A new study ranks Toronto at the bottom in municipal arts investment, one day after the city’s budget committee approved an operating budget that would see 10 per cent in cuts to the arts.
The study, released Tuesday and prepared by Hill Strategies Research Inc. in partnership with five Canadian municipalities, shows Toronto’s 2009 investment level at $19 per capita.
At the top, was Montreal with $55 per capita, followed by Vancouver ($47), Calgary ($42) and Ottawa ($28).
“We knew we were at the bottom for the last few years, but the gap has grown considerably,” said Claire Hopkinson, executive director of the Toronto Arts Council.
The study reports Toronto ranked third in 2006 and 2007.
But Toronto’s per capita investment has increased only $2 since 2006, while the other five cities showed growth between $11 and $27.
There has been a push amongst arts supporters to increase per capita funding to $25, a figure that would have matched Montreal in 2003, Hopkinson said.
But now supporters are looking to just stop reductions.
City council will decide next week if funding that benefits local art groups and major organizations like the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra will be slashed.
“We’re fighting to stay in the same place,” Hopkinson said. “We are in danger of losing some of our accessibility and our ability to deliver the kinds of arts programs that have made this city so notable.”
On Tuesday, Canadian author Margaret Atwood tweeted a link to the arts council’s release on the study saying: “Very negative effect of proposed Ford arts cuts on city of Toronto.”
Hopkinson said she is still optimistic the majority of city councillors will defend the importance of funding arts and culture in Toronto.
“There is no way that a regular Torontonian would not feel the impact of this cut,” she said. “It may not be felt in one year’s time . . . but it would definitely show up over time.”
Original Article
Source: Star
The study, released Tuesday and prepared by Hill Strategies Research Inc. in partnership with five Canadian municipalities, shows Toronto’s 2009 investment level at $19 per capita.
At the top, was Montreal with $55 per capita, followed by Vancouver ($47), Calgary ($42) and Ottawa ($28).
“We knew we were at the bottom for the last few years, but the gap has grown considerably,” said Claire Hopkinson, executive director of the Toronto Arts Council.
The study reports Toronto ranked third in 2006 and 2007.
But Toronto’s per capita investment has increased only $2 since 2006, while the other five cities showed growth between $11 and $27.
There has been a push amongst arts supporters to increase per capita funding to $25, a figure that would have matched Montreal in 2003, Hopkinson said.
But now supporters are looking to just stop reductions.
City council will decide next week if funding that benefits local art groups and major organizations like the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra will be slashed.
“We’re fighting to stay in the same place,” Hopkinson said. “We are in danger of losing some of our accessibility and our ability to deliver the kinds of arts programs that have made this city so notable.”
On Tuesday, Canadian author Margaret Atwood tweeted a link to the arts council’s release on the study saying: “Very negative effect of proposed Ford arts cuts on city of Toronto.”
Hopkinson said she is still optimistic the majority of city councillors will defend the importance of funding arts and culture in Toronto.
“There is no way that a regular Torontonian would not feel the impact of this cut,” she said. “It may not be felt in one year’s time . . . but it would definitely show up over time.”
Original Article
Source: Star
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