The Case for the Arts

Toronto Arts Council supports the arts in every ward of our creative city.

2023 By-Election for Mayor

The 2023 By-Election for Mayor is taking place on June 26, 2023. Advance voting is open from June 8-13, 2023. Visit the City of Toronto’s elections pages for extensive voter information, the list of certified candidates and more.

Those elected to City Council make important decisions that affect Toronto Arts Council’s budget, arts policy and events throughout the city. This is an ideal time to highlight the importance of the arts, including public funding for the arts.

Together with our affilaite Toronto Arts Foundation, we created a document that highlights the importance of the arts to the health and well-being of Toronto and its residents. We encourage all Mayoral candidates to think proactively about their arts platform. Browse below for key messages, and download the full document here. 

GREAT CITIES = ARTS & CULTURE CITIES

Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation invite all Mayoral candidates to champion the growth of arts and culture in Toronto.

ARTS = TORONTO

• Toronto’s strong and diverse city-wide arts sector exists thanks to decades of public investment and the dedication of artists and arts organizations of every kind
• Leadership of the incoming Mayor is essential to build on Toronto’s strength as an inclusive, creative city and global cultural destination

ARTS = VITALITY

• Toronto is home to more artists than any other Canadian city
• Artists inspire innovation across all sectors

ARTS = COMMUNITY

• Arts increase social engagement and connect communities across the city
• Evidence links arts participation with improved mental health

ARTS = YOUTH ENGAGEMENT

• Arts programming builds resilience among youth
• Arts employment programs create meaningful career opportunities for young adults

ARTS = NEWCOMER PARTICIPATION

• Arts experiences cross language barriers
• Arts promote belonging and inspire dialogue between cultures and communities

ARTS = ECONOMIC PROSPERITY

• The arts and culture sector contributes $11B to Toronto’s GDP every year with the non-profit arts bringing in $230M in ticket sales
• A vibrant arts scene is crucial to talent retention and new business investment in all sectors

WAYS TO INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF THE ARTS

Create and preserve affordable arts spaces

Toronto is facing an affordability crisis. The cost of living is skyrocketing, yet 69% of artists make less than Toronto’s living wage of $43K per year, and half make less than $30K. Access to safe and affordable space to rehearse, create and present art is essential to the success of the industry. A plan to create and preserve arts spaces is needed.

Champion Toronto’s next Culture Plan

An ambitious and achievable Culture Plan sets the stage for the future and signals Toronto’s confidence in the arts as a city-wide benefit. The City of Toronto released its last Culture Plan in 2011. Work has begun on a new plan to be released in 2024. Toronto’s next Mayor should champion it as their signature plan to lead the city forward.

Direct the 2% hotel tax increase to the arts

The additional 2% added to the Municipal Accommodation Tax in May 2023 is a welcome new investment opportunity. New $50M annual investment in arts experiences will increase Toronto’s ability to attract tourists, businesses and residents and increase the quality of life for all Torontonians. Allocating a share of hotel taxes to the arts is a successful strategy for US arts destinations including San Francisco and New York City.

Increase Toronto Arts Council’s budget

Toronto Arts Council (TAC) is the City of Toronto’s partner in delivering public funds to the arts equitably and effectively. Every year, TAC distributes $23+ million in grants directly to 950 artists and arts organizations, enabling them to create, connect and inspire. With more funds, TAC will be able to support more of the organizations and artists who are helping to build our vibrant, creative city and contribute to our economic growth.

Collaborate with Toronto Arts Foundation

Toronto Arts Foundation, an affiliate of Toronto Arts Council, has city-wide impact through initiatives like Arts in the Parks, which brings free arts experiences to communities across the city. The Foundation is ready to work with Toronto’s next Mayor on dynamic philanthropic arts solutions to the city’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.

Implement the 10-year Public Art Strategy

The Toronto Public Art Strategy (2020–2030), guided by a vision of creativity and community everywhere and underpinned by a commitment to advancing truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities through public art, recommends 21 actions to strengthen the City’s commitment to public art.

Download here
 

Arts by Ward

Toronto Arts Council supports arts across Toronto. Click on the maps below for snapshots of TAC's impact. Save and share these posters to help you communicate the importance of the arts in the city. 

Explore Toronto Arts Facts and Toronto Arts Stats, two publications of Toronto Arts Foundation that present key information about the arts in Toronto.

Our affiliate Toronto Arts Foundation has developed several resources – Toronto Arts Facts and Toronto Arts Stats – to show the impact of the arts on Toronto and its residents.

Toronto Arts Facts gathers together key information about the arts in Toronto, compiled from a wide variety of research studies and statistical resources. This information – which falls into the general areas of the arts’ role in the economy, its impact on communities, and its place in people’s lives – was intended, at first, to provide fact-based information to arts funders and policy makers.

Toronto Arts Stats brings together results from a public opinion survey about the arts. For the past four years (2014-2018), Toronto Arts Foundation has partnered with Leger, the largest Canadian-owned polling, research and strategic marketing firm, to create this publication, revealing that Torontonians overwhelmingly value the creative sector.

Visit Toronto Arts Foundation's Advocacy page to learn more about these publications and what you can do to support our creative city. 

Download any of the infographics below for inclusion in your program ad or website.