2024 has been a year of promise for the arts in Toronto.  

Over this past year, Toronto Arts Council and Foundation assisted with and championed the City of Toronto’s ambitious new culture plan Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto, which includes an increase to Toronto Arts Council’s base budget of $2 million per year for the next five years; we celebrated 50 years of public investment in the arts through Toronto Arts Council, and the creative city this has built;  and we reimagined our major fundraising event with the In Bloom Gala, an electric party  that raised over one million dollars in support for our vital year-round programming.  

Here are some highlights for the year: 

Toronto Arts Council: 

• Managed thousands of grant applications and funded outstanding art:  

• Grants staff managed over 71 days of adjudication meetings, assessing 2,597 applications with requests of $45,383,463 and delivering a total of $23,853,422 through 886 grants to artists and arts organizations in Toronto. 

• Launched our 50^th Anniversary celebration in June with a public event at Luminato in the Square, attended by over 1,200 people; over the year, we spotlighted 50 artists and highlighted the benefits of the arts with our “Believe in Art” campaign. 

• Engaged in research to better understand and demonstrate the importance of our work:  
  • Concluded a SSHRC funded research project, Fostering Integration Through the Arts: Learning from Toronto Arts Council’s Program for Newcomers and Refugees (FIT-ART), in partnership with the Toronto Metropolitan University; presented the initial findings of this project at the Metropolis Canada Conference in Montreal in March and will launch the final report in January. 
  • Began another SSHRC funded research project titled Funding Matters with University of Toronto Scarborough Campus about the importance and perception of public arts funding.
  • Participated in “Pathways to Growth: Impact, Partnerships, Funding” organized by the Association of Arts Councils of Ontario (AACO) in Belleville in October. 
• Spoke to our peers at key gatherings:
  • Participated in “Advancing Data Strategies for Arts Funders: Turning the Idea of Data Strategy(ies) for Arts Funders into a Reality,” this past June, organized by the National Research Group and hosted by funders in Alberta in Calgary. 
  • Served as a panelist for Canadian Urban Institute’s 2nd Annual Summit, “State of Canada’s Cities Summit – Stepping Up.” 

• Reached out to prospective applicants and helped convene communities:
  • Organized 13 outreach and networking events for 1060 registered participants, including four grant information sessions, four combined community conversation / networking / information sessions, two multi-grant drop-in “office hour” events and three Black Arts Connect sessions. 

Toronto Arts Foundation: 

• Recognized and celebrated the achievements of outstanding artists and arts organizations through our various awards:
  • In April we named the recipients of five awards at our annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch: Pan Fantasy received the $20,000 Arts for Youth Award, Destinie Adélakun received the $10,000 Breakthrough Artist Award, Rina Fraticelli received the $10,000 Celebration of Cultural Life Award, Anthony Gebrehiwot received the $10,000 Community Arts Award, Laurence Lemieux received the $10,000 Muriel Sherrin Award. 
  • In May we gathered at the City of Toronto’s Newcomer Day to celebrate six newcomer artists: Mahsa Alikhani, Gaby Al Botros, Andrea Nirmala Widjajanto, Jelica Mijanovic, Leandro Matos and Niloufar Ziaee each received $2,500 as part of our Newcomer Artist Award. 
  • Through our Space Award: Tan VU, Nami Ueno, Leen Hamo, Felipe Tellez, Dana Prieto and Melika Saeeda each received $500 cash and $2,000 in credit to be used for studio space; we expanded our partnerships to serve performing artists: space partners now include AKIN, Small World Centre, Unity Charity and Factory Theatre.
  • In June, Dánae Olano was named the recipient of the $10,000 Breakthrough Jazz Artist Award. 

• Connected artists with industry professionals through our Mentor in Residence program, managed by our Neighbourhood Arts Network.  
  • In total, we worked with 18 multi-disciplinary mentors who contributed over 245 mentorship hours, providing support to 95 mentees.  

