Grants of up to $25,000 are available to professional artists, arts organizations, artist collectives, and non-profit organizations to present arts programming in selected Toronto parks.
Dance Together Festival 2021. Yordan Gutierrez Masa leading a Salsa Fusion dance workshop. Photo by Mirna Chacín
Application Deadline: June 3, 2025 (for projects taking place in 2026)
- Program guidelines will be available in February 2025
- Parks list and descriptions will be available in February 2025
- Apply. Applications will open in March 2025.
INFO SESSIONS / GRANT SUPPORT
- Watch this Video Recording of an information session that took place on October 24, 2022.
INFORMATION ON PARK PERMITS
For questions about this program, contact Lena Golubtsova, Strategic Programs Manager: lena[at]torontoartscouncil[dot]org
WHAT DOES THIS PROGRAM SUPPORT?
The Animating Toronto Parks grants program provides funding to professional artists, arts organizations, artist collectives, and non-profit organizations to create and present free arts programming in selected Toronto parks located in Etobicoke, East York, York, North York and Scarborough. For the purposes of this program, “arts programming” may include the presentation of dance, literary arts, music, theatre, visual and media arts, community-engaged arts, Indigenous arts, and other fields of artistic practice. Community consultation and/or engagement is a requirement of the program.
Animating Toronto Parks is a Strategic Funding Program managed by Toronto Arts Council (TAC), in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation’s Arts in the Parks initiative, City of Toronto Arts & Culture Services, Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PF&R), Black Creek Community Farm, and community partner Park People.
The maximum grant in this program is $25,000. Grants awarded may be less than the full amount requested. Applicants are not required to secure other sources of funding. The payment of artists’ fees is a requirement of this program.
Grant recipients will be provided with:
- funding toward artist fees and production elements
- access to the park space (permit dates subject to approval by TAC and Parks, Forestry & Recreation)
- coverage under the TAC’s liability insurance
- information regarding additional requirements (emergency action plan, waste and recycling diversion plan, etc.) or additional permits (noise exemption, building permit, etc.)
- an introduction to City of Toronto PF&R permit staff and park supervisors, Park People, and local community/parks groups
- support under Toronto Arts Foundation’s Arts in the Parks initiative, including marketing, promotion, inclusion on the artsintheparksto.org website, wayfinding signage, onsite volunteers, assistance with local community outreach, and other support. Participation in Arts in the Parks is a requirement of the program.
Program Partners:
WHAT IS ARTS IN THE PARKS?
Arts in the Parks is a free city-wide initiative managed by Toronto Arts Foundation (TAF), in partnership with Toronto Arts Council (TAC), Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PF&R), and community partner Park People. Arts in the Parks offers a wide range of in-kind supports to artists and arts organizations working in parks across the city, such as support with marketing, community engagement, on-site wayfinding signage, and volunteer coordination. Arts in the Parks is a core resource for Animating Toronto Parks grants recipients. To learn more about Arts in the Parks please visit https://artsintheparksto.org/.
TAC ACCESSIBILITY GRANT
Projects involving Deaf artists and artists with disabilities may apply for an additional TAC grant by completing the Accessibility Expenses section of the application and including the requisite information in their budget. A TAC Accessibility grant will provide up to a maximum of $5,000 towards accessibility costs for artists incurred during the project. Accessibility costs include but are not limited to: ASL interpretation, audio description, closed captioning, communications assistants, attendant care (including helpers for Elders), support workers and equipment rentals or other supports required to meet artists’ accessibility needs.
WHO CAN APPLY?
- This grants program is open to professional artists, not-for-profit arts organizations or artist collectives operating on a not-for-profit basis, and *not-for-profit organizations. (*not-for-profit organizations that are not arts-based may only apply to undertake projects that involve the artistic leadership of professional artists.)
- A professional artist is someone who has developed their skills through training and/or practice; is recognized as such by artists working in the same artistic field; actively practices their art; seeks payment for their work; and has a history of public presentation or exhibition.
- TAC recognizes that due to systemic barriers within the broader arts community (e.g. limited mainstream presentation opportunities for artists from equity-seeking communities) some flexibility may be required in interpreting eligibility criteria to take into account equivalent professional experience and contexts. Potential applicants from equity-seeking communities are encouraged to discuss their eligibility with the Program Manager in advance of submitting an application.
- TAC has two distinct funding envelopes:
1. Arts Discipline funding (e.g.: discipline-specific project grants and operating grants in Theatre, Dance, Music, etc.)
2. Strategic Programs funding (e.g.: Animating Toronto Parks, Artists in the Library, Animating Historic Sites, Artreach, Open Door, etc.)
Applicants may receive a maximum of one Strategic Programs grant per calendar year. Applicants may not apply for more than one Strategic Programs grant at a time. Any previous Strategic Program grants must be complete with a final report submitted and approved to meet the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility for Individuals:
- Individuals must be Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents or have an application pending for Permanent Resident Status or be a Protected Person (approved refugee claimant). If requested, you must be able to provide documentation to verify this. Grant recipients must have a Social Insurance Number.
- Individuals must have been a resident of the City of Toronto for at least one year prior to the deadline, and live and work in Toronto for at least 8 months a year. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet the residency requirement.
Eligibility for Organizations and Collectives:
- Organizations and collectives must be incorporated non-profit organizations or unincorporated collectives which operate on a non-profit basis. A collective is defined as two or more artists working together under a group name, either on a single project (ad hoc) or on an ongoing basis. For collectives of two artists, both must be City of Toronto residents. For collectives of more than two artists, the majority of members must be City of Toronto residents.
- Not-for-profit organizations that are not arts-based are eligible to apply to this grants program. Projects must include the collaborative involvement of professional artists with community members, as well as the payment of professional artist fees.
- Organizations and collectives must be located in the City of Toronto. A Post Office Box address cannot be used to meet this requirement.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Applicants register and submit the application, including the required support material, on TAC Grants Online (https://tac.smartsimple.ca). Applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 pm on the deadline date. TAC does not accept applications by any other means of delivery. You will receive a confirmation email when your application is submitted. Check your spam/junk mail folder if it doesn’t arrive in your in-box.
APPLICATION ACCESSIBILITY SUPPORT FOR DEAF PERSONS OR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Applicants who are Deaf or have a disability and need support to complete their grant applications can apply for funds to cover the costs of assistance from Application Support Service Providers. Up to $500 is available per eligible applicant in each calendar year. Please contact your Grant Program Manager at least six weeks before the grant program deadline to determine eligibility, request application support funding, and to review the process for payment to be made to your Service Provider. Requests for application support require approval from the Grant Program Manager. Additional information here.
QUESTIONS?
Contact Lena Golubtsova, Strategic Programs Manager: lena[at]torontoartscouncil[dot]org
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