Item - 2025.EC20.2

The General Manager, Economic Development and Culture recommends that:  

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to collect personal information, as part of the administration of grant programs.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to establish the Creative Industries Grants Program as a grant program with two funding streams: Creative Industries Skills Development Grants and Creative Industries Sector Development Grants, in accordance with the City's Community Grants Policy.

3. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to allocate, approve, and disburse one-time grants to eligible individuals or not-for-profit organizations, educational organizations and registered charities funded through the Creative Industries Grants Program, with funding allocation to be subject to the necessary budget processes and in accordance with the City's Community Grants Policy.

4. City Council authorize the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, to negotiate, enter into and execute funding agreements with eligible applicants funded through the Creative Industries Grants program, with funding recipients and grant amounts to be determined annually by the General Manager within the budget allocation for the program, and on such content, terms and conditions deemed necessary by the General Manager and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

The City of Toronto has a long history of investing in Toronto’s cultural vibrancy and economic prosperity through Economic Development and Culture (EDC) grant programs, directed grants and event sponsorships. These opportunities are aligned with City priorities and help fund programs, projects, operational needs, and events delivered by arts and culture non-profit organizations, the business community and creative industries, and collectively contribute to the City’s vibrant culture, liveability and a robust economy.

In alignment with City Council directions, this staff report provides information on Economic Development and Culture's annual funding allocation. This report also speaks to the continuation of the multi-year grant reform in the Economic Development and Culture (EDC) Division, which started in 2018 and aims to make all of its funding opportunities more transparent, equitable and aligned with the 2019 City of Toronto Community Grants Policy. As part of this reform and to provide more predictable and structured funding support for creative industries, this staff report recommends the establishment of the Creative Industries Grants Program. No new funding is being requested and the program will leverage funds currently provided as directed grants, already accounted for within the division’s existing budget allocation.

This staff report is one of the final steps in Economic Development and Culture’s grant reform, to be completed in 2026. Its completion will be important to advance the vision of sustainable and resilient culture sectors, business community and creative industries in alignment with the Council-approved strategies Sidewalks to Skylines: An Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy and Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto.

There are no current year financial implications resulting from the adoption of the recommendations contained in this report. Funds for grants that would be provided under the proposed Creative Industries Grants program are already included as part of the 2025 Operating Budget for Economic Development and Culture:

Future financial impacts arising from the proposed grant program (within its current 2-stream structure), if any, will be accommodated by identifying alternative funding sources, offsetting reductions or reallocations within the Economic Development and Culture Division Operating Budget. Should the grant program be expanded or enhanced in future years, future financial impacts will be considered in future year budget processes, subject to the City's financial and resource capacity against other priorities.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.