TORONTO – Inspired by similar programs in Sao Paolo, New York, Paris, and London, organizers of the Pan Am games are trying to engage Toronto’s public by debuting the first ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ piano project on the streets of Toronto.
The project will see 41 pianos spread throughout Toronto streets that will have a uniquely Toronto feel. Each piano that members of the public are invited to play, will also be painted by a professional artist.
“The whole arts and cultural area is so important for our games,” Ian Troop, CEO of the 2015 Pan Am Games said. “We’re going to take those pianos and put them on street corners in public places to allow our citizens to participate and get involved in the pianos and in the games.”
Launched on Tuesday, the 41 pianos are meant to celebrate each of the 41 countries participating in the games.
The international art project was started in 2008 by British artist Luke Jerram when 14 pianos were distributed throughout Birmingham – approximately 140,000 people were estimated to have played the pianos in their first instalment.
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Since then, it’s estimated that the pianos have reached at total of five million people across the world.
“It will be really quite amazing, the spontaneous music that comes forth, and people coming around these pianos and really having some fun with it,” Troop said.
Organizers, who are reportedly spending approximately $250,000 on the project, hope the interactivity of the pianos will spark conversations about the Pan Am games among Torontonians leading up to 2015.
“It will be really quite amazing, the spontaneous music that comes forth, and people coming around these pianos and really having some fun with it,” Troop said.
Are you planning on sharing your musical talent with Toronto and playing the piano? Record it and upload the video to GroundForce on Global News and we could feature your video!
A map of the confirmed locations of pianos:
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