Arcadia Earth Toronto is a multi-sensory journey that is providing Torontonians with a new way to experience planet Earth and the effects of climate change. With the combined use of art installations and technology, Arcadia Earth is giving visitors an engaging and educational experience of the Earth and the impact human actions have on the environment.
“If you can make a memorable experience for people that is fun and entertaining, there’s a better chance of them remembering the information,” said Craig Perlmutter, the owner and president of Arcadia Earth Toronto.
With 10 immersive rooms, each showcasing large-scale art installations enhanced with augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and projection mapping, Arcadia Earth provides visitors with an impactful and interactive experience.
After visiting Arcadia Earth in New York in 2020 before the pandemic, Perlmutter was inspired to bring the exhibit to Toronto. It’s been a permanent fixture at The Well (486 Front Street W.) since Dec. 1, 2023.
“I felt Toronto would be an incredible place for this type of immersive experience, bringing something cool, different and entertaining to do,” said Perlmutter.
The exhibit explores themes of sustainability, climate change and pollution in a way that is both thought-provoking and accessible. By using technology, Arcadia Earth presents these issues in a digestible format that encourages reflection and action.
One of the most thought-provoking rooms of the exhibit is the Your Actions Matter room, which showcases a giant tap flowing with plastic waste. It serves as a reminder to patrons that reducing the use of single-use plastics is a great way to contribute to the fight to end plastic pollution.
“They used a lot of discarded electronics to create a sculpture. I thought that was cool. They had many of these types of exhibits where they used recycled materials to show how garbage can be transformed into art,” said Natasha Cardoso, a teacher at William G. Davis Junior Public School, who recently took her fourth grade class to Arcadia Earth on a field trip.
“I gained a deeper understanding of how my plastic use impacts the environment and learned practical ways to make more sustainable choices for the well-being of all creatures.”
The experience is further enhanced by the Arcadia Earth augmented reality app, which allows visitors to interact with the installations.
“The students really liked the jellyfish experience because when we used the iPad to take photographs, the jellyfish were all around them,” said Cardoso.
The ocean exhibit at Arcadia Earth was the most popular among Cardoso’s students, and rightfully so. The ocean exhibit immerses visitors into the beauty and fragility of marine life, with a standout jellyfish installation made from discarded plastics.
Suspended and illuminated to mimic real jellyfish, the piece offers a visual and a powerful reminder of the effects of ocean pollution. Its ambient lighting and AR-enhanced features make it a prime spot for striking photos while reinforcing the urgent need for marine conservation.
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, Arcadia Earth is launching a series of Earth Month initiatives designed to inspire visitors to adopt sustainable habits that create lasting positive impacts on the planet.
“One of the initiatives is for people coming through the experience to make a pledge for Earth Month, that when they leave our space, they will do one thing differently this month, and hopefully it will carry forward and become a habit,” said Perlmutter.
In addition to the pledge initiative, Arcadia Earth will also feature a sustainable marketplace showcasing eco-friendly products from local and international vendors. The marketplace encourages visitors to explore sustainable alternatives for everyday items, reinforcing the message of environmental responsibility even after they leave the exhibit.
