Toronto Arts Council

We’re Hiring! 🎨📢 Toronto Arts Council and are looking for a Senior Coordinator, Marketing and Communications! This role is perfect for a creative and strategic communicator with expertise in digital marketing, content creation, media relations, and community engagement. 

As part of our dynamic team, you’ll help shape and implement marketing strategies, manage social media and newsletters, coordinate campaigns, and support events that highlight the impact of the arts in our city.

📍 Position: Full-time, Permanent 

📅 Deadline to apply: April 2, 2025 at 4PM

🔗 Learn more & apply (link in bio):https://torontoartscouncil.org/TAC/media/tac/Opportunities/Internal%20jobs/Senior-Coordinator,-Marketing-and-Communications.pdf

Help us tell the story of Toronto’s vibrant arts community—apply today!

BLACK FUTURES ALWAYS – Meet Nicky Lawrence () 🔥✨

This Black History Month we’re highlighting Nicky Lawrence, a Toronto-based singer, actor and storyteller.   

She has toured Canada as a vocalist with Amanda Marshall, and Ivana Santilli, and has been a featured singer in special performances such as Women’s Blues Review (Roy Thompson Hall, 2018) and The Etta James Tribute Show (Lula Lounge, 2019). Nicky’s acting career has included singing and character roles in TV (Schitt’s Creek, Anne with an E, and Workin’ Moms) and theatre (Ragtime!, Shaw Festival ,Shrek the Musical Neptune, Seussical YPT and Hairspray). 🎭

Nicky is also a forward thinking innovator, playwright producer and director-Keychange, Spaciousness, My Name is Jackie, Ugly Black Woman-who helms her own production company Incongruent Media Inc. as its Creative Director. With her vast experience in entertainment, Nicky builds quality productions, garnering sold out houses and praise from both the industry and community. 🫂

Nicky has received the Playwright Grant, Music Creation and Audio Recording Grant. She also sat on the Panel for the Open Door Grant.

Nicky is releasing her album ‘Ugly Black Woman’ on February 28th at Paradise Theatre! Follow her to stay up to date with the release and her upcoming shows!

📢 Calling all newcomer and refugee artists in Toronto!

Join us on March 6 from 6 PM - 8 PM for an Info Session on our Newcomer and Refugee Artist Mentorship grant. Learn about the mentorship process, get tips for your grant application, and connect with our community.

📍 Centre for Social Innovation – The Annex
🔗 [link in bio] https://tinyurl.com/244m5spn

Don’t miss this opportunity—see you there!

Photo credit: Mahsa Alikhan

Toronto City Council has approved the 2025 budget, including a $2M funding boost for Toronto Arts Council, a 2.5% inflationary increase to cultural grants, and other key investments to expand access to the arts!

We thank , City Councillors, and all of you for advocating for public arts funding. Together, we’ll continue supporting diverse artists, organizations, and communities across Toronto. ✨🎨🎭🎶🎤

Learn more about the 2025 budget here: toronto.ca/city-budget (link in bio)

BLACK FUTURES ALWAYS – Meet Rhoma Spencer✨ 
 
This Black History Month we’re highlighting Rhoma Spencer, Actor, Director, Playwright and Comedian based in Toronto.  

A graduate of York University with an MFA in Directing she formed Theatre Archipelago(TA) in 2005 and under her Artistic Direction the company produced Mad Miss /Just Jazz in 2005, Fallen Angel and the Devil Concubine (2006), Twilight Café (2007), I Marcus Garvey (2009) Obeah Opera (2012). 
 
Her works have been critically acclaimed in the Globe and Mail, Now Magazine and the Toronto Star. In summer 2014 she was the recipient of a US Proclamation from the House of Congress and a Citation from the Brooklyn Borough President for her contribution to Caribbean Theatre with the play Jean and Dinah. 

Rhoma served as a TAC juror from 2002-2005. She also received TAC project grants over the years and the TAC Black Arts grant. She recently received a Black Arts grant for her highly anticipated project, Queen of the Road – The Calypso Rose Musical which launches this summer. Queen of the Road is a musical showcase chronicling the life of the “Mother of Calypso,” Calypso Rose, q***r Trinidadian vocalist, musician, songwriter, and activist. 

Follow Rhoma () to keep up to date with her projects and events!

Are you a non-profit or artist collective interested in engaging with newcomers and refugees through the arts? This info session is for you!

