The Guild of All Arts Heritage Property plaque, 2019
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Resource ID
7511
Access
Open
Address
201 Guildwood Parkway, Toronto, ON M1E 1P5
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2019
Historical Themes
Architectural Heritage, Residential History, Visual Arts
Keywords
Waterfront, arts and crafts, Scarborough
Program Category
Historical Plaques
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Time Period
1900-1953
Caption
The Guild of All Arts Heritage Property plaque, 2019
Description
Philanthropists Rosa Breithaupt Hewetson Clark (1888-1981) and H. Spencer Clark (1903-1986) established the Guild of All Arts on this site in 1932. The newly married couple founded the co-operative arts and crafts community at their home, the Bickford Residence, built in 1914. In the midst of the Great Depression, the Clarks enabled artists to create work free of financial pressure.
The picturesque site inspired painters, potters, and others. Artisans lived and worked in cabins and studios, such as the nearby Sculptor’s Cabin. The destination was so popular that the Clarks turned their home into the Guild Inn. For 50 years, except from 1942 to 1947 when the Canadian military used the site, it hosted overnight visitors and distinguished guests.
In the 1950s, the Clarks began collecting architectural elements from notable buildings demolished in Toronto and elsewhere. They displayed these façades and fragments alongside sculptures in these gardens.
The provincial Conservation Authority bought the property in 1978. The Guild Inn later closed. After major renovation and expansion, the Bickford Residence reopened in 2017 as an events facility. Today, the 36-hectare Guild Park and Gardens is a public landmark where the arts meet nature.
Marker lat / long: 43.748236, -79.191958 (WGS84)