HomeNews COVID-19 July 16 Update

COVID-19 July 16 Update

TORONTO, July 16, 2020 - Toronto Arts Council is committed to providing accurate and up to date information for the arts community throughout the COVID-19 emergency response period. See here for updated COVID-19 web pages and all prior TAC releases and assembled resources.

 
Toronto will soon enter Stage 3 Reopening: What will it mean for arts & culture?

TAC is teaming up once again with EDC and Toronto Public Health to present a Digital Update with the latest information and answers to your questions. Please join a conversation with Pat Tobin (Director Arts and Culture Services), Claire Hopkinson (Director and CEO, Toronto Arts Council), David Absalom (Toronto Public Health). The intent of this session is to provide updates on the impact of Stage 3 on Toronto arts organizations.

  • Thursday July 23, 2:30-3:30pm
  • Register here

We also invite you to share in advance questions that you want to see addressed. There is a field in the registration form, linked above, for you to submit a question. Additional questions may be sent to Rachel Kennedy at rachel@torontoartscouncil.org. Please note: this webinar will be limited to 500 participants.


Stage 3 Reopening
Toronto is expected to be included in Stage 3 Reopening within weeks. See A Framework for Reopening Our Province Stage 3. Included is the following information on Live Shows, Performing Arts and Movie Theatres:

Concerts, artistic events, theatrical productions, performances, and movie theatres may resume operations, including rehearsals, with the following restrictions:

  • Performers must maintain physical distancing of two metres from every other person, except from other performers where necessary for purposes of the performance.
  • Audiences are subject to the number of people that can maintain physical distancing of at least two metres and cannot exceed gathering limits of 50 indoors and 100 outdoors. This applies to the entire facility, regardless of the number of theatres or performance stages within the facility.
  • Performers and staff are not included in the gathering limits.
  • Plexiglass or some other impermeable barrier is required between the audience and singers as well as players of brass or wind instruments.
  • Drive-in and drive-through venues, as permitted in Stage 2, are not subject to gathering limits.


Emergency Funding Support

Phase 2 of Emergency Support Fund for Culture, Heritage and Sport Organizations has now been announced. Organizations that do not usually receive funding from Canadian Heritage or Canada Council are eligible, including those that did not receive funding in Phase 1. Breakdown of phase 2 funding:

  • $8.2 million for the arts sector;
  • $27.8 million for the audiovisual and digital media sector;
  • $5 million for the music industry;
  • $10 million for the publishing sector; and
  • $1 million for arts and culture organizations that serve official-language communities.


Toronto’s Year of Public Art offers new funding for artists and not-for-profit organizations to develop projects as part of ArtworxTO: Toronto’s Year of Public Art in 2021. The City named 2021 as a year of public art to improve access to and engagement with its existing collection of public art and to leave a legacy of new work across the city. More information on ArtworxTO Partnership Grant applications, eligibility criteria, application requirements and deadlines are available at toronto.ca/artworxto.
 
The application deadline for the Indigenous Arts and Culture Partnerships Fund has been extended to July 24 at 5 p.m. To request an application form, please contact Jeff D’Hondt. The Indigenous Arts and Culture Partnerships Fund supports partnerships and collaborations that create new opportunities and visibility for Indigenous-led arts and culture. The fund aims to spark new relationships between Indigenous artists, arts and culture leaders and professionals, and potential partners at both the grassroots and institutional levels.


Proposals for permanent public art memorial to Joshua Glover due July 17
The City in collaboration with the Etobicoke Historical Society is inviting proposals for the creation of a public heritage memorial dedicated to Joshua Glover that will be located in Joshua Glover Park in Etobicoke. Joshua Glover escaped slavery in 1852 and made his way from Missouri into Canada in 1854, assisted by the Underground Railroad. His story was important to the abolitionist movement. Project overview, historical background on Joshua Glover and eligibility criteria are available here. 


Events
For online art events and offerings, please view our COVID-19 Arts Activations page.  

 
Contact TAC: Please note that TAC staff will remain available to answer your questions and provide updated information throughout the outbreak. Please contact us any time.

Other resources: Please see the TAC COVID-19 Updates pages for links and resources including statements from Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council.

 


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 5 million people. Through its ongoing funding of over $18 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

Contact Information
For information, please contact Susan Wright, Deputy Director: 416-392-6802 x 211 | susan@torontoartscouncil.org