Hello friends,

On behalf of everyone at Toronto Arts, I want to wish you a very happy new year. As we begin 2026, I’m thrilled to share what’s ahead for our organizations.

We have a new strategic plan that kicks in this year to guide our work for the next five years. Here’s what we’ll be up to:

Generating new co-investment in the arts
This year, we continue to work toward increased public and private investment in Toronto’s vibrant creative landscape. In 2025, we received far more grant applications with merit than we had funding for, representing a $16.8M shortfall. As the City enters budget season, this advocacy is more important than ever.

Meeting community needs
Toronto Arts Council is a leader in the peer-assessment funding model, and in 2026 we will continue to refine these processes for better access, equity, learning, and sharing, including strengthening support for Indigenous arts in consultation with Indigenous artists. We are also expanding career development opportunities for creatives from equity-deserving groups and using digital tools to improve how we deliver and measure our work.

Offering opportunities for connection
Last year, we saw a major spike in attendance at our Arts in the Parks events over the summer, with 140,000 Torontonians joining us for free, family-friendly programming in the city’s green spaces (up from 100,000 in previous years). We also collaborated with Mayor Chow to launch TOgether Through Art, an initiative building social connection through the arts that includes a calendar of events happening throughout the year. This year, we plan to expand upon both of these initiatives, making arts experiences available for everyone no matter where you live or what your income is.

Making the case for the arts
In 2026, we will continue to generate research and storytelling that demonstrates the value and impact of the arts, and will share it in dynamic and accessible ways. One of the best ways for all of us to advocate for a creative city is to empower ourselves with great data and stories.

Marking a milestone year for grassroots work
In 2026, Toronto Arts Foundation’s Neighbourhood Arts Network celebrates 15 years of supporting artists and arts organizations through its work at the community level across Toronto. While programs initially supported aspiring creative youth in our community with mentorship and career advancement through ArtWorksTO, it now supports other equity-deserving groups, including our first-ever newcomer cohort who will be graduating this year.

Putting arts funding on the public radar
With a mayoral election on the horizon in 2026, we will be working with partners to make arts funding an election issue. The arts are essential to this city in more ways than one: contributing to Toronto’s GDP; improving mental health and community well-being; and putting Toronto on the map as a cultural destination.

Celebrating our community’s efforts
Coming up later this spring is the annual Mayor’s Arts Lunch, when Mayor Olivia Chow and the Toronto Arts Foundation take a moment to honour the hard work and accomplishments of Toronto’s talented artists and arts leaders. Stay tuned in March for our announcement of the 2026 award finalists.

Helping arts leaders lead
We have three workshops at the beginning of 2026 for members of the Creative Champions Network, a Toronto Arts Foundation initiative that brings arts leaders together to learn, connect, and innovate. You can read more about the program and check out our upcoming sessions here.

Our new strategic plan is more than a roadmap — it’s a call for co-investment in Toronto’s creative future. We know that a creative city benefits everyone, something artist Enef Nanjani, a graduate of our ArtWorksTO program, perfectly encapsulates with their piece “A Chance for Everyone to Experience the Arts.”

In 2026 and beyond, we’re all in for the arts. If you’d like to join us, please consider a donation to Toronto Arts Foundation.

Warmly,

Kelly Langgard
Director & CEO
Toronto Arts

Dear friends,

As we bring 2025 to a close, I’m filled with gratitude and pride as I reflect on all we’ve accomplished together this year.

With your support, we were able to strengthen our commitment to artists, amplify community connections across our beautiful city, and lay bold new foundations to nurture creativity for years to come. We have so much to celebrate.

This year at Toronto Arts Council, we:

… secured a major increase in public investment. The City of Toronto committed a $2M increase to Toronto Arts Council’s base budget, along with an inflationary adjustment, vital support that enabled us to strengthen key granting programs and provide more stable funding for organizations city-wide.

… responded to the highest demand in our history. Outside of our 2020 pandemic emergency funding, we received more grant applications this year than any other. We’re thrilled that the appetite for the arts is growing in Toronto; we still receive more worthy applications than we have funds for, underscoring the importance of continued public investment in the arts.

… advanced research that strengthens our case for the arts. This year’s research initiatives provided compelling new data insights that reinforce how the arts drive belonging and empower the newcomer arts community.

At Toronto Arts Foundation, we:

… expanded access to the arts across the city. Arts in the Parks had its most-attended season ever, welcoming more than 140,000 audience members and participants to free, family-friendly performances and workshops. We are deeply grateful to our presenting partners and sponsors who make this work possible.

… expanded support for newcomer and Indigenous artists. Thanks to a generous $1-million grant from TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Challenge, we’re expanding our support for newcomer artists under our Neighbourhood Arts Network. This program will help annual cohorts of 25 newcomer artists to gain entrepreneurial skills, paid work experience, and access to industry networks. We also launched a fully Indigenous workforce development program that aims to create a customized, culturally rooted, and supportive environment for Indigenous artists, enhancing their representation and success in the media arts through paid work contracts.

… celebrated the Toronto Arts Awards, honouring artists and leaders who make extraordinary contributions to Toronto’s cultural life. Thank you to our sponsors who make these prizes possible.

… raised funds for vital programming. With thanks to Mayor Olivia Chow, generous sponsors and donors, and every guest who joined us, this year’s Mayor’s Evening for the Arts and (In) Bloom Gala raised $1,056,199 to sustain programs that uplift artists and connect communities. Relive the magic of that night here.

Together as Toronto Arts, we:

… released our 2024 Annual Report, offering a detailed look at our collective impact and progress. Read the report here.

… introduced our new five-year strategic plan, a bold roadmap that commits us to expanding access to the arts, investing in artists’ careers, and strengthening the creative infrastructure that supports our city. Read the full plan here.

None of this would have been possible without the dedication of so many. My heartfelt thanks to Mayor Chow for her leadership; to Toronto City Council for continuing to champion the arts; to our partners, sponsors, and donors; to our committed volunteer board members and staff; to the artists and arts organizations who bring this city to life; and to the public whose enthusiasm and support fuel everything we do. Every ticket purchased, signature added, and volunteer hour logged helped turn our vision into reality for thousands of Torontonians.

The arts help us imagine differently and build communities where everyone belongs. As we head into the new year, I invite you to be among the first to watch Samuel Oh’s beautiful commissioned piece, “A Chance for Everyone to Experience the Arts.” Samuel is an alum of our ArtWorksTO program, and we’re proud to share his work with you.

There’s still time to make a difference before year-end. If you’re able, please consider supporting Toronto Arts Foundation’s vital programs by making a gift today.

Wishing you rest, joy, and inspiration this holiday season. We’ll see you in January to let you know about our hopes for the new year.

Warmly,

Kelly Langgard
Director & CEO
Toronto Arts