Learning from Toronto Arts Council’s Program for Newcomers and Refugees. This report is the result of the FIT-ART project, a research partnership between Toronto Arts Council (TAC) and the Canada Excellence Chair in Migration and Integration (CERC Migration) at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

Concentration of Artists in Canada is a multi-funder research project that identifies issues that impact where artists live and work in Canada’s four largest cities. Cost of living, barriers to accessing creative space, “renoviction,” continued forms of systemic discrimination and more are just some of the issues raised by artists who contributed to surveys and focus group discussions.

Recommendations for Toronto Arts Council. This report led to the creation of our Black Arts programs.

In 2009, TAC hosted a series of public consultations, undertook a visioning exercise and developed a Visioning Document, which was updated in December 2012 as it became apparent that City Council was planning new arts funding.


Funding Priorities Reaffirmed by Board of Directors: TAC’s vision is to connect every Toronto neighbourhood with the transformational power of arts activity.

Results of the City of Toronto and Toronto Arts Council consultations with Toronto’s cultural sector in April 2013
.

Report on Findings: During the months of May and June, 2008, TAC held consultation sessions and conversations with 130 people including artists, arts organization representatives and community stakeholders.

A report on financial trends in Toronto’s non-profit arts and culture community from 1991-1996

Culture and the civic society: an international symposium on cities and their support of culture

A final report for cultural equity implementation

A report on equitable funding practices with recommendations

A report on the crisis facing cultural facilities. This report lead to the creation of Artscape Toronto.

Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto (2025 – 2035)

Anti-Black Racism Analysis Tool for a Radically Equitable COVID-19 Response (2020) – City of Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit


Creating Value with Increased Investment Through the Arts (2013) 


Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto (2011)

Mayor’s Task Force: Recommendations on the Theatres (2011)

Creative City Planning Framework (2008) 


Culture Plan Progress Report (2005)

Culture Plan for the Creative City (2003) 


ARTS-RELATED PUBLICATIONS BY EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS

What We Heard, Monumental (2024)
Summary of Feedback from Community Engagement on the Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector. A report submitted to the City of Toronto and Toronto Arts Council.

Onscreen Protocols and Pathways, imagineNATIVE (2019)
A Media Production Guide to Working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities, Cultures, Concepts and Stories – ImagiNATIVE

Think Before You Appropriate, Simon Fraser University, Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage Project (2015)
Things to know and questions to ask in order to avoid misappropriating Indigenous cultures. A guide for creators and designers.

Reframing the Cultural Policy Dialogue, The Arts Advocate (2015)
Report and learnings from a symposium

Arts Advocacy Report, Leger Marketing (2013)
Survey results on opinions on the arts in Ontario

Funding to Arts and Cultural Organizations by the City of Toronto, Martin Prosperity Institute
 (1990-2008)

EXTERNAL TOOLKITS

Arts and Equity Toolkit
On a regular basis, Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network hosts community conversations on topics that are of interest to our members. These discussions help us to understand the barriers and challenges that artists and cultural workers are facing, and to explore innovative solutions. The Arts & Equity Project has emerged from needs and concerns identified by artists who are working to engage Toronto communities through the arts.

Arts in the Parks Toolkit, Toronto Arts Foundation (2019)
Toronto Arts Foundation, in partnership with the Ontario Trillium Foundation, shares its expertise animating local parks in this resource aimed at helping community organizations and municipalities envision their own arts events in parks.

EXTERNAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS

ArtReach Toronto
A program designed to support arts initiatives that engage youth in under-served areas of Toronto. In addition to its funding program, ArtReach Toronto provides capacity building initiatives for artists including grant writing support, mentorship, and free monthly workshops. Comprehensive Toolkits are available on their website. 

CADAC (Canadian Arts Data)
Provides a simplified process for arts organizations applying for operating grants. 

Canadian Artists’ Representation CARFAC Ontario
A professional association serving the needs of visual artists in Ontario. CARFAC offers services and resources (including publications and workshops) to assist emerging and established artists with legal rights, setting prices, and more.

Creative Champions Network: Resources for Board Members
Toronto Arts Foundation’s Creative Champions Network provides networking and learning opportunities for Toronto’s 2,000+ arts board members. This extensive online resources section is designed to get you thinking about your board, from self-evaluation tools to information on fundraising, legal duties, the roles and responsibilities of an arts board, and more.

Dance Umbrella of Ontario (DUO)
A not-for-profit provider of management services to Ontario’s dance enterprises. Services include accounting, artistic/business planning, production administration and support, communication services, career consultation, arts grant development, review and filing, board administration and facilitation, budget analysis, and fund-raising planning.

Generator
Provides administrative support for theatre artists. Services include assistance with marketing and publicity, grant writing, financial and general administrative assistance.

Ontario Disability Support Program
If you have a disability and need help with your living expenses, you may be eligible for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). Please refer to the ODSP & Arts Grants brochure for information about reporting your arts grant to ODSP to help ensure your funds are assessed fairly. Arts grants are exempt as both income and assets for people on the Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works.

Toronto Cultural Policy and Plans 1974-2008: Examining the Legacy
An online archive of Toronto cultural policy and plans from 1974 to 2008, including a list of TAC documents, as compiled for The Mavor Moore Cultural Policy Symposium