October 20, 1999

To: Policy and Finance Committee

From: City Clerk

Subject: The Grants Contingency Fund - 1999 Culture Grants Appeals,

Arts York and Lakeshore Arts all Former Wards of

City of York and City of Etobicoke

Recommendation:

The Grants Sub-Committee on October 20, 1999, recommended to the Policy and Finance Committee, and Council, the adoption of the attached report (October 6, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism respecting the award of grants to Arts York and Lakeshore Arts, subject to such grants being allocated on a one-time basis only.

The Grants Sub-Committee reports, for the information of the Policy and Finance Committee, having requested the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to:

(1) undertake a detailed review prior to the 2000 Grants cycle on the grant allocations to Arts York and Lakeshore Arts;

(2) report to the Grants Sub-Committee on the historical funding from both the private and public sector for each of these organizations; and

(3) provide a status report to the Grants Sub-Committee following the Arts Forum to be held in November, 1999.

Background:

The Grants Sub-Committee had before it a report (October 6, 1999) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism recommending that:

(1) Arts York be awarded $10,000.00 to be applied to their current fiscal year of September 1, 1999 to August 31, 2000;

(2) Lakeshore Arts be awarded $10,000.00 to be applied to their current fiscal year of June 1, 1999 to May 31, 2000; and

(3) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The following persons appeared before the Grants Sub-Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

- Mr. Gerald Smith, Board of Directors, Lakeshore Arts; and

- Councillor Irene Jones, Ward 2-Lakeshore/Queensway

City Clerk

B.Sears/tl

Item No. 1

Sent to: Policy and Finance Committee

Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism

c: Commissioner of Community and Neighbourhood Services

Mr. Chris Brillinger, Community and Neighbourhood Services Department

Ms. Cathie Forbes, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Department

Mr. Gerald Smith, Board of Directors, Lakeshore Arts

(Report dated October 6, 1999, addressed to the

Grants Sub-Committee from the

Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism)

Purpose:

This report seeks approval of funds from the Grants Contingency Fund to two local arts service organizations that appealed their 1999 Culture Grants allocations.

Funding Sources:

The 1999 Consolidated Grants Budget included an amount of $150,000.00 for the Grants Contingency Fund for issues arising from amalgamation. Sufficient funds exist in the Grants Contingency Fund for the recommendations contained in this report.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) Arts York be awarded $10,000.00 to be applied to their current fiscal year of September 1, 1999 to August 31, 2000;

(2) Lakeshore Arts be awarded $10,000.00 to be applied to their current fiscal year of June 1, 1999 to May 31, 2000; and

(3) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Council Reference/Background:

Arts York and Lakeshore Arts appealed their grant recommendations at the Economic Development and Parks Committee on June 21, 1999. Council, through Strategic Policies and Priorities Report No. 1, Clause 4, dated July 6, 1999, directed the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism to report to the Grants Sub-Committee on this matter.

Comments:

In July 1998, the development of a new policy for arts and culture grants was undertaken by staff in partnership with the Toronto Arts Council. This was in keeping with the Municipal Grants Review Committee=s directive that each service area within the Consolidated Grants Budget review its program to determine the needs and the money necessary for leveling up and service enhancement. However, the long-term structure for making arts and culture grants had not been resolved by September, 1998, which put the service area review on hold. This resulted in the Culture Division not being able to submit any leveling up request for 1999. All grants programs that completed the service area reviews benefitted from a redistribution of $898,800.00. This has penalized those organizations that are funded through the Culture Division, which includes the local arts services organizations.

These applications were reviewed and assessed through a peer assessment process. The role of the advisors was to provide advice to staff on the merits of the applications. Local Arts Councils are membership-based service organizations that enhance their communities by serving the needs of artists and art organizations. The criteria used to evaluate these organizations have been related to the quality of service provided in a geographic area, and not those related to artistic or cultural merit. Arts York operates in the former City of York and Lakeshore Arts operates in the south end of the former City of Etobicoke.

Arts York was founded in 1988 and acts as a catalyst for the development of arts and cultural initiatives. Programs and services include workshops, newsletter, Graffiti Transformation Program, regular features in the local papers, in addition to regular public, community and membership fees. An increase in the grant was requested to secure more hours for the part-time administrator in order to implement a cultural plan previously adopted by the former City of York. Arts York requested a grant of $40,000.00. The grant recommended was $12,000.00, the same as 1998. However, if more funds were available, the recommendation would have been for $22,000.00, an increase of $10,000.00 over 1998.

Lakeshore Arts, formed in 1992, fosters the participation, enjoyment and appreciation of the arts, culture and heritage-related activities in the Lakeshore community. Programs and services include the development of the South Etobicoke Community Cultural Plan, showcasing artists through events, exhibitions and public murals, series of Chamber music and family concerts, quarterly insert in local paper and studies for the Lakeshore Assembly Hall. This 100 percent volunteer organization has grown to such a point that it now needs to hire a part-time staff person, so the request has increased from $5,000.00 to $25,000.00. The grant recommended was $5,000.00, the same level as 1998. However, if more funds were available, the recommendation would have been for $15,000.00, an increase of $10,000.00 over 1998.

Attached as Appendix A are the written deputations of Arts York and Lakeshore Arts as presented to the Economic Development Committee. Both organizations and their grant applications were deemed worthy of additional funding.

Every City of Toronto grant applicant is guaranteed the right to an appeal and an appeal fund. As stated in Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee Report No. 1, Clause No. 4, the only funding source available to these organizations is the Grants Contingency Fund as this situation arises as a result of amalgamation and the delay in determining the structure of the Culture Division.

Conclusions:

Arts York and Lakeshore Arts are worthy of additional support and they qualify for support through the Contingency Grants Fund. A grant of $10,000.00 each is recommended so they can continue to provide services that complement those provided through the Culture Division.

Contact Name:

Cathi Forbes

Tel: 395-6192