º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍø

The plan calls for funding to go toward building one million square feet of cultural space in the city, financing hundreds of artists and projects in the coming years and sponsoring free monthly “cultural experiences” in neighbourhoods across the city. It also seeks to give the º£½ÇÉçÇø¹ÙÍøArts Council $2 million per year for the next five and to readjust all current cultural grants for inflation. 

At a news conference Thursday, Chow and panel co-chair Coun. Shelley Carroll (Don Valley North) emphasized this would not be a handout — it would be an investment in a profitable sector that should provide substantial returns. 

“You have to spend money to make a lot of money,” Chow said. “Pure dollar amount, putting all the wonderful things about art aside, culture generated $8.4 billion last year. ... In order to foster that kind of success, you need to invest in it.”

While the arts may still be generating billions for the city, output has diminished in recent years. According to the city,  — over two billion more than last year. 

Scores of local art organizations and spaces had to close after audiences stayed home to avoid COVID, while, post-pandemic, sponsorship money has grown thin, reducing opportunities for artists.

The plan presented Thursday, Chow said, is a way to reverse this decline. Artists need to regain the space they lost, she said, adding that they shouldn’t have to sacrifice to create, particularly when their work provides the city so much value. 

“Some artists are not making it because they are hardly able to pay rent and have to move out of the city,” she said. “It doesn’t work. We have to support them.” 

Local artist and filmmaker Maziar Ghaderi told the Star the plan “seems promising,” noting it takes care to invest in organizations across the city. The plan sets aside $1.8 million for suburban arts organizations in 2025, which the mayor said should double all their budgets. 

Ghaderi said he also appreciates how “Culture Connects” focuses on international markets, with designs on enabling what it calls “creative export” and artist exchange projects.

The plan also specifies that it aims to support diverse cultural initiatives. Ghaderi said he hopes this means the city will be interested in “diversity of thought” as well.