• Provided opportunities for 25 youth media artists who are Indigenous, Black and People of Colour and/or 2SLGBTQ+ to gain professional experience, skills and network in the media arts industry through ArtWorksTO. This program operates in partnership with our Neighbourhood Arts Network, the City of Toronto, OCAD U and The Remix Project. 
  • $100,000 in industry contracts were awarded to the cohort, with an additional $120,000 industry contracts awarded to program alumni. 
  • ArtWorksTO received the City’s Manager’s Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in September.  

• Provided arts board volunteers the opportunity to gather and learn effective governance practices through our Creative Champions Network workshops led by Michelle Yeung. 
  • A total of five workshop sessions took place throughout the year, featuring seven speakers and inspiring 223 arts champions to serve their arts organizations better and more effectively.   

• Engaged audiences with free, accessible, high-caliber art of all kinds throughout the summer through Arts in the Parks. 
  • A total of 877 artists brought 295 events to 33 parks across the city in 18 wards, bringing together approximately 92,800 audience members through unique and memorable arts experiences. 

• In November, our Mayor’s Evening for the Arts raised $1,040,000 to support our programming in 2025, helping to build careers, strengthen networks and create greater access to the arts throughout Toronto.  

Both Organizations 

• Celebrated Toronto Arts Council board members:
  • Thanked outgoing board members Amanda Hancox, Richard Paquet and maxine bailey. 

• Celebrated Toronto Arts Foundation board members:
  • Welcomed incoming members Stefan Baranski, Bob Blazevski, Nasir Noormohamed, Sage Paul, Orit Sarfaty, Jonathan Simmons and Mike Yorke and thanked outgoing directors Devyani Saltzman and Danielle Labossiere Parr. 

• Welcomed and celebrated joint Toronto Arts Council and Foundation staff:
  • Celebrated Kadija de Paula in her new role as Senior Manager, Impact & Evaluation.
  • Welcomed Francois Lebas, Manager, Data Analytics and Sarah Mangialardo, Senior Executive Coordinator. 

• Welcomed Toronto Arts Council staff:
  • Tafiya Itiaba-Bayah, Program Manager, Dance Programs 
• Welcomed and celebrated Toronto Arts Foundation staff:
  • Celebrated Alandra McKirdy in her new role as Coordinator, Special Events
  • Welcomed Courtney Fiddis, Senior Manager, Development, Elizabeth (Liz) Tsui, Coordinator, Outreach & Awards, Hemangi Shroff, Coordinator, Membership & Engagement, Sophie Brzozowski, Senior Coordinator, Philanthropy, Lucy Reddy, Senior Coordinator, Philanthropy 

2025 promises to be even better. Our organizations are preparing for future growth to support creative opportunities for everyone in our city through a new Strategic Plan which we expect to launch in the spring along with a renewed digital presence to serve Torontonians better. We will continue to build bridges, to listen, engage, and connect while pursuing our vision of a better Toronto for everyone through the arts. 

In addition to boosting the economy and creating jobs, we see every day how the arts contribute to healthy and whole communities, reduce isolation,  promote well-being, and so much more. This is the power of the arts.

In addition to boosting the economy and creating jobs, we see every day how the arts contribute to healthy and whole communities, reduce isolation,  promote well-being, and so much more. This is the power of the arts. It is why the arts are fundamental to peoples’ lives and to a caring, vibrant city, and why we will continue to work with our public and private partners to support the arts and make the case for increased investments in this critical sector.  

Thank you to our dedicated staff, board, and committee members, volunteers, and community members who directly contributed to our success in 2024. Thank you to all of Toronto Arts Council’s grant recipients for their inspiring work, to Toronto Arts Foundation donors and sponsors for fueling our vital programs, and to Mayor Olivia Chow, Toronto City Council, and our colleagues at the City of Toronto for continuing to believe and invest in the arts. Finally, thanks to every Toronto resident who attended or engaged in an arts experience this year and, by doing so, helped to sustain our unique creative city. 

