Event Details

Incorporated in 2014, Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) is a federally registered not-for-profit organization that specializes in mentorship for emerging artists and managers by curating performance opportunities via CMI Live, through customized core professional development programs, third party industry programs, and ongoing mentorship. CMI Live acts as a curator with the main goal of connecting event programmers with artists of all genres across Canada. CMI Live has curated over 600 shows with combined audiences of over 1.5 million people. CMI’s most significant programming initiative is Play The Parks (PTP), an annual free, multi-genre performance series that takes place in public outdoor spaces of all sizes, throughout the summer months. From 2012 to 2019, PTP was an in- person, annual concert series in Toronto, produced in partnership with the Downtown Yonge BIA. The goal of this project is to create paid live performance opportunities for emerging and diverse Canadian artists, helping them to develop sustainable music careers through live performance opportunities. Supporting this, the goal is also to drive music tourism more broadly across Ontario, helping secondary and tertiary music markets further develop and thrive.

"This application is for “Play The Parks 2024”, an expanded series of 20 multi-day, free live music events taking place in several city parks across Ontario from June 1 to September 30, 2024. In total, over 75 days of performances will be produced in cities across Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Barrie, Niagara Falls, Brantford, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie (and potentially Thunder Bay and/or North Bay). Performances will take place over between two and five consecutive days in each location, creating a series of mini festivals that will encourage overnight tourist visitation.

Play the Parks performances will be scheduled throughout the week and weekends. Specific show times will be determined by each location but are generally expected to take place during lunch hours and early afternoons. Event programming will have a specific focus on equity and diversity in the curation of performers. Programming will spotlight as many different types of musical genres and styles as possible, and a handful of the shows will be complemented by artist-led workshops as a means of generating additional community and youth engagement.

CMI Live partners include: Downtown Yonge BIA (Play the Parks Toronto), Oxford Properties, QuadReal, TD Music (Connected Music Series, JUNO Green Room sponsor) and Union Station (Great Hall Series, Union Summer), participating municipalities, regional tourism offices and BIA’s."