COVID-19 May 13 Update
TORONTO, May 13, 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.
Tools and Resources for Arts Organizations:
ShopHERE: The City of Toronto has launched ShopHERE to help Toronto businesses and artists build and promote their very own Shopify online stores in a matter of days. The City program brings together over 100 volunteer web developers, business students and corporate partners to provide one-on-one support with set-up, optimizing and marketing their online stores.
If you are an artist living in Toronto, or an arts organization that rents or owns property in Toronto and has fewer than 10 employees - register today and receive:
- an online store customized with your information, branding, logo, etc.
- Hands-on assistance setting up and launching your online store.
- Training to support your online store, including topics such as digital marketing, shipping and inventory management.
- Access to free tools to help support the launch of your online store.
Register today!
Property Tax Relief on the Way for Toronto Music Venues: The Toronto Music Advisory Committee is recommending that live music venues be included in a special property tax class developed to support artist hubs. The change, which still needs to be approved by City Council, means owners of hundreds of buildings containing live music venues would have access to a 50 per cent property tax rebate.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the existing inequities and failures in our society. Being in an already precarious position, live music workers, artists, and venues have been hit hard by the pandemic”, Committee Chair, Councillor Joe Cressy, said in a release. “We need to stabilize and support the live music community to weather the storm, but we also need to be working to build a more vibrant and sustainable music economy for the 21st century – not simply going back to the pre-pandemic status quo.”
Eligibility will be limited to venues with capacity of under 1,500 which present live music on at least 144 days a year.
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: 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 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