Item - 2025.EC18.1

The Economic and Community Development Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to enter into a five-year agreement with the Toronto Arts Council for the administration and distribution of arts and culture funding on behalf of the City of Toronto, with a term to expire on December 31, 2029 and an option to extend the term for a period of up to one year, and that the agreement be in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to develop a collaborative framework with the Toronto Arts Council to articulate how the City and Toronto Arts Council will work together on shared funding and sector development priorities, and report to the Economic and Community Development Committee with a recommended framework by the end of 2025.

The Director and Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Policy and Programs, and the Director of Planning and Operations of the Toronto Arts Council gave a presentation on Toronto Arts Council: 2023 Annual Report.

The Toronto Arts Council is an independent organization that distributes cultural grants to non-profit organizations and individuals on the City's behalf, based on the terms of a multi-year agreement with the City of Toronto. The current agreement expires on March 31, 2025. This report requests authority from City Council for the General Manager of Economic Development and Culture to enter into a new five-year agreement with the Toronto Arts Council for the period from 2025 to 2029.

The City and Toronto Arts Council have worked collaboratively to develop terms for the new multi-year agreement. The proposed terms for the agreement, outlined in this report, including enhanced reporting requirements, focusing on outcomes-based results for Toronto residents; an improved process to request funding from the City in alignment with corporate budget process requirements; and a commitment to developing a new collaborative framework to articulate how the City and Toronto Arts Council will work together to achieve shared priorities for funding and cultural sector development, including the implementation of "Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto (2025-2035)".

This report also submits a copy of the Toronto Arts Council's annual report for 2023 to the Economic and Community Development Committee, which is required as part of the current multi-year agreement. The annual report highlights the Toronto Arts Council's activities that include awarding 911 grants across each of the City's 25 wards, and creating opportunities for residents to engage with arts and culture, and for artists and arts organizations to share their work with the community.