Item - 2024.EC12.4
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on May 22 and 23, 2024 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Economic and Community Development Committee on April 30, 2024 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on May 22 and 23, 2024.
EC12.4 - 2024 Local Arts Service Organization (LASO) Grant Allocation
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on May 22 and 23, 2024, adopted the following:
1. City Council approve the Economic Development and Culture's 2024 funding allocations, totalling $1,897,494 to the six Local Arts Service Organizations as follows:
|
Organization |
Funding Allocation |
|
Arts Etobicoke |
$425,906 |
|
East End Arts |
$226,010 |
|
Lakeshore Arts |
$305,966 |
|
North York Arts |
$299,908 |
|
Scarborough Arts |
$310,374 |
|
UrbanArts Community Arts Council |
$329,330 |
|
TOTAL |
$1,897,494 |
2. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to ensure that Local Arts Service Organizations engage with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Neighbourhood Improvement Areas on arts programs for low-income Torontonians.
3. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to report back prior to the 2025 budget process on the timelines to achieve equitable funding across the Local Arts Service Organizations to the Economic and Community Development Committee.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-244996.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council request the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to ensure that Local Arts Service Organizations engage with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation and Neighbourhood Improvement Areas on arts programs for low income Torontonians.
That:
1. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back prior to the 2025 budget process on the timelines to achieve equitable funding across the Local Arts Service Organizations to the Economic and Community Development Committee.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) May-22-2024 7:46 PM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - EC12.4 - Cheng - motion 2 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 11 | Members that voted Yes are Brad Bradford, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Mike Colle, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Jamaal Myers, Dianne Saxe |
| Total members that voted No: 7 | Members that voted No are Alejandra Bravo, Stephen Holyday, Ausma Malik, Chris Moise, Amber Morley, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Gord Perks |
| Total members that were Absent: 7 | Members that were absent are Paul Ainslie, Shelley Carroll, Olivia Chow, Vincent Crisanti, James Pasternak, Anthony Perruzza, Michael Thompson |
EC12.4 - 2024 Local Arts Service Organization (LASO) Grant Allocation
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:
1. City Council approve the Economic Development and Culture Division's 2024 funding allocations, totalling $1,897,494 to the six Local Arts Service Organizations as follows:
|
Organization |
Funding Allocation |
|
Arts Etobicoke |
$425,906 |
|
East End Arts |
$226,010 |
|
Lakeshore Arts |
$305,966 |
|
North York Arts |
$299,908 |
|
Scarborough Arts |
$310,374 |
|
UrbanArts Community Arts Council |
$329,330 |
|
TOTAL |
$1,897,494 |
Origin
Summary
Local Arts Service Organizations (LASOs) are independent, not-for-profit, community arts organizations that deliver customized and responsive arts and culture programs, events and services at a local level in outside-the-core neighbourhoods across the city. There are six Local Arts Service Organizations and they advance Economic Development and Culture (EDC)'s divisional strategic direction of promoting cultural vibrancy, offering low-barrier, free and low-cost arts participation opportunities to communities across the city. The Local Arts Service Organizations also provide critical support and capacity-building opportunities to local artists and arts organizations.
Through EDC, the City of Toronto, provides financial support to the six Local Arts Service Organizations, subject to annual contribution agreements. The 2024 Operating Budget for Economic Development and Culture includes a total of $1,817,494 to fund the six Local Arts Service Organizations: Arts Etobicoke, East End Arts, Lakeshore Arts, North York Arts, Scarborough Arts and UrbanArts. The Local Arts Service Organizations received an additional $80,000 inflationary increase through the budget process, bringing the 2024 budget to $1,897,494.
In accordance with Council direction, the purpose of this report is to provide the recommended funding allocation for the Local Arts Service Organizations for 2024. This funding recommendation is based on the Local Arts Service Organizations' 2023 financial and performance reports, reviewed by Economic Development and Culture staff, and is aligned with the City's Community Grant Policy and Economic Development and Culture's grant reform efforts to make Economic Development and Culture's grant process more equitable, inclusive and transparent.
Funding to the Local Arts Service Organizations is a critical component of the City's support for arts and culture in communities outside of the core. Local Arts Service Organizations play a key role in providing essential arts services, working to meet identified community needs and deliver programs to serve artists, children and youth, seniors, newcomers, 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour and equity-deserving community members.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ec/bgrd/backgroundfile-244996.pdf