March 30, 2007

Ministry of Culture - Year End Investments 

Luminato, the Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity, received $5.5 million. The inaugural 10-day festival takes place in June to showcase the arts and culture in many venues in Toronto.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the only major public art gallery devoted solely to the collecting and exhibiting of Canadian art, received $1.2 million.

The Ontario Arts Foundation received $10 million to be used for the Arts Endowment Fund, which provides income to about 260 arts organizations. The fund encourages private sector donations to the arts in Ontario.

The Ontario Media Development Corporation, the lead agency supporting and strengthening Ontario’s cultural industries including magazine and book publishing, sound recording, interactive digital media, film and television, received $5 million.

Ontario’s public libraries received $5 million to help strengthen rural, remote and First Nations libraries that serve communities of fewer than 20,000 people.  Funding is being provided to 259 library boards with a total of 552 branches. The Federation of Ontario Public Libraries will also receive a grant of $32,000.

The Toronto International Film Festival Group was granted $12.5 million, completing the government’s commitment to the organization. TIFFG is building a permanent facility that will include galleries, five cinemas, an education and conference centre, retail space, restaurant and a year-round ticket facility.