Toronto Cultural Policy and Plans 1974-2008:
Examining the Legacy

Jump to 1980

Jump to 1990

Jump to 2000

1953
Metro
- the creation of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto

1957
 Metro
Arts & Cultural Funding
- Metro Council gives out first cultural funding grants, $75,000 to 10 organizations

1964
Toronto
Arts & Cultural Funding
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Toronto Arts Foundation, the precursor to Toronto Arts Council, is incorporated.

1965
Metro
Heritage, Cultural Facilities
- Metro acquires Exhibition Place  and Toronto Old City Hall

1966
Metro
Heritage, Cultural Facilities
- Metro leases Todmorden Mills to the Borough of East York for development as a heritage site

1968
Metro
Heritage, Cultural Facilities
-Metro acquires O'Keefe Centre for the Performing Arts

1973
City of Toronto
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Alderman Karl Jaffary delivers report "Toronto Arts Foundation and Toronto Cultural Policy" to City Executive Committee, April 25

1974
Metro
Cultural Policy
- Metro Council adopts the "Silcox Report," Metropolitan Toronto's Support for the Arts, as a blueprint for future action
- Toronto Arts Foundation changes it name to Toronto Cultural Advisory Corporation (Toronto Arts Council).  Its revised objects are still in effect today

1977
Metro
Public Art
- Metro Toronto Reference Library opens, with two major public art projects and an art gallery
- the TTC opens the Spadina subway line, with 9 major public art installations included in the design

Arts & Cultural Funding
- Metro cultural grants top $1 million
- Metro Council approves a $5 million contribution towards the construction of Roy Thompson Hall

1979
Metro
Cultural Policy
- Director of Cultural Affairs issues report "Review of Metropolitan Toronto cultural policy and future directions"

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1980
Metro
Arts & Cultural Funding
- Metro Council approves a $5 million capital contribution to the Royal Ontario Museum expansion

1982
Scarborough
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Arts Scarborough issues report "Arguments for the Arts", written by Paul D. Schafer

1983
Metro
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- The Cultural Affairs Division of the Chief Administrative Officer's Dept. is established 

Scarborough
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- "An Arts Policy for Scarborough" released, Joy MacFadyen, Chairwoman          

East York
Cultural Policy
- Institute of Environmental Research Inc. releases
            - "East York culture and recreation master plan : public participation program"
            - "East York culture and recreation master plan : draft plan"
            - "East York culture and recreation master plan : public participation program, background report #6"

1984
East York
Cultural Policy
- the Institute of Environmental Research Inc. delivers "Borough of East York culture and recreation master plan : final report"

Toronto
Cultural Policy
- Toronto Arts Council hosts the first intergovernmental forum bringing together federal, provincial and municipal arts funders to plan collaborative funding work. Foundations were later added to the group which continues to meet on a semi-annual basis as IRAFF (Intergovernmental Forum of Arts Funders and Foundations)

1985
Metro
Arts & Cultural Funding
- Cultural "Incentive Grants" program established to assist projects outside the City of Toronto
- Metro cultural grants top $5 million

Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- "Cultural Capital: The Care and Feeding of Toronto's Artistic Assets", otherwise known as the Hendry Report (after its author, Tom Hendry) is commissioned and published by Toronto Arts Council

- The Visual, Film and Video Arts Ad Hoc Committee of Canadian Artists' Representation Ontario releases a response to the Hendry Report, "Amendments to Cultural Capital Report"

Cultural Facilities
- Toronto Artscape is founded by Toronto Arts Council

Toronto
Public Art
- City of Toronto establishes its Public Art Program and its Public Art Commission

Scarborough
Cultural Policy
- A.K. VanDerZand, RDMR, Director, Recreation Division, City of Scarborough, Recreation and Parks Department issues "A White Paper on the Arts Development in Scarborough"

1986
North York
Cultural Policy
- City of North York Arts Policy Advisory Committee issues "City of North York Arts Policy Proposal (December 1986)"

1987
City of York
Public Art
- City of York initiates Purchase Award Program for public art

1988
Metro
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Public Art Policy Advisory Committee (PAPAC) is created by Metro Council

Cultural Facilities
- Toronto Arts Council releases "No vacancy : a cultural facilities policy for the city of Toronto"

1989
Metro
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Metro Council approves a Public Art Policy Framework
- Metro Council directs the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a cultural policy
- Management Services Dept., Municipality of Metro Toronto releases "Program Review of Metro Toronto's Cultural Affairs Division"

