Get ready Vancouver, public pianos are returning for the summer.
Keys to the Streets will plant 11 pianos in various locations throughout the city on Friday to help bring music to the masses and create togetherness in Vancouver.
“There was a study that came out in Vancouver five or six years ago that basically said one in three people in Vancouver feels socially isolated in this community,” project lead Aaron Tilston-Redican tells Daily Hive. “As someone who has lived in Vancouver on and off for eight years, that’s something that I felt, so I can totally relate.”
He says this program aims to address that problem directly by creating a space where strangers can have “spontaneous and random” interactions.
“In its most basic form, we’re just putting a piano on a street, but really what we’re trying to do is build community and help Vancouver become a friendlier city.”
All of the pianos are distinctly painted by members of the Downtown Eastside.
Keys to the Streets relies solely on donations to keep the project afloat. As such, they’re hosting a fundraiser on Monday night in the Woodwards atrium where they’re moving in a hand painted baby grand piano for a concert featuring local musicians. The best part? Mayor Gregor Robertson will pedal the piano in on a bike.
Keep your eyes peeled for pianos in the following areas:
- Aquarium in Stanley Park
- 1800 Spyglass Place (under the Cambie Street bridge)
- Creekside Community Centre (1 Athletes Way)
- Strathcona Community Garden (759 Malkin Avenye)
- Robson Park (599 Kingsway)
- Lot 19 (855 West Hastings Street)
- Nelson Square (808 Nelson Street)
- 401 West Georgia Street
- Vancity in Chinatown (188 East Pender Street)
There will be two more pianos in downtown mystery locations as well.
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