I look forward to connecting with you in 2025.  

Sincerely,  

Kelly Langgard 
Director & CEO 
Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation 

During my first week as Director & CEO of Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation in January this year, I hit the ground running with a deputation to Economic & Community Development Committee to emphasize vital importance of the arts – and public funding for the arts – for the city. It was an introduction that signaled our organizations’ drive and responsibility to serve Toronto’s arts communities with transparency, trust and openness: the pillars that form the foundation of our many relationships.  

I’ve gotten to know and collaborate with many city staff who know the value of the arts, and, thanks to our collective efforts this year, continue to seek ways to help us better achieve our mandate with more impact. I’ve also gotten to know our incredible boards of directors who give their time and passion to helping us empower artists through funding and initiatives; so many inspiring artists and arts leaders whose drive to create and produce make our city better; and the many audiences I’ve met around the way, left engaged, thoughtful and connected after experiencing powerful art.  

In addition to feeling inspired by our work and the possibilities ahead, Artscape’s insolvency in late summer highlighted the precariousness of arts infrastructure support in our city. There’s a lot of work we need to do to help artists and arts organizations. Temporary fixes simply will not do. If the city’s response to step in during this situation signaled anything, it’s that they are willing partners and supporters of the cause for maintaining permanent artist live/work space.  

I feel incredibly confident in the future of our organizations and our ability to support artists of all disciplines, backgrounds and approaches, in all corners of our city. As we finish the year we’re entering 2024 with renewed vigour, conviction and vision; We are Toronto’s Arts Council and Toronto’s Arts Foundation, and we’re here to serve.  

Highlights in 2023 include:  

For Toronto Arts Council: 

• Continued our advocacy work to center the arts during the Mayoral by-election, resulting in reaffirmation of Mayor Olivia Chow’s commitment to increase investment to TAC during Arts Day at the City.  

• Collaborated with the City on the development of a new culture plan and contracted Monumental to begin this work, which so far has involved many TAC and Foundation staff during eight community consultations. 

• Welcomed Devyani Saltzman to both boards, including as President for TAC.  

• Grants staff managed over 77 days of adjudication meetings, assessing 2,629 applications with requests of $45,906,400. 

• Helped fund outstanding art: we recommended 911 grants to artists and arts organizations with a total value of $23,703,007.  

• Worked with funders across Canada to launch the new CADAC system and streamlined our own operating applications to be more accessible. 

• Through the work of our internal access working group, improved the accessibility of our online application system, TAC Grants Online, by working with a blind consultant and participated in accessibility training for online meetings. 

• Began a SSHRC funded research project with Toronto Metropolitan University on newcomer integration focused on TAC’s Newcomer & Refugee Artist Mentorship Program. 

• Welcomed Caitlin Loney, Administrator, Grants Support to the team. 

• Celebrated Sarah Miller-Garvin in her new role as Interim Program Manager, Theatre, covering for Elahe Marjovi’s parental leave.  

• Presented our annual work to the City’s Economic & Community Development Committee, effectively communicating TAC’s strong connection to the arts community, leadership in equity and inclusion and the impact of our work and ability to respond to the challenges faced by Toronto’s artists and arts organizations. 

• Welcomed incoming board members Councillor Alejandra Bravo and Sally Lee and thanked outgoing member Ana Serrano.  

