Toronto events Archives - The Great Hall

Refreshing Spring Wedding Inspiration

Posted on April 7, 2018 by admin

The Great Hall hosted a playful and delicious lemon-chiffon styled shoot beckoning for Spring to make its grand entrance. This juicy editorial featuring blush tones and lemons sprung a new-found love for yellow evoking an overwhelming sense of happiness.

A perfect combination of couture and a whimsical air – the dramatic pop of ruby on the bride’s lips ties in the delicate balance of this shoots vivid palette. The Great Hall’s Conversation Room grand windows illuminated the space displaying every little detail charmingly.

Find more photos on these blogs:

Refreshing High Fashion Spring Wedding Inspiration

CITRUS-INSPIRED LEMON WEDDING IDEAS

The Great Hall at The Heritage Toronto Awards

Posted on October 25, 2017November 12, 2017 by admin

The Great Hall was proud to receive an honourable mention at The 2017 Heritage Toronto Awards this Monday, October 24, 2017. The beautiful renovations to our historic Victorian venue containing four unique spaces has not gone unnoticed. Being recognized as an influential landmark on Queen Street West and within the Toronto Heritage community was an honour.

The winners of the 2017 Heritage Toronto Awards were announced during a ceremony hosted by award-winning journalist Christopher Hume. More than 500 guests attended the awards alongside The Great Hall team. The best from Toronto’s city-building community attended this flagship networking event to discuss restoration and it’s positive effect on the city. In its 43^rd year, the Heritage Toronto Awards recognize extraordinary contributions to the conservation and celebration of Toronto’s heritage.

The Great Hall would like to congratulate all the award winners of the night and thank Heritage Toronto for the recognition.

Press: The Star, Art Battle Toronto at The Great Hall

Posted on January 23, 2015November 8, 2016 by admin

Brush toting fighters gird up for Art Battle
A uniquely artistic sport, the live painting competition created by two Torontonians has spread to 55 cities.
The Great Hall hosts a number of recurring creative, cultural and uniquely Toronto events including Art Battle, a timed live painting competition that originated in our venue back in 2009 and has now expanded across Canada, the U.S. and around the globe. Check out this Art Battle Toronto Star story about the growing arts and entertainment phenomenon. Then come watch and vote on — or paint in — Art Battle Toronto at The Great Hall for yourself, soon.

‘“It’s sort of Fight Club for painters.”

Mark Liam Smith is describing what happens when you give an artist 20 minutes to fill a blank canvas in front of a few hundred cheering spectators.

Toronto’s first monthly Art Battle of the year was held Tuesday night at The Great Hall on artsy West Queen West. Sixteen competitors vied to win over the audience, who voted via their smartphones.

It was Smith’s first time duking it out for the chance at a cash prize and spot at the Toronto finals in June. The 42-year-old paints full time and moved to the city just last month, hoping to land representation.

“The life of a painter is a pretty solitary life,” said Smith, who is colour-blind. Battling his peers Tuesday night was a way to connect with the art community, and he was happy to accept invitations from fellow painters to visit their galleries.

Those kinds of connections are exactly what the Art Battle’s founders hope to spark.

Simon Plashkes, 34, and Chris Pemberton, 39, have planned many events together over the years, including an interactive installation at Nuit Blanche and a salon-style speaker series. The idea for a live painting competition came to them when they were thinking of an entertaining intermission between speakers in 2009.

“It greatly outshone the rest of the evening,” said Plashkes.

That’s when they decided to hold it as a stand-alone event at The Great Hall that fall, and it’s become a monthly fixture in the community since.’ READ FULL STORY

Art Battle Toronto takes place monthly at The Great Hall (with a brief summer hiatus). Get the schedule for upcoming Art Battle events right here.