Public Trust Toronto Turns Personal Promises Into a Free City-Wide Art Project
Public Trust Toronto is bringing a free participatory art experience to four waterfront locations from September 15 to October 4, 2026. Presented by The Bentway, the Canadian premiere of artist Paul Ramírez Jonas’ Public Trust invites Torontonians to make a promise, put their word on public display, and think about what trust means ahead of Toronto’s 2026 municipal election.
What Is Public Trust Toronto?
At Public Trust, visitors make a promise to themselves, another person, their community, or the city.
The promise is recorded in a drawing that participants can take home as a keepsake. It also appears anonymously on a large-scale marquee alongside promises pulled from daily news headlines, including statements made by politicians, scientists, economists, companies, and weather forecasters.
The artwork asks a simple but surprisingly timely question: How much does giving your word still mean?
Rather than turning the experience into a political debate, the installation creates a non-partisan space where people can think about responsibility, accountability, and civic participation in a personal way.
The Artwork Arrives Just Before Toronto’s Municipal Election
The timing is intentional.
Toronto’s next municipal election takes place on Monday, October 26, 2026, less than a month after Public Trust wraps up. Advance voting runs from October 6 to 11.
Instead of asking visitors who they plan to vote for, Public Trust focuses on something more universal: the promises people make and whether others can trust them to keep those promises.
The Toronto presentation marks the artwork’s Canadian premiere, a decade after it debuted in 2016. The original work was commissioned by the organization now known as Boston Public Art Triennial.
Where to See Public Trust in Toronto
The artwork moves through four Toronto locations, beginning at the Fort York branch of Toronto Public Library before travelling along the waterfront and finishing at The Bentway.
September 15: Toronto Public Library – Fort York Branch
Location: 190 Fort York Blvd.
Date: Tuesday, September 15
Public Trust hours: 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Artist Talk: 6 p.m.
The opening takes place on International Day of Democracy. Paul Ramírez Jonas will also join The Bentway’s Director of Programming, Anna Gallagher-Ross, for a conversation about his work, democracy, participation, and public space.
The artist talk is free, but registration is required.
September 17–20: Marina Quay West
Location: 539 Queens Quay W.
- September 17: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- September 18–19: 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- September 20: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
This stop is particularly easy to build into a waterfront outing. Marina Quay West is also hosting Public Pier, a free arts and culture pilot with DJs, dance workshops, food, public art, and after-dark programming during several September weekends.
September 24–27: Harbourfront Centre
Location: 235 Queens Quay W.
Dates: Thursday, September 24 to Sunday, September 27
Hours: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
If you are already spending an afternoon around Queens Quay, this is probably the easiest stop to pair with a waterfront walk.
October 1–4: The Bentway
Location: 250 Fort York Blvd.
- October 1–2: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- October 3: 1 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning
- October 4: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The October 3 presentation gets extended overnight for Nuit Blanche Toronto.
Public Trust Joins Nuit Blanche Toronto 2026
If you are already planning a Nuit Blanche route, this is an easy one to add.
Nuit Blanche Toronto celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, running from 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 3 until 7 a.m. on Sunday, October 4. More than 70 contemporary art projects are scheduled across the city under this year’s theme, Tomorrow’s Memories.
At The Bentway, Public Trust starts earlier at 1 p.m. on October 3 and continues straight through until 7 a.m.
That makes it a good starting point if you want to begin your Nuit Blanche plans before the official overnight programming kicks off.
Is Public Trust Free?
Yes. Public Trust is completely free to experience.
You can participate by making a promise or simply stop by and view the evolving marquee. According to The Bentway, all four venues are fully accessible.
The Fort York Library stop is indoors, while the other three locations are outdoors, so dress for the weather. The Bentway recommends checking its social channels for weather-related updates before outdoor performances.
Why This Toronto Art Installation Is Worth Checking Out
Toronto gets plenty of large-scale installations, but the interesting part of Public Trust is that the public does not simply stand back and look at it.
Visitors become part of the artwork.
Every promise changes the installation, gradually creating a collective snapshot of what people in Toronto are willing to commit to—and what it means to take someone at their word.
With the municipal election approaching and Nuit Blanche bringing thousands of people into Toronto’s public spaces, the timing feels especially fitting.
Public Trust Toronto 2026
Dates: September 15 to October 4, 2026
Locations: Toronto Public Library – Fort York Branch, Marina Quay West, Harbourfront Centre, and The Bentway
Admission: Free
Accessibility: All locations are fully accessible
Nuit Blanche extended hours: October 3, 1 p.m. to October 4, 7 a.m.
For the latest schedule, artist talk registration, accessibility information, and weather updates, visit The Bentway’s official Public Trust page.
Public Trust is presented by The Bentway in partnership with the Waterfront BIA, with Toronto Public Library and Harbourfront Centre as collaborators.
