Luminato to transform abandoned east side power plant into public arts centre

Photo: Luminato

To mark its 10th anniversary, Toronto's annual Luminato Festival will transform the decommissioned Hearn Generating Station in the Port Lands into a massive arts centre during its 2016 run.

In a blog post, Luminato artistic director Jorn Weisbrodt shared the first major news about Luminato's 2016 edition. “Every architecture student, architect, and urbanist in Toronto has probably dreamt about what the Hearn could be,” he writes. “In 2016 Luminato will turn on the Hearn.”

The festival's entire program of ticketed performances in the 2016 lineup will take place at the gigantic industrial site, while other programs will be held in various locations in the downtown area.                                

"In the Hearn Generating Station we will create the world's largest multidisciplinary generator of art and culture, offering a globally unique, exceptionally rich and highly integrated cultural experience," Weisbrodt goes on to say.

Opened in 1951, the colossal Richard L. Hearn Generating Station was a coal-fired electrical generating plant. It was converted to burn natural gas in the early 1970s, before it was finally decommissioned in 1983.

In 2014, Luminato held its Big Bang Bash Gala at the plant, and last year it also hosted an industrial music event, the 48-hour Unsound Festival. Vice Magazine also threw its 20th anniversary party at the Hearn last year.

What do you think? Could this be the spur of renewed life for Toronto's Port Lands?