TORONTO - (May 24, 2023) Earlier today Ana Bailão announced her plan to ensure Toronto remains a city where artists and cultural institutions can grow and thrive. 

In order to increase the equity, opportunity and vision for Toronto’s arts and cultural communities, Ana will focus on key areas as Mayor, including:

• Making arts and culture more accessible for children and families by permanently funding the Toronto Public Library’s Museum + Arts Pass with $2 million;
• Unlocking underutilized spaces for cultural use - giving property tax breaks to those who rent their spaces at below market rates to arts organizations;
• Expanding city investment in arts and culture beyond the downtown - measuring cultural investment impact to ensure equitable distribution city-wide; and
• Creating a 30-year cultural infrastructure plan for the City of Toronto, in addition to implementing the 2020-2023 Public Art Strategy.

Speaking to her plan Ana said “The Arts are what make our city the vibrant, thriving hub that it is, but arts and cultural communities were particularly hard hit by the pandemic. The full recovery of our culture sector and the success of Toronto’s artists will improve the quality of life of all Torontonians. My plan will expand access to the arts for residents and equitably support arts and culture in every corner of Toronto so our city can remain a vibrant international artistic and cultural hub.”