Photo credit: City Days
Allan Gardens is a botanical greenhouse and a ground zero for a budding arts scene in central Toronto.
Toronto Today reports that after the historic Palm House reopened earlier this year, Friends of Allan Gardens, the volunteer organization that oversees the park, began ramping up on-site programming like concerts and art installations.
The impressive Palm House building, featuring a glass and steel dome at the centre of the conservatory, was inaccessible during the three-year conservatory work. However, the centre came alive again in September, when Venus Fest, a not-for-profit music festival, mentorship, and concert series, was hosted there.
The three-day festival transformed the gardens into a jungle of experimental electronic music, psychedelic visuals and textile installations, making the landmark impossible to ignore.
The excitement also drew public attention to a lesser known fact about the Allan Gardens Conservatory: it’s been the site of several concerts since 2023.
The executive director of Friends of Allan Gardens said, “Toronto is losing arts and cultural venues all over the city, and there’s a space right under our nose that’s always been there, that’s ready for us to use. We just need to rethink how we’re using it.”
Before the Palm House was reopened, arts programming was historically held in the Children’s Conservatory, located in the north-west corner of the park. With a renewed dedication to the arts, Friends of Allan Gardens is now looking to book more independent musical acts to perform in the Children’s Conservatory. This month, the Toronto band Mother Tongues will perform there. An improvised, four-musician jam session called Tapestry Jam will also be performing there.
In the late 1800s, Allan Gardens served as a site for speeches, galas and musical performances. However, after a fire destroyed the original conservatory in 1902, the Palm House that replaced it wasn’t large enough for such gatherings.
Friends of Allan Gardens program coordinator Li Xiao said they hope the arts programming will attract Torontonians who may lack access to community spaces to Allan Gardens, where they can socialize with others.
