2010/08/28

Victory: Council Passes $ 17.5 Million Increase to Arts Investment 40-1!

TORONTO, Aug. 26 /CNW/ - Today Toronto city Council passed a recommendation to increase arts funding to $25 per capita by 2013. This should result in 17.5 million dollars in additional yearly investment by 2013.

This city building decision was made possible by the hard fought billboard tax initiated in 2001 by Beautifulcity.ca -- but goes above and beyond the projected revenue. The effort was also boosted forward by an unfulfilled council decision from 2003 from the Culture Plan and recent studies showing the critical importance of increased investment in arts and culture in Toronto.

Devon Ostrom, founder of the Beautifulcity. Alliance stated: "This is an amazing day in Toronto's development. Council has fulfilled the obligation to leverage the revenue from the billboard tax revenue into the arts, build a vibrant cultural capital, put food in the fridges of thousands of artists and has given a voice to hundreds of under-served communities across the city."

Regarding the upcoming election, co-coordinator Sabra Ripley noted that, "Almost all of the front-running mayoral candidates have endorsed using the billboard tax to rejuvinate the arts and cultural industries in this city. The next step is to get out and vote, encourage others to do the same and elect arts friendly, city building politicians to make sure this decision sticks."

/ Save the Date!
Mayoral Arts Debate - Wednesday, September 29- AGO 7pm - 8:30pm Presented by Business for the Arts, in partnership with ArtsVote Toronto, the Toronto Arts Council, the AGO and Manifesto

For further information:

/ Inquiries
Sabra@beautifulcity.ca | 4169998903
julia@beautifulcity.ca | 4169281978
devon@beautifulcity.ca | skype: devon.ostrom