Arts and Letters Club of Toronto facts for kids
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| Founded | 1908 |
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| Type | Private members' club |
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| Website | artsandlettersclub.ca |
The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto is a special club in Toronto, Ontario. It brings together people who love or work in the arts and letters. This includes writers, artists, musicians, actors, and architects. The club started in 1908. Back then, it was only for men. But since 1985, women have also been able to join.
Contents
History of the Club
The club was started in 1908 by a journalist named Augustus Bridle. The first meeting was on March 23, 1908. At a later meeting, they decided to call it "The Arts and Letters Club." A newspaper called The Globe said the club wanted to help people in the arts become friends. They also wanted to help different art forms understand each other better. The club's first official meeting was in October 1908.
The club met in different places at first. In late 1909, it moved to 42 King St. East. Then, in 1910, it moved to 57 Adelaide St. East. In 1920, the club found its permanent home at St. George's Hall, at 14 Elm Street. The club rented this building until 1986, when it finally bought it. In 1985, women were allowed to become members. Laure Rièse was one of the first 42 women to join.
St. George's Hall: The Club's Home
| St. George's Hall | |
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Front of the building in 2007
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| Location | 14 Elm Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Built | 1891 |
| Built for | St. George’s Society |
| Original use | Settlement house |
| Current use | Private club (since 1920) |
| Architect | Edwards & Webster (1891), Sproatt & Rolph (1920 alterations) |
| Owner | The Arts and Letters Club of Toronto |
| Designated | 2007 |
| Designated | 1975 |
The Arts and Letters Club is in a very old building called St. George's Hall. It is located at 14 Elm Street in downtown Toronto. This building is special because it is protected by the Ontario Heritage Act since 1975. In 2007, it was named a National Historic Site of Canada. This means it is an important place in Canada's history. Sometimes, the building is open to the public during an event called Doors Open Toronto.
The building looks like a mix of old styles from the late 1800s. It has parts that look like Roman, Flemish, and medieval buildings. When the club moved in during 1920, they made many changes. They added new windows and a big stone fireplace in the main room, called the Great Hall. Today, the club has a lounge, meeting rooms, a library, and an art studio. The Great Hall is used for concerts, plays, talks, and meals.
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Entrance foyer
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Bar on the main floor
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Great Hall
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Reading Room
How the Club Influenced Canadian Culture
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The club has played a big role in Canadian culture since it started. Many important people who created art groups in Toronto in the early 1900s were members of this club.
When a famous writer named Rupert Brooke visited Toronto in 1913, he had lunch at the club. At that time, the club was only five years old. It was already a main spot for Canadian writers and artists. The famous art group called the Group of Seven even met in the club's rooms.
Roy Mitchell, one of the club's first members, put on many plays there. This was between 1911 and 1915. He showed Toronto audiences new ways of doing theatre. In 1919, he worked with another member, Vincent Massey, to create the Hart House Theatre. Mitchell became its first artistic director.
In the 1920s, the club helped bring together Toronto's artists and thinkers. Journalists, poets, musicians, and artists like the Group of Seven liked to gather there. In 1927, the club showed art by Bertram Brooker. This was the first time abstract art was shown alone in Canada.
In the 1940s, club members helped create the Canadian Arts Council. This group later became the Canadian Conference of the Arts in 1958. John Coulter started talking about government support for the arts at the club in 1943. In 1944, he and others went to Ottawa to talk to the government. They wanted the government to support the arts. As a result, the Canadian Arts Council was formed in 1945. Herman Voaden from the club became its first president.
The club kept helping with Canadian arts policy. In 1949, Vincent Massey, a club member, led a special study called the Massey Commission. This study led to the creation of the Canada Council in 1957. Massey was the Governor-General at that time. Another club member, Claude Bissell, later became the second leader of the Canada Council.
Famous Members
Many well-known people have been members of the Arts and Letters Club. Besides the Group of Seven, some famous members include Robertson Davies, Mavor Moore, and Charles William Jefferys.
Since the club started, two members have won the Nobel Prize. They are Frederick Banting, who was also a great amateur painter, and John Macleod. Six members have been knighted, which is a special honour. Also, since 1967, more than 150 members have been given the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honours. Some of these members include Betty Oliphant, Joyce Wieland, and Ezra Schabas.
Club Events
The club's art activities are based on its "LAMPS" groups. These stand for Literature, Architecture, Music, Painting, and Stage. (Stage used to be Sculpture). These areas are very broad and include things like photography, all kinds of performing arts, writing for movies, and city planning. The club welcomes both professional artists and people who just love and support the arts.
The club offers many events. These include talks and concerts during lunchtime. They also have dinners with speakers who talk about interesting topics. There are film nights and stage performances. Members can join studio painting sessions three days a week. The club also holds art shows for its members. There are groups for people interested in photography, writing, and poetry.
The annual Boar's Head Dinner is a very old event. People believe it is the oldest of its kind in North America. The club's rules are also unique. Every year, at the main meeting, the club's rules are sung to music. This music was specially written by Healey Willan.
Club Archives
The club keeps many old documents and items in its archives. These show who the members were and what activities the club did since it started. These archives are open for students, historians, and other researchers to study. Thirty-four boxes of documents, going all the way back to the club's beginning, are kept at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library.
See also
- List of gentlemen's clubs in Canada
