The Toronto Arts Council is raising alarm bells after the Toronto 2017 Budget (released Dec. 6) recommended a $0 increase in arts funding for 2017. This runs against the Toronto Arts Council (TAC) previously approved funding initiative, which would see funding increased by $2M in 2017. The additional $2M in city funding would have met the five-year goal of meeting a $25 per capita investment in the arts.
The $25 per capita goal was first established in 2003, after the City of Toronto was heavily criticized for its dismal support for the arts. Out of Canada’s major cities, Toronto is dead last in per capita arts spending.
The $2M increase in arts funding would account for only 0.02% of Toronto’s proposed $10.5 billion budget for 2017. Total arts funding by the City rests at 0.175% of the City’s budget. “Investing in the arts is good for the economy with every $1 in city arts grants leveraging over $20 in ticket sales, donations, and support from other levels of government,” the TAC wrote in a press release statement.
Furthermore, every dollar spent on arts and culture is proven to provide huge dividends back to the City. Statistics show that in 2010, arts and culture tourists to Ontario generated $3.7B in GDP, 67,700 jobs, $2.4B in wages and $1.7B in taxes for all levels of government.
The return on investment means that for every $1 invested by the City in the non-profit arts sector, $8.25 is generated in earned revenues, and an additional $11.77 is supplied from other levels of government and the private sector.
The TAC is calling on concerned citizens to either speak out at one of Toronto’s upcoming Budget Committee meetings, email their Toronto City Councillor and forward it to Toronto Mayor John Tory and Budget Chief Gary Crawford.
You can find all the details, including contacts and budget committee schedules here: torontoartscouncil.org
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