For Toronto Arts Foundation: 

• Recognized and celebrated the achievements of outstanding artists and arts organizations through our various awards, distributed throughout the year. A total of $133,000 was distributed to award finalists and recipients.
  • In April we named the recipients of five awards at our annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch: Nia Centre for the Arts received the $20,000 Arts for Youth Award, Oluseye Ogunlesi received the $10,000 Breakthrough Artist Award, R.I.S.E. Edutainment received the $10,000 Community Arts Award, Naomi Johnson received the $10,000 Margo Bindhardt and Rita Davies Award and Joy Lapps received the $10,000 Muriel Sherrin Award.
  • In May we gathered at the City of Toronto’s Newcomer Day to celebrate six newcomer artists: filmmaker Halime Akturk, media artist Faisal Karadsheh, multidisciplinary artist Vladimir Kanic, visual artist Leila Refahi, visual artist Chico Togni and sculpture and installation artist Lana Yuan each received $2,500 as part of our Newcomer Artist Award.
  • Through our Newcomer Space Award: dance artist Irina Lerman, multidisciplinary artist Azadeh Pirazimian, sculpture and installation artist Helio Eudoro Rodriguez Junior, visual artist Chico Togni, visual and community artist Kseniya Tsoy and sculpture and installation artist Lana Yuan each received $500 cash and $2,000 in credit to be used for sharing studio or exhibition space at Akin.
  • In June, Kae Murphy was named the recipient of the $10,000 Emerging Jazz Artist Award.
  • In October Sandra Laronde received our $20,000 Indigenous Artist Award and named Kehew Buffalo as the recipient of the $5,000 mentee prize.  

• Continued to connect artists with industry professionals through our Mentor in Residence program, managed by our Neighbourhood Arts Network. In total, we worked with 17 multi-disciplinary mentors who contributed over 160 mentorship hours, providing support to 145 mentees. 

• ArtWorksTO, another program managed by our Neighbourhood Arts Network in partnership with the City of Toronto, OCAD U and The Remix Project, provided opportunities for 12 youth media artists who are Indigenous, Black and People of Colour and/or 2SLGBTQ+ to gain professional experience, skills and network in the media arts industry. $48,000 in industry contracts were awarded to the cohort. 

• Arts in the Parks continued to engage audiences with free, accessible, high-caliber art of all kinds throughout the summer and fall months. A total of 847 artists brought 267 events to 36 parks across the city, bringing together approximately 69,450 audience members through unique and memorable arts experiences. 

• Arts board volunteers continued to gather and learn effective governance practices through our Creative Champions Network workshops. A total of 5 workshop sessions took place throughout the year, inspiring 188 arts champions to serve their arts organizations better and more effectively.  

• Gathered with 80 artists, policy makers and arts workers through our two-day Emergence symposium this spring. Through 23 workshops, panels and sessions we dug into the importance of creative exploration and play for the well-being of artists and audiences and focused on the potential of the arts to inspire and support climate action. 

• In November, our Mayor’s Evening for the Arts raised over $950,000 to support our initiatives. Building on the momentum of this great turnout, real estate development firm Castlepoint Numa stepped forward with a challenge to help us reach our $1M goal, committing to match all gifts up to 25K until December 31, 2023. 

• Welcomed incoming board member Sage Paul and thanked outgoing member Terry Nicholson. 

Internally, we:  

• Restructured the organizations following a two-day staff retreat in the summer, with expanded or changed roles for many, to improve efficiency and impact. We are excited to approach our work with renewed energy and strategic alignment 

• Celebrated Kadija De Paula and Andrew Suri as they transitioned into new roles within the organizations 

• Bid farewell to Susan Wright, Deputy Director, after 24 outstanding years of service and championship 

• Welcomed four new members our teams, including Selina McCallum, Clau Souza, and two new members of our leadership cohort, Dane Bland and Rupal Shah. 

 
2023 was filled with great accomplishments, but my colleagues and I at Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation are committed to doing even better in the coming years.  

2024 marks the 50^th anniversary of TAC. As we look back on what we’ve built over the years, we’re looking forward and envisioning a Toronto that fully embraces, supports and celebrates its artists as integral to building the city and world we want and need.  

Thank you for your amazing support to date, and we’ll see you in the new year. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! 

Best,  

Kelly Langgard,  

Director & CEO 

Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation