David Mirvish Toronto, Canadian Art Collector, Ontario Theatre Producer, Buildings, Projects, News
David Mirvish Property Developer
Canadian Client – Property Development in Ontario
22 Oct 2013
David Mirvish – Property Developer in Toronto
David Mirvish is a Canadian art collector and theatre producer. A passionate supporter of the theatre and Canada’s artistic community, Mr. Mirvish is currently the owner and operator of Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre, Princess of Wales Theatre, Ed Mirvish Theatre (formerly the Canon Theatre) and Panasonic Theatre. Mr. Mirvish and his father, Ed Mirvish, purchased and restored the renowned Old Vic Theatre in London, England, which they operated from 1983 to 1998.
The Old Vic Theatre Building
photograph : Matt Humphrey
The Toronto facilities were renovated, refurbished and, in the case of the Princess of Wales built, by the Mirvish family, providing the city with premiere theatre space where they have mounted outstanding productions such as Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, The Lion King, War Horse and many others. Mirvish Productions, a company formed by Mr. Mirvish in 1986, has produced plays and musicals for these and other venues throughout Canada, on Broadway and in London’s West End. In addition they have presented over 500 touring productions in the city of Toronto. The Mirvish family is widely credited with making Toronto a major centre of theatre.
In 1941 Anne Mirvish, David’s Mother, established the Sports Bar specializing in Ladies’ Dress-wear at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst St. In 1948 Ed Mirvish transformed it to become “Honest Ed’s,” one of the first discount department stores in North America. David continues to operate this family business and it is a vibrant part of the fabric of Toronto.
Mirvish+Gehry Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Design: Gehry Partners LLP
model photo : Gehry Partners LLP
David Mirvish began his career as an art dealer when in 1963, at the age of 18, he opened the David Mirvish Gallery. Over the next 15 years, through some 130 exhibitions, the gallery became a focal point of Toronto’s cultural life and achieved international renown as a showcase for contemporary Canadian, American and British Art. The gallery supported and promoted Canadian artists and was described as a pillar in the establishment of the abstract art movement in Canada. Mr. Mirvish continues to collect privately and to lend works to galleries and museums for exhibitions. In 1994 he was the recipient of the Toronto Arts Award for the Visual Arts.
Mr. Mirvish also opened an art bookstore as an outgrowth of the gallery, enhancing the local art scene and establishing a reputation as one of the premier independent booksellers in the city. The bookstore closed in 2009, after 38 years in the heart of Mirvish Village.
David Mirvish has received many awards and recognitions for his contributions to the Canadian arts scene, including being named to the Order of Ontario and appointed to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest honour of lifetime achievement. He has been presented with honorary doctorates from Queen’s University, the York University Fine Arts department, the Faculty of Applied Arts at Ryerson University and University College, the University of Toronto. He has recently been installed as the Chancellor of the University of Guelph.
From 1980 to 1983, Mr. Mirvish served on the Canadian Cultural Property Export Review Board. He has served on the board of trustees of The National Gallery of Canada and the Royal Ontario Museum.
Mirvish+Gehry Toronto images / information from Projectcore
Toronto Buildings
Toronto Architecture Tours
image © Studio Daniel Libeskind
Toronto Skyscraper Buildings
One Yonge Toronto
Design: Hariri Pontarini Architects (HPA)
image from architect
L Tower Toronto, Sony Centre for the Performing Arts
Architects: Studio Daniel Libeskind / Page + Steele/IBA Architects
image © Studio Daniel Libeskind
Royal Ontario Museum Building
Daniel Libeskind
image from Daniel Libeskind Architects
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