale works to large public installations requires mastering many layers—design, concept, production, and installation. Often, a lack of experience and access to opportunities makes this leap challenging.

However, programs like TOAF’s Art Nest and the City of Toronto’s Public Art Summer Mentorship Program are actively working to support emerging artists.

Join us for an insightful discussion with expert public art curators who will share how to craft a winning proposal and what they look for during the selection process. Hear directly from artists who took their first steps into public art through Art Nest, as they share their practical tips on everything from material selection and durability to logistics and safety.

Speakers: Katriina Campitelli and Gabrielle Johnson.

In partnership with the City of Toronto.

How does your art go from the studio to private, corporate and public collections? What do collectors look for, and how can you position your work to attract acquisitions? Art advisors and public art consultants often facilitate these opportunities, offering a deeper connection between the artist’s work and influential buyers.

Join us for an engaging conversation with experienced collectors and advisors to gain insight on what to expect in the acquisition process, how to build relationships in the art world, and how to prepare when an opportunity knocks at the door.

Speakers: Emilie Croning and Emily Laurent Henderson.

In partnership with Art Dealers Association of Canada.

Should you seek gallery representation, or is self-representation the better path? This talk tackles the age-old question that emerging, mid-career, and even established artists face. You’ll hear from self-represented artists and gallery professionals, offering two distinct yet complementary perspectives on the role of galleries in an artist’s career and managing one’s art as a creative entrepreneur. They’ll share valuable insights on how to get noticed by gallerists or do it on your own, weighing the pros and cons and key dos and don’ts.

Speakers: Celia Lees and Blake Zigrossi.

In partnership with Art Dealers Association of Canada.

Discover how PR can elevate your artistic career with insights from Deanne Moser of DM Public, Canada’s leading arts and culture PR firm. This talk gives you a rare chance to learn firsthand how to craft compelling stories that captivate media attention, build a strong PR strategy, and understand the dos and don’ts of working with the press. DM Public is a cultural communications firm that inspires connections between people, ideas and places in the arts and culture space.

This session is moderated by Heather Kerrison of WildMedia Co., the driving force behind TOAF’s engaging and far-reaching social media channels.