Toronto’s two biggest literary festivals are partnering up.
In September of 2015, the Word on the Street Toronto (WOTS) will officially relocate from its longtime home at Queen’s Park to the
International Festival of Authors (IFOA)’s site at the Harbourfront Centre. WOTS’s move will coincide with the expected completion of the Queens Quay revitalization project in spring 2015.
"While we're still remaining two distinct festivals, the partnership with the IFOA means we can look at ways we can support each other into the future and show support for each other’s programming," says Heather Kanabe, director of Word on the Street. "It also gives us access to infrastructure like seating and stages and to indoor space, which, for a family festival in September, is really useful."
While the location change won’t occur until 2015, says Kanabe, it just felt like the right time to make the announcement.
"We wanted to make sure we had enough time in advance to really prepare our exhibitors and the public and really make sure that the experience is perfect and pristine.
"Also, this year is a special year for both of us with this being Word on the Street’s 25th festival and IFOA’s 35th festival," Kanabe continues. "It was just a good time to come out and say these two literary forces are going to join together and are going to work towards a bright future for literature and literary festivals.
"We also just finished a strategic plan and partnering within the community was really important for us. I couldn’t think of a better partner than another festival that has such a rich history and an audience that is different but complementary to ours. We’re more geared towards families and children and Canadian literature and the IFOA has a more international outlook but we both support and respect each other’s programming."
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: Heather Kanabe, Director, Word on the Street