Toronto Arts Council Invests $320,000 to Support Book Launches of Toronto Writers Across the City
An innovative new partnership with International Festival of Authors
TORONTO - Toronto Arts Council will provide $320,000 in funding over three years to spotlight Toronto authors through a new strategic partnership with the International Festival of Authors (IFOA). Entitled Toronto Lit Up, this new partnership will support the presentation of high-impact book launches of Toronto writers, including those from Indigenous, culturally diverse and LGBTQ communities. It will also increase opportunities for Toronto’s general public to access literary work by local emerging and established literary artists.
“In response to a challenging external environment, the Toronto literary community continues to work toward developing a greater number of meaningful presentation experiences,” said Claire Hopkinson, Director and CEO of Toronto Arts Council. “Our partnership with the IFOA is an exciting opportunity for TAC to spotlight Toronto authors, and, for the first time, will enable TAC to invest in the presentation of Toronto literary work.”
Toronto City Council has increased investment in Toronto Arts Council’s grants program as part of its commitment to achieve $25 per capita arts funding. This strategic partnership with the IFOA was made possible with the new funding.
Since 1974, IFOA has presented international novelists, poets, playwrights, short story writers and biographers, and has provided Canadian writers with an internationally recognized forum in which to present their work. With a mandate to cultivate and advance the cause of literature, IFOA is home to a weekly event series, the annual International Festival of Authors and, for younger readers, YoungIFOA, and ALOUD: A Celebration for Young Readers with Forest of Reading® Festival of Trees™, presented with the Ontario Library Association. For more information, visit http://ifoa.org.
"We are delighted to work with our long-time partner the Toronto Arts Council on Toronto Lit Up. TAC should be commended for supporting this new showcase of Toronto’s literary talent and our unique stories. This initiative will raise the bar for celebrating a diversity of authors in our community," said Geoffrey Taylor, Director, IFOA.
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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 7.5 million people. Through its ongoing funding of over $16 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.
Contacts:
International Festival of Authors Media Contact: Eirini Moschak, media@ifoa.org
Toronto Arts Council: Timea Wharton-Suri, timea@torontoartscouncil.org, 416-392-6802 ext. 224