Public Art
- The Art of the Avenue University public art study is completed

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1990
Metro
Arts & Cultural Funding, Cultural Facilities
- Metro Council approves a contribution of $4 million towards the Phase 3 expansion of the Art Gallery of Ontario
- Metro Council approves a contribution of $20 million towards the construction of a new Ballet-Opera House
- Council approves a $500,000 loan guarantee for the Canadian Stage Company

1991
Metro, Cultural Facilities, Heritage
- Metropolitan Toronto Archives and Records Centre opens
- Metro adopts a regional heritage program and establishes a Heritage Technical Coordinating Committee

Arts & Cultural Funding
- Metro Council approves a $200,000 cultural stabilization fund for deficit reduction

1992
Metro
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- "Metro's Role in Arts & Culture" discussion paper released
- Toronto Arts Council commissions and publishes E.A. Julian's Cultural Equity Report

Arts & Cultural Funding
- Metro Council awards $7.5 million in cultural grants to 278 organizations

Public Art
- Metro Hall opens with 22 commissioned art and craft projects

Etobicoke
Cultural Facilities
- Ernst & Young delivers "City of Etobicoke Performing Arts Complex feasibility study: final report"

Public Art
- Etobicoke Council adopts recommendations to encourage the provision of art in public places, a policy framework which led to the establishment of a Public Art Advisory Committee to assist the City in implementing its public art objectives

1993
Metro
Cultural Industries
- Metro Council adopts a report streamlining support of film production on Metro properties and establishing an interdepartmental Film Policy Committee

Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Metro Council adopts a report streamlining support of film production on Metro properties and establishing an interdepartmental Film Policy Committee
- Metro Council adopts Access Guidelines for all grant programs
- TAC's Let's Talk forum highlights the need for an arm's length agreement between the city and TAC to make sure arts funding decisions are made by peers, not politicians

Arts & Cultural Funding
- Metro Council approves a $1 million loan to allow the Art Gallery of Ontario to pursue a major international art exhibition from the Barnes Foundation

1994
Metro
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Metro Toronto releases new culture plan, "Metro's Culture Plan: Redefining Our Cultural Framework: A Culture Plan for the Metro Toronto Government"
- The Arm's Length Grants Agreement, the first ever written between a municipality and an arts agency, is signed by TAC and the City of Toronto

1995
Metro
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Toronto Arts Council Foundation is incorporated and the TACF Awards launched

Scarborough
Public Art
- the Citizens Committee on Public Art is established and a public forum was held to seek input from the community and experts on how to further the City's public art objectives

1996
Etobicoke
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Etobicoke issues "The South Etobicoke Community Cultural Plan: Final Report Spring 1996", Gerald Smith, Chair

Toronto
Arts Funding
- Toronto Arts Council issues report "State of the arts: an analysis of economic activity of the arts in Toronto"

1997
Amalgamation Transition
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Arts, Culture and Heritage Work Group, part of the Toronto Transition Team, issues report "Building on Strength: Arts, Culture and Heritage in the City of Toronto"
- Arts, Culture and Heritage Work Group (Inventory Sub-Group) issues "Report of the Arts, Culture and Heritage Work Group [Excerpts]"
- Toronto Arts Council releases "A Blueprint for Arts and Culture in the New Toronto: A Discussion Paper June 9, 1997"
- Toronto Arts Council submits report to the Greater Toronto Services Board Project entitled " To the Greater Toronto Services Board Project: The Role of Culture in the GTA", April 4
- Toronto Arts Council presents report entitled "Spreading the Word: A Report on Culture and the Civic Society: An International Symposium on Cities and Their Support if Culture September, 1997"
- Toronto Arts Council delivers report "A Recipe for a Beautiful Future: Arts and Culture in the New Toronto" to the Transition Team overseeing amalgamation, August 13
- TAC co-hosts "Culture and the Civic Society: An International Symposium on Cities and their Support of Culture"

City of York
Public Art
- York City Council adopts "A Policy for Community Public Art." This policy, developed by the City of York Public Art Advisory Committee, outlined priority sites for public art, the procedures and mandate of the Committee, and gave specific direction for program funding, jury selection, artist and works selection

Scarborough
Public Art
- Scarborough Council approves a two-part policy on public art

Toronto
Arts Funding
- Toronto Arts Council issues report "State of the arts: an analysis of economic activity of the arts in Toronto"

Cultural Policy
- Toronto Arts Council holds public symposium on cities, arts and culture, "Spreading The Word: Culture and the Civic Society"

