A Roundup of Recent News from the Sector
Hello Everyone,
As we mark the one-year anniversary of this pandemic, and we do so with Peterborough back into the ‘Red-CONTROL’ zone, we want to say congratulations on everything you have done to keep going, making work when you can and getting it to your audiences. The creativity, innovation and collaboration of the arts sector has been extraordinary throughout throughout COVID-19. Take care, stay strong.
This Bulletin offers some good news from across the sector, including information about a new injection of money into the arts and live events sector from the government of Canada which is resulting in some new grant opportunities; a FREE workshop on doing taxes as an artist; a series of townhall meetings on the arts sector; and more.
Canadian Government Funding for the Arts
The Government of Canada has announced $181.5 million in new funding to help out the struggling arts and live events sectors in 2021-22.
The funding is resulting in new funding opportunities as well as expansions/adaptations of existing grant programs, and are well worth exploring.
This is how the funding breaks down, with links to find out more about each of these programs:
- $25 million to Canadian Heritage, including
- Canada Music Fund ($10 million), for music artists and the music industry through the NEW Support for Live Music Events program, administered by FACTOR and Musicaction.
- Building Communities through Arts and Heritage ($7 million), to increase opportunities for local artists, artisans, heritage performers or specialists to be involved in their community through festivals, events and projects. It also allows local groups to commemorate their local history and heritage.
- Canada Arts Presentation Fund ($8 million), providing financial assistance to organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series (arts presenters) and organizations that offer support to arts presenters. (Also: see upcoming town hall webinars, below.)
- $116.5 million to Canada Council for the Arts, including:
- Digital Now ($50.5 million), a NEW fund to enable arts groups, collectives and organizations to adapt or create works to be shared with virtual audiences.
- Explore and Create ($66 million), to stimulate increased research, creation and production of new work.
Please note: some of these programs (including Digital Now and Canada Arts Presentation Fund) have deadlines coming up within a few weeks – so don’t delay!
Tax Workshop for Artists
EC3 has secured eligibility for local artists to attend the Toronto Arts Council workshop Tax Time for Artists on Wednesday, March 17 at 2pm. Particularly with the disruptions to so many people’s finances this past year, we think this FREE workshop could be invaluable for many artists out there.
Event description via the Toronto Arts Council:
Sam Marinucci, FCPA, FCA, MBA, Partner with Hogg Shain & Scheck, a longtime arts supporter and former Board member of Toronto Arts Foundation, is joining us for a one hour webinar to help answer your questions:
• How to account for arts grants on your tax return?
• What to include as income?
• What expenses are eligible?
• What about work from home deductions?
• Tax impact of government COVID benefits.
Click HERE to register, and to submit questions to be answered druing the workshop.
Canadian Arts Presentation Fund Town Halls
The Canada Arts Presentation Fund (CAPF) is receiving an extra injection of funding from the Government of Canada (see above), and the CAPF team at Canadian Heritage’s Ontario Regional office is inviting artists and arts and culture workers to participate in an upcoming series of town halls. “It is our hope to reach the broadest segments of Ontario’s vibrant cultural landscape. Accordingly, we are immensely grateful to the many coalitions and service organizations partnering with us on this activity, and helping to get the word out.”
The sessions will take place March 16 to 18, and include general sessions and sessions for special target groups. See here (PDF) for details and invitation links.
Main Street Relief Grant
As Peterborough remains in the ‘Red-CONTROL’ zone, and COVID-19 restrictions on organizations and events continue, we wanted to provide a reminder about the Government of Ontario’s Main Street Relief Grant. This fund provides provides businesses in vulnerable sectors with up to $1,000 to help cover the cost of purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, gloves, and face shield.
It’s not a huge grant, but it has a simple application process and is well worth it to help cover this now-essential expense.
Please stay well and let us know how we can help.
TRACK THE IMPACT.
As always, keep checking the EC3 Facebook page, @ECThreePtbo on Twitter, @ec3ptbo on Instagram, and the COVID-19 Updates page on EC3’s website, where we are providing daily updates on programs and services available for ACH workers and organizations.
Be safe, stay healthy, and please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Su Ditta and the EC3 Board and staff
Contact
Su Ditta
Executive Director
Electric City Culture Council (EC3)
electriccitycc@gmail.com
www.ecthree.org
705 749 9101