Toronto City Council recently approved the allocation of $6 million in revenues, previously collected from the Third Party Sign Tax, to a variety of City arts and culture programs:
- The $6 million is being drawn from Third Party Sign Tax revenues generated from 2009 to 2012
- The following program areas will receive funding for 2013:
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Toronto Arts Council ($4 million for its grants and $200,000 for its operations)
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City cultural services ($700,000 to enhance current cultural programs)
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Major Cultural Organizations ($600,000 overall increase in grants funding)
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Local arts service organizations ($300,000 overall increase in grants funding)
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Culture Build ($200,000 to re-establish this cultural infrastructure program
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- The following program areas will receive funding for 2013:
- The 2013 allocation of $6 million is the first step in the implementation of the January 2013 City Council decision that earmarked $20-25 million of one-time retroactive Third Party Sign Tax revenue to fund a multi-year strategy to phase in an increase to the City of Toronto’s per capita cultural funding
- The multi-year cultural funding implementation plan will be presented to the City’s Economic Development Committee in May
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The public’s input will become part of a multi-year cultural funding implementation plan
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The City of Toronto is asking the public for input on how to spend and measure the impact of the new arts and culture funding via the following public consultations:
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Tuesday, April 9: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Cedarbrae Library Auditorium, 545 Markham Rd.
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Thursday, April 18: 6 to 9 p.m., Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St
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These public consultations are being presented by the City of Toronto and the Toronto Arts Council with the support of the Creative Capital Advisory Committee and the Beautiful City coalition
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- Also, please click here for an online survey which is is available until April 30
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- By 2016, the $25 per capita expenditure goal will be reached”
Toronto’s arts and culture strategy is contained in Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto
City of Toronto Contact Info
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Phone outside city limits: 416-392-CITY (2489)
(can be used within Toronto if you can’t reach 311)
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E-mail: 311@toronto.ca
If your matter is urgent, please call them. They are open 24/7.
Always call 911 for emergencies.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NEWS RELEASE
April 4, 2013
Toronto City Council approves revenue allocation from sign tax to support arts and culture
Toronto City Council today approved the allocation of $6 million in revenues, previously collected from the Third Party Sign Tax, to a variety of City arts and culture programs.
“Supporting our artists is great for the City of Toronto,” said Mayor Rob Ford. “A vibrant arts community is an important part of keeping Toronto an attractive place for people to visit, invest, work and live.”
The $6 million is being drawn from Third Party Sign Tax revenues generated from 2009 to 2012.
The following program areas will receive funding for 2013:
– Toronto Arts Council ($4 million for its grants and $200,000 for its operations)
– City cultural services ($700,000 to enhance current cultural programs)
– Major Cultural Organizations ($600,000 overall increase in grants funding)
– Local arts service organizations ($300,000 overall increase in grants funding)
– Culture Build ($200,000 to re-establish this cultural infrastructure program)
The 2013 allocation of $6 million is the first step in the implementation of the January 2013 City Council decision that earmarked $20-25 million of one-time retroactive Third Party Sign Tax revenue to fund a multi-year strategy to phase in an increase to the City of Toronto’s per capita cultural funding.
More information about Council’s decision and the new funding for arts and culture is available at http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.ED20.5 .
The multi-year cultural funding implementation plan, which will be presented to the City’s Economic Development Committee in May, will be informed by four public consultations that will occur this month. By 2016, the $25 per capita expenditure goal will be reached. This benchmark was approved by City Council in 2003 and reaffirmed by City Council in 2010 and in 2011, when City Council endorsed the principles of the “Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto” report.
“Toronto’s arts and culture plan, which is built on extensive public and private sector consultations, will revitalize our cultural landscape,” said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City’s Economic Development Committee. “Council’s strong financial commitment will reap short and long-term dividends not only for Toronto’s cultural sector, but for the City’s overall economy.”
The Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto report is available at
http://www.toronto.ca/culture/pdf/creative-capital-gains-report-august9.pdf
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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