COVID-19 March 26 Update
TORONTO, March 26, 2020 - 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.
March 26 Updates:
Toronto Arts Foundation in partnership with Toronto Arts Council has launched the TOArtist COVID-19 Response Fund which will allocate up to $1000 to self-employed, individual artists resident in Toronto whose creative work and income have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. APPLY or DONATE.
Federal Government: On March 25 the federal government clarified its emergency response plan: The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) application portal will open early April. Benefit will be $2,000 per month for wage earners, as well as contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI). Also of note for arts organizations: workers who are still employed, but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19, will also qualify for the CERB. This will help arts organizations keep their employees as they navigate these difficult times, while ensuring they preserve the ability to quickly resume operations as soon as it becomes possible.
Other Emergency Funding Initiatives:
AFC Helps: AFC is the lifeline for Canada’s entertainment industry.
Unison: Financial aid for musicians
For a full list of all emergency funds launched to date, see here.
New COVID-19 shared platforms worth checking out and populating:
City Share/Canada: A real-time, crowdsourced platform that houses resources, tools, and stories on how citybuilders and residents are responding to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Resources Toronto (App): A collaborative effort by Torontonians to help the city through these difficult times. Includes: ways to help, how to get the assistance you need, fun online activities (art interventions, educational, wellness and exercise classes), and more.
Art Activations:
Toronto Arts Council's listing of artists and events offering virtual and innovative programming during the COVID-19 isolation period is updated daily on our Art Activations page.
TAC Previously Reported:
During these unprecedented times, Toronto Arts Council will be sending regular bulletins to our mailing list about COVID-19 updates, the steps we’re taking to help the Toronto arts community, what you can do to help, and more.
Please forward these regular bulletins on to friends and colleagues.
For those who are not on our mailing list, SIGN UP to receive regular COVID-19 bulletins from Toronto Arts Council. You may unsubscribe by clicking on the link at the bottom of this email at any time.
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 9.5 million people. Through its ongoing funding of over $18 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. For more about Toronto Arts Council, visit www.torontoartscouncil.org
Contact Information
For information, please contact Susan Wright, Deputy Director: 416-392-6802 x 211 | susan@torontoartscouncil.org