Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector

Read about key findings from the community engagement process. Share your feedback on draft priorities for the Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector by taking the survey by September 12.

The City of Toronto is developing a new Action Plan for Toronto’s Culture Sector, to guide cultural services, policy and programming over the next 10 years. The previous culture plan, Creative Capital Gains, was adopted in 2011 and has guided cultural policy and programming since then. The new Action Plan will set out an ambitious vision to strengthen Toronto’s cultural sector, which prioritizes equity, and ensures that residents in all corners of the city have opportunities to engage with the arts. It will provide recommendations for the sector including arts and culture, museums and cultural heritage, and the film and entertainment industries.

Based on input from over 3,600 residents and research on best practices from other cities around the world, City staff are proposing four draft priorities for the Action Plan. The draft priorities include:

  • Culture Everywhere
  • Culture For All
  • Culture For the Future
  • Culture Beyond our Borders

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Over 3,600 residents participated in community consultations led by Monumental Projects to help shape the new Action Plan. Monumental Projects has prepared a report for the City summarizing key findings from the consultation process. The report highlights common themes and feedback that emerged throughout the engagement process. Detailed summaries from sector-specific events for Creative Industries, Museums and Heritage professionals and other non-profit arts sectors can be found in Appendix F.

Virtual Town Halls

The City hosted two virtual town halls in February 2024 to seek input on key challenges and opportunities facing culture in Toronto. View a recording and presentation slides from the town hall.

Community Conversations

The City held a series of community conversations on the following topics:

  • Arts, culture and creativity as a catalyst for change
  • Recovery and economic health
  • Space challenges and the need for creative space
  • Technology and the future of arts, culture and creative industries

Community conversations were also held with Indigenous, Black, and deaf, mad and disabled artists and creatives, as well as sector-specific sessions with creative industries (including film, television and creative technology), post secondary institutions, Local Arts Service Organizations, and museums and cultural heritage organizations.

A Community Toolkit was developed to help interested community groups host their own community conversations, and share feedback with the City.

Artist-Led Engagement

Local artists and creatives led conversations across Toronto using a variety of arts-based techniques.

  • Johl Whiteduck Ringuette led a walking tour of Red Urban Nation Collective’s Bickford Centre murals and facilitated a discussion about hopes and dreams, and how grassroots community groups, entrepreneurs and the City can better work together to support Toronto’s cultural future.
  • Leila Fatemi led a community conversation and art gathering using the practice of Islamic geometry and weaving, to create sacred geometric art while also weaving together the community’s visions, stories, and perspectives.
  • kumari giles led a discussion on culture and care around a backyard fire and artmaking workshop with queer and BIPOC artists and communities in North York.
  • Kevin Ramroop, along with WaveArtCollective, hosted a panel discussion centered on the future of arts and culture in Scarborough.
  • Sarah St-Fleur of SistaGotJokes Productions hosted a comedy show and open discussion about experiences and hopes for Toronto’s culture sector in Etobicoke.

Online Surveys

An online survey was conducted in spring 2024 to gather feedback on experiences participating and working in arts and culture across Toronto.

A survey is now open until September 12 to seek feedback on draft priorities for the Culture Plan.

Phase 1: Research and analysis

Summer 2023 through Spring 2024

Phase 2: Public engagement

Fall 2023 through Spring 2024

Engagement activities will include artist-led engagement sessions, community conversations, virtual public meetings, an online survey and a downloadable community toolkit for those interested in hosting their own community meeting.

Phase 3: Action Plan development

Spring through Fall 2024

The draft Action Plan and recommendations will be shared with the public and culture sector for review and feedback before going forward to City Council in Fall 2024.

An Advisory Panel has been formed to provide advice and ensure that the Action Plan addresses sector challenges and advances equity, access and inclusion in the sector. The Panel includes:

Co-Chairs

Members