Toronto City Council approves revenue allocation from sign tax to support arts and culture

April 4, 2013

Toronto City Council today approved the allocation of $6 million in revenues, previously collected from the Third Party Sign Tax, to a variety of City arts and culture programs. 

“Supporting our artists is great for the City of Toronto,” said Mayor Rob Ford. “A vibrant arts community is an important part of keeping Toronto an attractive place for people to visit, invest, work and live.”

The $6 million is being drawn from Third Party Sign Tax revenues generated from 2009 to 2012. 

The following program areas will receive funding for 2013:
– Toronto Arts Council ($4 million for its grants and $200,000 for its operations)
– City cultural services ($700,000 to enhance current cultural programs)
– Major Cultural Organizations ($600,000 overall increase in grants funding)
– Local arts service organizations ($300,000 overall increase in grants funding) 
– Culture Build ($200,000 to re-establish this cultural infrastructure program)

The 2013 allocation of $6 million is the first step in the implementation of the January 2013 City Council decision that earmarked $20-25 million of one-time retroactive Third Party Sign Tax revenue to fund a multi-year strategy to phase in an increase to the City of Toronto’s per capita cultural funding.

More information about Council’s decision and the new funding for arts and culture is available athttp://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.ED20.5 .

The multi-year cultural funding implementation plan, which will be presented to the City’s Economic Development Committee in May, will be informed by four public consultations that will occur this month. By 2016, the $25 per capita expenditure goal will be reached. This benchmark was approved by City Council in 2003 and reaffirmed by City Council in 2010 and in 2011, when City Council endorsed the principles of the “Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto” report. 

“Toronto’s arts and culture plan, which is built on extensive public and private sector consultations, will revitalize our cultural landscape,” said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City’s Economic Development Committee. “Council’s strong financial commitment will reap short and long-term dividends not only for Toronto’s cultural sector, but for the City’s overall economy.”

The Creative Capital Gains: An Action Plan for Toronto report is available at
http://www.toronto.ca/culture/pdf/creative-capital-gains-report-august9.pdf .

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Media Contact

Shane Gerard
Senior Communications Coordinator
416-397-5711
sgerard@toronto.ca

NT3