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The Boards of Directors of Toronto Arts Council (TAC) and Toronto Arts Foundation announce the upcoming departure of Claire Hopkinson, Director & CEO.

After 17 years of inspired leadership and exceptional achievements, Claire Hopkinson has decided to leave her position to pursue new opportunities at the end of this year.

Since 2005, Hopkinson has developed Toronto Arts Council into Canada’s leading municipal arts council, nearly tripling its investment in Toronto’s arts community, with a $25 million dollar annual budget. Committed to supporting the entire arts eco-system, Claire has worked with partners and colleagues to build strategic funding opportunities for the city’s artists and arts organizations. Of particular note has been her focus on ensuring that both TAC’s granting and its governance are representative of the people and art forms of the City. Further, she has worked tirelessly to bring the arts into the forefront of civic leadership, recognizing the transformative powers of the arts to city building.

Claire’s impact on Toronto Arts Foundation has been equally impressive. As the city’s leading arts charity, the Foundation under Claire’s leadership has pursued its vision to enrich every neighbourhood through the transformative benefits of the arts. Attracting unprecedented levels of philanthropic support for the Foundation’s work, Claire has created exceptional fundraising opportunities and events including the very popular Mayor’s Evening for the Arts. The primary force behind the development of Arts in the Parks and the Neighbourhood Arts Network, Claire has created meaningful opportunities for artists and audiences in every corner of the city.

In 2017 Claire was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal by the Governor General of Canada in recognition of her work in the arts community and she leaves both organizations in a state of stability and achievement.

“I came to TAC and Foundation as an artistic producer with a personal understanding of what the arts are capable of, and of the challenges facing artists and arts organizations. It’s been an incredible privilege these last 17 years to tackle these challenges, to find opportunities to expand the reach of the arts across the city and to help give voice to the rich diversity of incredible artists Toronto is home to. I’ve been blessed to work with an exceptional team of talented and committed colleagues and two supportive and knowledgeable boards of directors. I have sincerely loved working with, and learning from, each one of them!  I also treasure the numerous and important relationships developed along the way, with civic leaders, arts colleagues, visionary philanthropists, academics and community partners. I’m proud of the two organizations I am leaving and look forward to witnessing the next generation of leadership move Toronto’s arts sector forward.”

While the Board and staff of TAC and the Foundation will miss Claire’s energy, enthusiasm and leadership, we are confident that there will be no difficulty in attracting great talent as we search for her replacement. Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation are vibrant, well-managed organizations vital to the success of the arts community, the city and all its residents.

A Search Committee, approved by both boards yesterday evening, will be Co-chaired by Gaetane Verna (Director of the Power Plant and Past President of TAC) and Celia Smith (Director of Luminato Festival and Board member of TAC) and will include the following members: Jason Ryle (Past Executive Director, ImagineNative and TAC President), Dr. Sara Diamond (Past President & CEO, OCAD University and Incoming Chair, Toronto Arts Foundation), Michael Sinclair (General Manager Obsidian Theatre, and TAC Board member), Gary Crawford, Toronto City Councillor and TAC Board member. The position will be posted in the spring and both Boards look forward to welcoming the incoming Director and CEO by the end of the year.

TAC has joined the leaders of Canada’s largest municipal arts councils for the very first time to advocate on behalf of the artists and residents of Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto and Winnipeg. See the opinion piece published in The Globe and Mail, on March 20, 2021, and in La Presse on March 25. PDF of the article here.

On February 12, 2021, Toronto Arts Council submitted a letter to the 2021 Federal Pre-Budget Consultations

TAC BUDGET 2021

On February 25, 2022, Toronto Arts Council submitted a letter to the 2022 Federal Pre-Budget Consultations, in which Guarantted Basic Income was included among other recommendations for arts recovery funding.

TAC Budget 2022

The time for a federal Basic Income Guarantee is now

Canada’s arts sector has been devastated by the pandemic. And, it is the individual creative artist who has paid the greatest price for this loss: hours worked in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector declined 36.6% in 2020 including 60.7% for those in the performing arts.

Canada’s Employment Insurance program has not adapted to the realities of the gig economy or the self-employed and most freelance artists do not meet EI’s required criteria.

Artists face income insecurity as a result of their dependence on precarious short-term contracts combined with their lack of access to benefits, paid sick leave, or employment insurance.

Income precarity has always disproportionately affected vulnerable and marginalized communities including people with disabilities, LGBTQ2+, Black, Indigenous, people of colour, refugees and immigrants.

The opportunity for a federal Basic Income Guarantee is now

CERB and CRB have proven that it is possible to provide meaningful support to individuals facing income precarity, and the implementation of these programs has generated widespread public support for a permanent program to address basic income.

Note: A Basic Income Guarantee is not the same as Universal Basic Income which is being widely dismissed as too expensive. With a Basic Income Guarantee, the amount of the benefit is increased or reduced in line with income, making it both more affordable and more politically feasible.

Artists play a unique role in this country, and never has that been clearer than today. At the outset of the pandemic Canada’s artists responded to the needs of Canadians from coast to coast. They learned new technologies and harnessed their imaginations and talents to digital platforms and innovative outdoor performances. They reached out to seniors in care and front-line workers and they gave us company when anxiety threatened to overwhelm. Their art reminded us that better times will come again, and that joy can come in unexpected places.

Our city and country are depending on artists and arts organizations to re-engage the public in the life of our communities when it is safe to do so. Our artists will be key to bringing back the excitement and economic vibrancy that will make Canadian centres international magnates for residents and visitors once again.