1998
Toronto
- newly amalgamated City of Toronto created Jan. 1

Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Culture Division of Toronto's Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department issues report "1998 in Review" outlining how development of the Culture division has lagged as behind the rest of the department
- Toronto Arts Council issues "Renovating for the Future: A Report on the Progress of Toronto Arts Council's Change Process", May
- Rita Davies, Director, Toronto Arts Council, presents paper "The Arts, Diversity and Civil Society: An Examination of the Toronto Arts Council Experience 1967 – 1997" to the Canadian Cultural Research Network Colloquium, June 4
- Joe Halstead, Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, presents "Overview of Key Issues and Opportunities in Economic Development, Culture and Tourism" to City of Toronto, Economic Development Committee
- Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Committee submits Report No. 15, Section 4 - Administrative Structure for Arts Grants for consideration by City of Toronto Council, December 16 and 17

1999
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Culture Division of Toronto's Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department issues "The Economic Importance of Culture to Toronto", a report on data released by Statistics Canada regarding cultural tourism in Toronto

- Toronto Arts Council releases report "A Community's Artists Are Its Culture: The Future of Arts in Toronto: A Report on Community Consultations Prepared for Toronto Arts Council", December

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2000
Arts & Cultural Funding
- the Planning and Research branch of The Canada Council for the Arts issues report "Profile of Funding to Artists and Arts Organizations in the City of Toronto, 1999-2000"
            -http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/K21-23-2000E.pdf

Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Culture Division of Toronto's Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department begins Creative City planning process, May
- Urban Development Services Department, City Planning Division receives report from GHK International (Canada) entitled "The Future of Downtown Toronto: Background Study No. 8, Culture, Entertainment and Tourism in Downtown Toronto", June

2001
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Culture Division of Toronto's Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department delivers to City Council "Toronto the Creative City: A Workprint", the preliminary working document of the Creative City planning process
            - http://www.toronto.ca/culture/brochures/brochure_culture_workprint.pdf
- Culture Division of Toronto's Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department issues "Canada's Urban Waterfront: Waterfront Cultural and Heritage", prepared by EVA Architects

Public Art
- Toronto creates the position of Poet Laureate, to serve as the City's literary ambassador

2002
Arts & Cultural Funding
- Toronto Arts Council issue report "FALSE ECONOMY? A Study of Need in Toronto’s Non-Profit Arts Sector"
            - http://www.torontoartscouncil.org/downloads/PDFs/False-Economy.pdf

2003
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- ERA Architects prepares report for Culture Division of Toronto's Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department entitled "A Map of Toronto’s Cultural Facilities: A Cultural Facilities Analysis"
           - http://www.era.on.ca/graphics/articles/pdf/article_28.pdf
- City of Toronto adopts "Culture Plan for the Creative City"
            - http://www.toronto.ca/culture/brochures/2003_cultureplan.pdf

2005
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- Toronto Culture releases "Culture Plan Progress Report"
            - http://www.toronto.ca/culture/pdf/Culture-Plan-Progress-Reportpdf.pdf
- Deloitte & Touche delivers report entitled "Economic Contribution of Toronto's Culture Sector" to City
            - http://www.toronto.ca/culture/pdf/Toronto_Economic-Impact-CultureSector.pdf

2007
Public Art
- Toronto City Council adopts draft guidelines for its Percent For Public Art program
            - http://www.toronto.ca/planning/urbdesign/public_art_guidelines.htm

2008
Cultural Policy & Administrative Structure
- AuthentiCity delivers "Creative City Planning Framework" report to City, part of the City's Agenda for Prosperity Initiative
            - http://www.toronto.ca/culture/pdf/creative-city-planning-framework-feb08.pdf
- Toronto Culture releases "Culture Plan Progress Report II"
            - http://www.toronto.ca/culture/pdf/culture-plan-progress-report-2.pdf
- The Martin Prosperity Institute at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, releases Final Report REF. 2008-WP-001., "Funding to Arts and Cultural Organizations by the City of Toronto, 1990-2008"
            - http://martinprosperity.org/media/mpi-funding-to-arts-and-cultural-organizations-by-the-city-of-toronto-september-2008.pdf

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SOURCES
Metro's Culture Plan: Redefining our Cultural Framework, pp. 20-1, 1994, The Municipality of Metro Toronto

Toronto Culture Bibliography, prepared by Kevin Dowler/Culture of Cities Project

Susan Wright, Director of Operations, Toronto Arts Council

Draft Percent for Public Art Program Guidelines, Appendix 2: Public Art Achievements in Toronto, 2007, City of Toronto

Prepared by: Lewis Kaye, Researcher (last updated December 19, 2008)

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