Restoring Arts Funding
The Ontario Government has cut funding to the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) and the Indigenous Culture Fund (ICF) for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
The ICF was established following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and supports traditional culture, languages, teaching, protocols, knowledge, youth and Elder-led and engaged community cultural projects. The funding cut from $5 million to $2.75 million will mean that the ICF will be losing almost 50% of it's funding. This will have a severe impact on the ICF including laying off Indigenous staff in permanent positions.
The OAC is also being cut by $5 million, from $69.9 million to $64.9 million. This is going to immediately impact the ability for the OAC to provide services to Ontarians. The arts are an essential part of our society and cultural identity, and we would like to see these cuts reversed.
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