Equity is our priority

As the City of Toronto’s funding body for Toronto artists and organizations, Toronto Arts Council is committed to ensuring that our services remain equitable. Core to this is making sure that people and groups throughout Toronto have access to our programs, and that the application process is accessible. Our work towards becoming a more equitable and accessible organization is ongoing. As we continue to adjust to better serve Toronto’s artists and arts organizations, we’ll update this page with new developments. 

For more about our operations specific to accessibility and programs and services for artists who are deaf or have a disability, visit our Accessibility page. 

Values and policies

Protecting Freedom of Expression 

Toronto Arts Council’s two key operating principles – arm’s-length funding and peer review – are applied to ensure our funds support artistic innovation and protect freedom of expression. To learn more about how we work, visit our About page. 

Equity Framework 

In 2017 we adopted the Toronto Arts Council Equity Framework, out of which we identified Equity Priority Groups, implemented our Equity Priority Policy and established an Equity Steering Committee. Go here for a summary.  

Programs and Services

Programs

We’re committed to increase access and participation by artists working outside of the downtown core, newcomer and refugee artists, Black and Indigenous artists, and young and emerging artists. To achieve this, we developed several programs and partnerships: 

Black Arts Projects
Black Arts Annual Operating
Indigenous Arts Projects 
Newcomer and Refugee Artists Mentorship 
Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement 
Artists in the Library 
Animating Historic Sites 
Animating Toronto Parks 
ArtReach Toronto
Artists in the Schools

Pre-application support for Black Arts Projects 

Prospective applicants to our Black Arts Projects program may access pre-application support through Mentor in Residence for Black Arts Projects. Participating mentors may provide support to the prospective applicants in the following ways: 

• provide direction in development of project ideas; 
• connect mentees to resources to support project development; 
• assist with grant-writing and editing; 
• support with professional development and networking; 

Mentor in Residence for Black Arts Projects is provided in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network.

Video and voice recorded applications  

To encourage applications from artists who may not be familiar or comfortable with the grants application system, we’re piloting video and voice recorded applications in lieu of written applications. As of 2022, this option is only available to those applying to TAC’s Black Arts program. 

Rolling deadlines 

We offer rolling deadlines for three of our programs: Black Arts Projects, Indigenous Arts Projects and Visual Artists. A rolling deadline means that applicants can apply to these programs at any time throughout the year, offering greater flexibility to suit the needs of artists. A rolling deadline was first piloted in 2018 with the Visual Artists program.  

Outreach and grant support 

TAC Program Managers are regularly engaged in outreach activities to promote our grants programs and reach new applicants. This includes hosting information sessions, speaking about grant writing and attending external events. 

• If your organization is interested in inviting a TAC Program Manager to speak about TAC grants or the grant writing process, please contact them directly. You may also send an email to outreach@torontoarts.org
• For an up to date calendar of our outreach events, including upcoming information sessions, visit the Events page.  

Applications

TAC Grants Online 

TAC was the first arts council in Canada to move to an online grant application portal. In 2014, we introduced TAC Grants Online to simplify the application process, eliminating the need for applicants to mail or deliver their application in person at our office. We continue to review the online portal to ensure that it’s easy to use for grant applicants. 

Lowering barriers to granting for newcomers 

Before 1995, we updated eligibility for TAC grants, expanding the requirement to be a Canadian citizen by welcoming permanent residents to apply. Since then, we have gone further to accept applications from those who have an application pending for Permanent Resident Status, as well as those who are a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant). 

Staff and Terminology

Representative staff, board, committees and panels 

Our staff, board, committees and assembled review panels are all 50% (or more) persons of colour, Black or Indigenous peoples. 

Our move away from judicial language 

In 2019, Toronto Arts Council adopted new titles for staff in a move to signal our alignment with the artists that we serve. We eliminated the title “Grants Officer” and adopted the tile “Grant Program Manager” and eliminated the term “Jury/ Jurors” and adopted the terms “Grant Review Panels / Peer Assessors.”  

Responsive and Open

We value feedback  

If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to offer feedback or tips, please do not hesitate to contact us. You may also submit your feedback through this online form.  

Equity Framework

Over the years, Toronto Arts Council has played an active role in promoting equity and inclusion in the arts. In 2017, we formalized our position and updated our practices with the release of the Toronto Arts Council Equity Framework. Our Equity Framework guides granting and governance provisions to reinforce equity and accessibility in all our activities and in the creation and presentation of the arts programming we support. 

As equity is a continuous process, the Equity Framework is a “living” document that is regularly updated. TAC conducts an annual internal equity review to track progress and identify ongoing challenges to various areas of operations including application and adjudication processes, employment, governance, communications and outreach and organizational culture. 

Key improvements to our services following the release of the Framework include: 

• Formed an Equity Steering Committee to review equity goals and ensure implementation. 
• Identified Equity Priority Groups, which include Black, Persons of Colour, Deaf Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Persons Living with Mental Illness, Indigenous Artists and 2SLGBTQIAP Artists; 
• Created a Voluntary Self-Identification Form for all applications so that we can track who is applying, identify gaps and ensure that grants are awarded in an equitable manner; 
• Implemented an Equity Priority Policy to ensure that artists that self-identify as belonging to one of Toronto Arts Council’s equity priority groups have greater access to TAC funds.