The Toronto Arts Council

by Alexandra Mazzuca

Being an artist in the city these days can be tough. Materials are costly and renting a studio or purchasing equipment is necessary for artists who want to perfect their craft. Toronto offers expertise and assistance when it comes to paying the bills for projects that so many local artists aspire to create.

The Toronto Arts Council (TAC) is an arm’s-length funding body that assists independent artists as well as small organizations.  Whether providing grant money for supplies like paint and canvas, or money to rent studio time and equipment, the TAC helps support organizations  and individuals in making their dream projects a reality and gaining exposure within Toronto’s art community.

TAC offers grant money to small organizations through its programs for community arts, dance, literary, music, theatre and visual arts/ media. Individuals are able to apply for grants in the programs for , dance, music and composers, visual and media artists, and writers.

“There are still gaps in the programs – a lot of things we don’t have money to fund.  We, as much as possible, provide grants for individuals to do what they want to do, as far as projects they are working with,” says Beth Reynolds, the TAC Director of grants.

While there is no age limit for applicants, TAC funds only professional artists. This means that young aspiring artists who have gone through some schooling can apply and be granted access to funding.

Candidates submit applications in person or through e-mail. Then the process of elimination begins.  A volunteer board discusses and determines whether the individual or organization fits the specified criteria and is eligible for funding. An assessment process follows. Artists in the community who are familiar with the medium review the artist’s work and make their decision.

“This is essentially a program that supports someone who has started a career, someone who has made a decision to have studied and follow a path,” says Reynolds of the contenders who apply for grants each year.

The TAC began in the 1970s but did not flourish until the mid 1980s – and continues to grow today. Last year, 885 artists applied for grants in nine media categories and 209 were funded.

Out of 537 applicants, 428 small organizations were allotted funding as well.

Organizations such as the Toronto Animated Image Society (TAIS) apply for the TAC’s grants in order to fund ongoing projects. Michele Stanley, a TAIS program director, says the society has received around $16,000 in funding from the TAC over the last four years.

“It (the TAC) supports this non-profit, artist-run centre, which provides workshops, seminars, classes and studios where emerging animators and artists can create work on digital and analogue equipment,” says Stanley of the TAC’s continued contribution and support.

“TAIS runs on a very tight budget and it is through government support that we are able to offer the range of services that we do, as well as pay out artist and instructor fees.”

Stacey Sinclair, TAC’s director of marketing, provides helpful services for independent artists who have received grant money but are looking to expose and present their work.  Sinclair markets and promotes the work of organizations and individuals through Toronto Arts Online, TAC’s sister website.

“A lot of the times after artists have spent the funding, we provide (for) them on their projects…to promote or expose themselves or their work.  We do this in a cost effective way for both the organization and the artists,” Sinclair says.

“Arts in the Workplace” offers artist’s work for sale to corporations.  Sinclair says offices purchase contemporary work from grant allocated artists or organizations and ultimately provide the artist or organization with exposure and self-promotion.