The number of grants awarded varies depending on TAC’s budget, and the amount of applications received every term.

Yes. Visit Grant Recipient Lists to view a full list and to access TAC Open Data.

TAC Program Managers facilitate the application process. This includes advising individuals or organizations about how to apply, ensuring that applications meet the funding criteria, and facilitating the assessment process. Program Managers attend arts events and participate in outreach initiatives to publicize grant programs. 

No. The role of the Program Manager is to assist applicants, and to aid the grant review panels during the adjudication process. Program Managers do not sit on the grant review panels, and therefore do not participate in adjudications. Similarly, Program Managers do not sit on the Board of Directors, and therefore are not responsible for approving grant recommendations. Read more about TAC’s Program Managers by visiting Our Team.

Depending on the program, TAC grants are assessed by either a grant review panel or committee of independent practicing artists and arts professionals. After reading all grant applications within each program deadline, each grant review panel and committee meets as a group to discuss, score and award grant applications in a rigorous process facilitated by the Program Manager. The discussions that occur during assessments are kept confidential. Grant recommendations are then made to the Board of Directors.

Yes, TAC granting is guided by an Equity Framework, which includes representation requirements for grant review panels and committees, as well as an Equity Priority Policy that informs the funding and allocations process.

No two grant review panels are ever the same. Grant review panels are made up of artists and professionals that have a variety of expertise in their discipline, and are chosen to reflect the variety of applications received in each granting term. Peer assessors are selected to reflect a balance of gender, cultural diversity, and stage of career. When selecting peer assessors, TAC ensures that issues of conflict of interest are avoided. 

The number of individuals that sit on a grant review panel or committee varies by discipline and program. The number of applications submitted varies with each program, and the size of the grant review panel reflects this. Grant review panels can have as few as four individuals, and as many as ten.

If you are interested in becoming a peer assessor, contact the Program Manager of your discipline of expertise. It is not guaranteed that you will be invited to sit on a grant review panel after you have expressed interest.

Toronto Arts Council’s volunteer board and committees are made up of artists, other arts professionals and arts supporters. To guarantee accountability, City Council appoints five of its members to Toronto Arts Council’s 29 member Board of Directors. To view a list of current board members, visit Our Board of Directors.

New board members are accepted once a year. TAC puts out a call for Board Directors in the Fall. Nominations are approved at the Annual General Meeting.

All three funding councils share CADAC, but apart from this they share no connection. Toronto Arts Council is funded by the City of Toronto, whereas the Ontario Arts Council is provincially funded, and the Canada Council for the Arts is federally funded. Everything from the staff, Board, the application processes and more are all independent to each council.

Yes. There are no restrictions preventing you from applying to various arts councils at the same time.

No. You may apply to any arts council at any time in your career.

Yes. Our Program Managers are available to discuss your ideas and projects and can assist you in determining what grant program you should apply for. However, there are other Ontario and Toronto-based organizations that can further assist you in such things as preparing your application, administrative, or capacity-building initiatives. Visit our Research & Reports page for a list to get you started.