HartHouseAnnualReport-2017-18

HUMAN LIBRARY
The Human Library is a worldwide
movement for social change. First
developed in Copenhagen in 2000, the
project has grown and expanded to
countries around the globe. The first Hart
House Human Library was held in 2013
and has become a popular annual event
on St. George and UTSC campuses. In
March 2018, The Human Library was
held at UTSC campus in collaboration
with the UTSC Division of Student Life,
the Scarborough Campus Student Union,
the UTSC Library and ARTSIDEOUT. The
theme for the session was Rebirth and
Resilience.
Human Library events are designed to
create dialogue, promote understanding
and reduce prejudice. Here’s how it
works: a collection of human “books”
(widely varied in gender, cultural, religious
background and age) is offered on “loan”
to visitors. Facilitated by Living Library
Librarians, visitors may “borrow” a human
book for up to 30 minutes for an open
conversation. The informal interaction is
a positive and safe way to question and
explore pre-conceived notions around
race, class, gender, religion, sexuality, and
share personal narratives in an open faceto-face
dialogue. The hope is to promote
deeper understanding around social
justice, equity and diversity.
“If my experiences can contribute
to anybody in any way, to inspire
somebody to want to learn about
their own background or culture,
or help them with their hopes
and aspirations – if I help just one
person, then I’ve done a good job,”
–Mitch Robert George/Red Pine Spirit Man of the
Turtle Clan
HART HOUSE THEATRE
REVIEW
A Hart House Theatre Strategic Review
was completed in 2017–2018 and
involved nearly fifty individual consultation
interviews with a wide array of key
informants including artists, students,
patrons and employees.
The recommendations from this extensive
process have created opportunities to
explore community partnerships through
a lens of equity and representation as well
as a reframing of the theatre’s mandate for
its annual season of productions.
Examples of changes and growth resulting
from the review include: the first season to
be directed by a female-presenting team;
a new partnership with Intimacy Directors
International; and initial partnership
talks with CPAMO (Cultural Pluralism
in the Arts Movement Ontario) to
explore the amplification of underserved
voices in performance and educational
opportunities that will explore issues of
gender, race, place and internet space.
Below (clockwise from left): Human Library Project; Hart House Podcast; SOAR
Above: Black Graduation Ceremony hosted at Hart House
CELEBRATIONS
AND CEREMONIES
Hart House has long been considered
the cultural and ceremonial centre of
the University of Toronto. Each year, we
host hundreds of events, conferences,
galas, weddings, performances, dinners,
receptions and meetings for campus and
external clients. With over a dozen unique
rooms of varying sizes, featuring beautiful
fireplaces, grand pianos, vaulted wooden
ceilings, leaded glass windows and an
unparalleled Canadian art collection,
Hart House has a lot to offer. Students,
staff, alumni and the greater Toronto
community come to Hart House to enjoy
the beauty of the building and experience
firsthand what it means to take “Delight in
Discovery.”
Highlights from
2017–2018
BLACK GRADUATION
CEREMONY
Although many universities in the United
States, including Harvard, have hosted
Black graduation ceremonies, we believe
the one that took place in the Great Hall
at Hart House, University of Toronto in
June 2017 was Canada’s first. Given Hart
House’s aspiration to provide a welcoming
space for all students, and for those who
have traditionally been underrepresented
at the University in particular, Hart House
was honoured to serve as the venue for
this auspicious event.
Two students, Jessica Kirk and Nasma
Ahmed, organized the event. It was a
time for community celebration in spite
of the many challenges that still face
people of colour in higher education.
Hart House strives to become a place
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