Until the end of September, twelve pianos will be scattered throughout the downtown core outside of the following businesses and organizations: Grey Rock Clothing Co., Thomas Video, Budds, Shakti, TD Canada Trust, Wyndham Art Supplies, River Run Centre, Guelph Community Health Centre and the main branch of the Guelph Public Library. Flour Barrel will have a piano inside the store for shoppers to enjoy. Guelph Transit will host two pianos, one at Platform #12 and the other in the transit shelter near the fountain in St. George’s Square.
The brain child of Ian Findlay, the #happymaking project started with a simple idea in July 2013. Findlay, owner of Thomas Video on Baker Street, placed a piano on the sidewalk outside of his business and encouraged passersby not only to play the instrument, but also to decorate it with markers. The response was so positive that Findlay decided to partner with the Downtown Guelph Business Association and the Guelph Arts Council to place eight pianos around downtown for the month of September.
Speaking about the project to the Guelph Mercury in September of last year, Findlay said, “It's been an overwhelming success. I think part of its charm is just the simplicity of it. It's just simply putting something that you don't normally see outside on the sidewalks, out to play."
The pianos will be available and free-of-charge for anyone to play every day starting September 4th, although they will be locked and covered overnight. On September 30th, the pianos will be rolled away for seasonal storage at the Sleeman Centre.
More information about the #happymaking project can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b2kX3uE9oM
Play. Tweet. Share. #happymaking
Laura Szamreta
Membership & Promotions Coordinator
Downtown Guelph Business Association
202 - 42 Wyndham St N Guelph, ON N1H 4E6
P 519-836-6144 F 519-767-0698
info@downtownguelph.com
www.downtownguelph.com
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