In preparation for the Toronto School of Art’s 40th Anniversary in 2009, we are collecting memories about the history and development of the school. Beginning as an idea of Barbara Barrett Biggs, founder and first director in 1969, with a handful of students and instructors, to the current TSA with over 700 students and 50 instructors. (Toronto School of Art Main Site)
Please contribute your TSA stories and experiences. This website is to connect others in sharing what the TSA has meant to the students, models, instructors, volunteers and board members, both past and present… and those with a passion for continuing TSA’s legacy as a positive and thriving learning environment for the arts.
In Conjunction with out 40th anniversary, TSA founder and artist Barbara Barrett’s work will be on exhibit at Launch Projects from November 4th – 15th.
Please Join is for the reception, which will be held on Saturday, November 7th, 2 to 4 p.m.
Barbara Barrett Biggs, founder and first director of the Toronto School of Art, died in 2005 and never had her own work shown until now. Rather, she focused her attention on hiring working artists as instructors and drawing out the artistic abilities of students of all ages since beginning the TSA in 1969. She had a personal interest in visual arts and brought her tireless energy to the school, often working seven days a week until her retirement nearing age 80. In1991, she was awarded the Government of Canada’s Lescarbot Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to regional cultural activities.
- Untitled. Oil on canvas, 20″ x 16″, 1970s
The school’s raison d’être was “for artists, by artists” and while other independent non profit art schools have faded, the Toronto School of Art is now celebrating 40 years of providing structured visual arts instruction with alternative features. Many artists also continue to drop in to the popular Sunday afternoon life drawing without instruction, despite the changing address of the TSA as it expanded and relocated from Walker Ave, Brunswick Ave, Queen St. W, Spadina Ave, and to its current location at 410 Adelaide St. W 3rd Floor. The school has grown from 14 students and 2 instructors in its first year to over 700 students and 50 instructors today.
“She encouraged everyone to draw and take their talent seriously with formal instruction, practice and experimentation,” said Pat MacMillan, one of the first students at the school, and later a volunteer member on the Board of Directors. “It was the enthusiasm that Barbara brought that made the school a success right from the beginning.”
