The Community Arts Program provides Annual Operating support to non-profit Toronto arts organizations (both incorporated and unincorporated) engaged on an ongoing basis in community arts. Funding through this program supports both operations and programming. The City of Toronto provides the funding for this program through its Community Partnership and Investment Program.
Art practiced at a community level creates a powerful sense of inclusion, understanding, and the possibility of self-expression among participants. It can involve one or more art practices, such as music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and storytelling. The collaborative involvement of professional artists with community members is a necessary component.
To be eligible for Annual Operating funding, an applicant must:
Schools, tuition-funded training programs and curriculum-based programs are not eligible to apply to this program.
Organizations must conduct their community arts activities on an annual, ongoing basis either throughout the year or on a seasonal basis. A single project does not constitute annual or seasonal activity.
Organizations, whose level of activity varies from season to season, in keeping with their mandate, must describe their multi-year creation and production cycle. Annual and biennial festivals that have completed a minimum of two editions are also eligible.