Ontario government increases funding for Ontario Arts Council

TORONTO – Ontario is giving the Ontario Arts Council $50 million in additional funding over the next four years.

The agency that gives grants and services to Ontario-based artists and arts organizations currently gets $60 million a year from the province.

By 2021 that will increase to $80 million.

The government says that will allow the OAC to give increased funding to organizations such as Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary film festival, and the School of Dance in Ottawa.

The OAC has previously funded the Tony-award winning musical “Come From Away” and free shows highlighting Indigenous music by A Tribe Called Red.

Premier Kathleen Wynne says investing in the arts sector is investing in young people, communities and a more inclusive, innovative society.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version incorrectly said Ontario was increasing annual funding to the Ontario Arts Council by $50 million a year. It also incorrectly said the organization currently gets $30 million from the province.