Torontoartscoalition Newsletter

Edition 6
November 4, 2003

This is the Toronto Arts Coalition Newsletter – a newsletter for those who care about the health of the arts in Toronto.You are receiving this Newsletter because you subscribed when you joined Toronto Arts Coalition. Our collective voice and efforts can raise awareness of the importance of our artists to our society and ensure they have the tools they need to do their best work.

ELECTION DAY NOVEMBER 10TH

Toronto will wake up on November 11 to a new Mayor and 44 Councilors, many serving their first term. Will these 45 people give a damn about the arts? Will we have voted for those who do?

Have you let the candidates in your neighbourhood know that you’re looking for leaders who will work to better equip our artists and their organizations? Click here for candidate e-mail addresses in your ward. Take a moment to send them a note before the election. (Include your address; make sure they know you’re a constituent.) Or call them. Talk to them in person. Make sure they know you’re a voter who cares about the arts.

Click here for a link to all candidates for Mayor and Council.

MCGUINTY'S PROMISE TO THE ARTS

During the Liberal Party’s recent successful run to Queen’s Park, significant pledges were made to the arts. Of particular note was the recognition that Toronto artists and their organizations need more operating revenue.

Click here for Arts and Culture Matter: The Ontario Liberal Plan for Strong Cultural Industries.

Click here for a link to the Premier's Office

Click here for a link to your MPP

THE GREAT TORONTO ARTS DEBATE: MEDIA COVERAGE

Many of you attended the Coalition’s Great Toronto Arts Debate during Arts Week, or tuned-in to it on Rogers cable, where it has been frequently repeated. This debate marked the first time ever that leading Toronto mayoral candidates have stated their views in a forum devoted exclusively to arts issues. 500 of us braved a torrential downpour to show up.

While the candidates were a little dull, they did all pledge, if elected, to provide significant support for the arts. The Debate prompted candidates to do their homework, to develop and release arts policies, to read and understand the goals outlined in Great Arts=Great City and the Culture Plan for the Creative City.

Here are some links to the print media generated by the debate:

Toronto Star

Globe and Mail

Observer

GROWING THE COALITION

There must be more than 50,000 people in the world who care passionately about the arts in Toronto. 3000 of them already belong to our Coalition. Obviously, we have a great deal of room to grow, but locating the other 47,000 is a bit like looking for needles in haystacks. On the Coalition site under membership you’ll find a list of current members. If you know people who aren’t on the list, but should be, please forward this newsletter with a note from you. Our voices and actions are important to Toronto Arts: The more the mightier.

TORONTO ARTS FUND: MONTHLY GIVING PROGRAM

No pressure, but for as little as $10 a month, you can help improve the health of Toronto arts. If you’ve read Great Arts=Great City you’ll know that one of our long-term goals is to annually add $1.5 million in charitable gifts to Toronto Arts Council’s grants program.

Follow one of the links below to find out more about this painless way to support Toronto’s arts community.

1. Become a member of Toronto Arts Fund's Monthly Giving program yourself:
Download our Monthly Giving program brochure

2. Refer your friends and colleagues to the program. Send our Monthly Giving email postcard to those you think will be interested.

3. Email us contact information for your referrals, and we’ll send them more information: Email referrals to: timothy@torontoartscouncil.org

Please send comments or questions to : coalition@torontoartscouncil.org