Toronto's Vital Signs® Issue Area
Arts & Culture

Why it matters “Toronto would not be the vibrant global destination it is today without the arts – they’ve introduced our city to the world and the world to us; but most importantly, they have introduced us to each other.” - Chris McDonald, Executive Director Hot Docs

• The arts and culture sector contributes $9 billion annually to the Toronto Region’s GDP.
• Culture is a major tourism driver in Toronto, attracting four times as many visitors as sports attractions.
• Torontonians are making progress in understanding culture as a major driver of prosperity. Almost all Ontarians polled in 2010 (95%) believe that the arts enrich the quality of life; 81% approve government investment in the arts; and 80% of Torontonians polled in 2009 said that municipal investment in arts in public spaces was likely to boost the local economy.

Featured solutions from our Community Knowledge Centre
Our Community Knowledge Centre features solutions to the issues identified in Toronto's Vital Signs. Organizations who have received a grant from our Vital Toronto Fund are identified.

		Hot Docs Hot Docs’ mandate is to advance the creative imprint of documentary film. They achieve this by facilitating the development of and public access to non-fiction media through an annual 11-day Festival, and also by facilitating production and networking opportunities for filmmakers. They are North America's largest documentary festival, conference and market. Vital Toronto Fund award recipient 2011 Learn more about Hot Docs »
		Manifesto Community Projects Manifesto is a non-profit organization that aims to connect, cultivate, create, communicate, and showcase Toronto’s vibrant and diverse music and arts community, and find innovative ways of working together towards common goals. They provide a platform and the resources needed to advance the growth of the arts as a tool for positive change on the individual, community and global levels. Vital Toronto Fund award recipient 2011 Learn more about Manifesto Community Projects »
		Toronto Artscape Toronto Artscape makes space for creativity and transforms communities. Its mission is to provide affordable working and living space for artists, for the relief of poverty and the advancement of education, culture, art and other purposes beneficial to the community. Vital Toronto Fund award recipient 2009 Learn more about Toronto Artscape »