Item - 2026.EC29.2

The Economic and Community Development Committee:

1. Received the report (May 21, 2026) from the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture for information.

The Director and Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, and the Director, Policy and Programs, Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, gave a presentation to the Economic and Community Development Committee on Toronto Arts Council 2025 Annual Report.

The Toronto Arts Council ("TAC") is an independent non-profit organization that delivers grants to artists and arts organizations on behalf of the City of Toronto based on the terms of a Multi-Year Agreement. The purpose of this report is to transmit a copy of TAC's 2025 annual report to the Economic and Community Development Committee, which is required per the terms of the Multi-Year Agreement.

The annual report highlights TAC's use of over $29 million in City funding to deliver 954 grants supporting 438 individual artists and 516 organizations and collectives, creating opportunities for residents to engage with culture, and for artists and cultural organizations to share their work with the community.

The report also details how TAC applied a $2 million funding increase and a 2.5% inflationary increase to begin delivering on key actions identified in Culture Connects: An Action Plan for Culture in Toronto (2025-2035), with increased investments in operating grant programs, individual artist programs, as well as the Black Arts, Indigenous Arts, Newcomer and Refugee, and Animating programs which focus on communities outside of the downtown core. To build on this progress, the City will continue to work strategically with TAC to ensure that City funding is directed toward priority areas that address key challenges facing Toronto’s culture sector, while supporting broad and equitable access to arts engagement for all residents.