VANCOUVER – One of the city’s public piano programs might be at risk of shutting down this summer due to a lack of funds.
Keys to the Streets, a student-led public piano initiative started in 2013, places pianos across the city in July and August – and anyone is welcome to play them.
The program was launched by CityStudio, an innovation hub at the Vancouver City Hall.
Last year, the project randomly placed pianos around Vancouver at Canada Place, Chinatown, Main Street, West Hastings Street, the Vancouver Aquarium, Robson Park, Strathcona Park, Spyglass Dock and Dude Chilling Park.
Keeping it going
In order to keep the project going, a fundraiser was hosted at Red Cat Records on June 7, and a crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise $20,000 by Canada day.
The money would support the two part-time coordinators, Aaron Tilston-Redican and Becky Till.
It will also cover the hard costs associated with the project, such as tuning and maintenance of the pianos over the two month period when they are stationed on the streets of Vancouver.
“Even if we don’t hit our fundraising goal, we still plan to put out as many pianos as our funds will allow,” said Redican.
Long term sustainability
The Keys to the Streets program is being handed over to the coordinators by CityScape.
While assisting the project with mentorship, office space and winter storage space for the pianos, the program is now trying to sustain itself independently.
“We’re trying to build a long term funding model for the program,” Redican said.
He added that the project is important for the city because it helps build community.
“The pianos creates a space for spontaneous interaction between people,” said Redican.
“In many ways it also dispels the no-fun city myth that surrounds Vancouver.”
WATCH: The Spyglass Sessions are a series of shorts featuring people playing the pianos set up by Keys to the Streets: Vancouver’s public pianos.
Spyglass Sessions: Part of that Collective from Gp Mendoza on Vimeo.
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