COVID-19 June 30 2021 Update
COVID-19 RESPONSE
June 30 UPDATE FOR THE ARTS COMMUNITY
TORONTO, June 30, 2021 - Toronto Arts Council is committed to providing accurate and up to date information for the arts community throughout the COVID-19 emergency response period. See here for updated COVID-19 web pages and all prior TAC releases and assembled resources.
PROVINCIAL COVID-19 REOPENING GUIDELINES
Toronto officially enters Step 2 of the provincial reopening guideline today. The most significant change with Step 2 for the arts community is that outdoor performance venues are now allowed to open at 25% capacity:
- for outdoor venues without defined seating (ie parks, squares etc), 25% capacity is determined by taking the total square metres of the area accessible to the public and dividing that number by 16. For example, a seating area of 25 metres long and 15 metres deep would have an audience capacity of 23 people (25 times 15 divided by 16 = 23).
Toronto's Parks, Forestry & Recreation department has confirmed that it is beginning to issue permits for arts programming in Toronto's parks now that the province has entered Step 2.
COVID-19 FUNDING
Canadian Heritage has announced $700 million funding for recovery and reopening:
The Recovery Fund will provide $300 million over two years and includes two streams :
- Reinforcing Recovery Foundations – to provide additional relief to arts, culture and sport organizations that are still struggling with operational viability due to the pandemic.
- Investing in the Recovery – to provide organizations and Canadians working in these sectors who are ready to lead recovery in the arts, culture and heritage sectors with the financial means to help build organizational resilience and pursue business innovation and transformation.
The Reopening Fund will provide $200 million over two years through existing programs to support Canada’s festivals, cultural events, outdoor theatre performances, heritage celebrations, local museums, amateur sport events, and more.
The Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative will provide $200 million to be delivered by federal Regional Development Agencies to help keep major, recurring Canadian festivals and events alive and help them adapt for future editions where tourists will again be able to participate .
Toronto Arts Council Open Door 2021 is a $1 million+ grants program to support arts organizations as they transition, transform and thrive in response to the on-going global pandemic. Applications from arts organizations and collectives will be accepted until July 15, 2021 and funding will reach successful applicants in the fall. See detailed application guidelines and information here.
Support for Workers in Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund, is a Department of Canadian Heritage program which funds arts organizations to hire artists and cultural workers. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis for projects to be carried out by March 31, 2022.
TAC is hiring: Indigenous Arts Program Manager
This three day per week position is a permanent part time role reporting to TAC’s Director of Granting. Responsibilities include management of TAC’s Indigenous Arts Projects program which provides grants to Indigenous arts organizations, collectives and individuals, as well as Toronto Arts Foundation's Indigenous Artist Award program. Application deadline July 5. Details here.
Upcoming TAC grant & Foundation award deadlines:
TAC INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS' GRANTS and CANADA RECOVERY BENEFIT
Are you worried about losing CRB if you apply for a TAC individual artist grant? Keep these things in mind:
- Only the net income from the grant affects CRB eligibility. The net income amount is the total grant minus project costs, including any amounts paid for materials or to other artists or partners.
- The net grant amount may be divided over the number of months the project requires, to arrive at a net monthly grant amount.
- For CRB, you are able to earn a total of $38,000 in the calendar year before any amount is taxed back.
For more information please see the following sites:
Contact TAC: Please note that TAC staff will remain available to answer your questions and provide updated information throughout the outbreak. Please contact us any time.
Other resources:
· Sign up here for the City of Toronto CultureTO and BusinessTO newsletters.
· Please see the TAC COVID-19 Updates pages for links and resources including statements from Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council.
About Toronto Arts Council
Toronto Arts Council (TAC) is the City of Toronto’s funding body for artists and arts organizations. Since 1974, TAC has played a major role in the city’s cultural industries by supporting a very broad range of artistic activity. From the emerging artist to the most established, from celebrated institutions to arts that challenge convention, TAC is typically the first funder to offer support. Today, TAC grants lead to exhibitions, performances, readings and workshops seen annually by over 5 million people. Through its ongoing funding of over $23 million annually, TAC cultivates a rich engagement between artists and audiences. It is proud to reflect Toronto’s vibrancy through the diversity of the artists, arts communities and audiences that it serves.
Contact Information
For information, please contact Susan Wright, Deputy Director:
416-392-6802 x 211 | susan@torontoartscouncil.org