February 5th 2008

Budget Deputations:

City of Toronto Budget Committee February 5, 2008

Claire Hopkinson, Executive Director, Toronto Arts Council

Thank you Councillor Carroll and the members of the Budget Committee.

My name is Claire Hopkinson and I am Executive Director of Toronto Arts Council.

Just as you know me, you also know that I am passionate about working with you to build a great city.

Last week, as a member of the Fair Deal For Our City Coalition, I appeared before the Provincial Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. With our Fair Deal partners, I advocated that the province meet its financial obligations to Toronto and all municipalities.

Today, Toronto Arts Council is asking that the City meet the commitment it made five years ago in the Culture Plan. That it commit to the final $597,000 remaining in the promised increase to TAC’s grants budget.

You are all very familiar with Toronto Arts Council. You know that TAC is your agent, investing funds to seed and sustain the bedrock of Toronto’s creative community: artists and arts organizations.

“We must put creativity at the heart of Toronto’s economic development strategy” are the inspiring words of the Mayor in the introduction of the new Agenda for Prosperity.

You want to grow this city into a prosperous and creative city – so do I. Let’s see how TAC fits into this agenda.

While it is clear that creativity is not limited to artists, it is equally clear that creativity is the essence of what artists do every day.

Creative industries are the fastest growing part of our economy.

It is no coincidence that the areas in Toronto where artists live and work are also the same areas that are thriving economically.

So, how can you, as the City’s budget committee, effectively support the creative agenda?

By supporting artists and arts organizations.

By investing dollars into creation, into innovation, into start up companies and world renowned institutions alike – by investing in the creative engine of arts and culture in Toronto. The most extraordinary thing is how little an investment is required to have an enormous impact

Really, when you think about it, we are incredibly lucky to have a ready-made inexpensive solution at hand for an approved major policy directive. Unlike infrastructure and police budgets, the amount required to make a difference to arts and culture is tiny.

TAC’s arts organizations serve not only to support the creative agenda of Toronto, but also respond to community need.

When provincial funding for arts education declined, over 80% of TAC organizations introduced educational and outreach programs. Roseneath Theatre, Canadian Stage Company, TIFFG, Harbourfront, Theatre Direct, Reel Canada, Urban Noise, Regent Park School of Music and Soulpepper reach hundreds of thousands of students and youth by taking work directly to their schools and communities.

When it became clear that many of Toronto’s communities were in a crisis of violence and youth disengagement, TAC artists and organizations introduced inspiring projects and programs throughout Toronto’s at risk neighbourhoods. TAC organizations reach into mental health centres, community centres, libraries and parks – all over Toronto – bridging the socio economic divide, creating understanding between cultures and generations and offering youth opportunities for inspiration and creativity.

As you can see from your deputation lists, you are hearing from a number of artists today. These are people who support the work the city is doing, people who are prepared to spend their time and energy to make Toronto a fabulous place to live and work, people who will take their time to stand up for what they think is important.

Today is not the first time they have come out to support what they believe in. You saw many of these same people in September and October when they rallied to defend the entire community partnership portfolio.

That they have taken time today is a sign of how important this conversation with the city is. They want to know how the city will invest in artists within the creative city agenda.

If indeed Creativity is at the heart of Toronto’s economic development strategy, then it is essential that artists receive sufficient investment – beginning with the fulfillment of City Council’s commitment to Toronto Arts Council. Thank you.