Item - 2024.EC14.3

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Received the report (June 19, 2024) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture for information.

This report responds to direction from the Economic and Community Development Committee to report on how the City and its agencies ensure that theatre performances in City-owned spaces adhere to policies related to inclusivity and equity, and current levels of funding and access to theatre space for performances by Indigenous, Black, and racialized artists and organizations.

The City of Toronto supports a diverse and inclusive theatre sector by providing access to City-owned venues for affordable rentals and performances. This includes renting City-owned theatres to eligible non-profit organizations through the Community Space Tenancy program, and short-term rentals in theatres and performance halls administered by TO Live and the Economic Development and Culture (EDC) Division. In addition, a limited number of theatre spaces operate through license agreements or permits with Parks, Forestry and Recreation (PFR). All users of City spaces are required to comply with the City's Human Rights and Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Policies. While it is not the role of the City to review and approve the content of individual performances, the City works with theatre artists and organizations to inform them of their obligations under the Human Rights and Anti-Harassment and Discrimination Policies. Users are required to submit declarations of compliance with the policies to the City, and regular reporting requirements are in place for longer-term tenants.   

The City also supports theatre artists and organizations through funding programs delivered by the Toronto Arts Council (TAC). In 2023, Toronto Arts Council provided over $5 million in funding to more than 120 theatre artists, organizations, and projects. A growing portion of this funding is directed to initiatives led by Indigenous, Black, and racialized artists and organizations, in keeping with Toronto Arts Council's Equity Framework. While important progress has been made to ensure that Indigenous, Black, and racialized theatre artists, organizations, and audiences have equitable access to resources and programming, both the City and Toronto Arts Council recognize the need for further action to address longstanding barriers in the theatre sector, as well as the arts more broadly. Additional strategies to improve equity and inclusion in arts and culture, such as improvements to the distribution of funding, programming opportunities, and access to space, will be included in the forthcoming Action Plan for Toronto's Culture Sector, which will be presented to City Council for consideration in the fall of 2024.