Join us on February 25 from 3:30–5 PM for our Newcomer and Refugee Arts Engagement Info Session! 🎨✨

Learn about funding opportunities that support organizations and collectives working with newcomer communities and artists.

📍 Available on Zoom and in person.
🔗Link in bio: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tac-newcomer-and-refugee-arts-engagement-information-session-tickets-1221280054519

Toronto Arts Council and Foundation is looking for a Senior Office Coordinator to join our team! If you’re an organized and detail-oriented professional with a passion for the arts, this is your chance to contribute to a thriving creative community.

Position: Senior Office Coordinator
Location: Toronto, ON
Deadline to Apply: February 21 at 5pm
Start date: April 1, 2025

As a key member of our team, you’ll help ensure smooth day-to-day operations, support key initiatives, and make a meaningful impact in Toronto’s arts sector.
Interested? Learn more and apply today ➡️https://torontoartsfoundation.org/tac/media/taf/Opportunities/Job-Posting_Senior-Office-Coordinator.pdf

BLACK FUTURES ALWAYS – Meet Mafa Makhubalo ✨

This Black History Month we’re highlighting Mafa Makhubalo, Artistic Director, Dancer and Choreographer based in Toronto.

Mafa is a movement poet trained in folk forms from the Regions of African tradition, African contemporary, and Western-Contemporary. He is influenced by his understanding of dance as an accumulation of memory and the history of his culture.

Mafa believes dance is an invisible evolution that becomes visible through movement, music and singing. 
Mafa received the Dance Projects grant in 2022. 

He was also a jury member for Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, Toronto Arts Foundation, and the TAC Open Door grant. 

Learn more about Mafa at www.mafadancevillage.ca

On January 21st, we spoke to members of the City of Toronto’s Budget Committee to emphasize the vital role of the arts to Toronto’s economic, social and cultural well-being. 

From providing direct support to artists and organizations to advising City Council on community needs and opportunities, we’re committed to ensuring the arts are well supported and accessible for all Torontonians to enjoy.

💬  , Director & CEO of Toronto Arts Council and , together with Sally Lee, who volunteers her expertise as a member of our board, emphasized that the arts are essential for a vibrant, caring city. Swipe the graphics for key quotes from our deputation. 
 
Thank you to for recommending critical investment increases to arts and culture in her proposed 2025 City of Toronto budget. 

Let’s  and build a stronger, more inclusive future together! 

Yesterday, Canadian Live Music Association () launched a groundbreaking economic impact study at Massey Hall’s Allied Music Centre.

“Here and Now: understanding the economic power and potential of Canada’s live music industry” highlights the integral value of the live music industry to Canada’s growth, reporting an astonishing $10.92B in combined GDP contribution from live music and tourism spending.

From supporting jobs to attracting tourists, the report highlights the spillover effect of live music to job growth and sustainability in other industries, as well as the potential for even more advancements with participation from all levels of government.  
 
Kelly Langgard (), Director & CEO, Toronto Arts Council and Foundation, attended yesterday’s launch event to show our support for this important report, noting that its findings resonate for many areas of the arts.
 
Toronto Olivia Chow’s () proposed 2025 budget, also released yesterday, recommends important new investments in Toronto’s arts and culture sector, including a $2M increase to TAC’s budget. The Here and Now report is added proof that increasing public investment in the arts just makes sense. 
 
Here and Now was commissioned by Canadian Live Music Association and led by Nordicity.
 
Go here to access the report: https://www.canadianlivemusic.ca/economic-impact-assessment
 
For CBC’s story on the report, go here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/canada-live-music-industry-economy-report-1.7446252
 
Photographed: Kelly Langgard with Erin Benjamin (), President & CEO, Canadian Live Music Association

Today, Toronto Arts Council and Foundation Director and CEO Kelly Langgard and TAC board member Sally Lee will be deputing before the City of Toronto’s Budget Committee. They will support a $2 million increase to TAC’s base budget for 2025.  

This increase will address critical needs for local artists and arts organizations, ensuring they continue to make our city a vibrant, inspiring place to live and visit.  

💡 Want to get involved?  
✅ Sign up to depute  
✅ Email your City Councillor  
✅ Show your support on social  

Together, we can advocate for the resources Toronto’s arts community needs to thrive. Let’s make our voices heard!  

 

Image Descriptions: 
1️⃣ Image 1:
A black background with white text reading:  
“2025 Budget Deputation . We are excited to speak to the City of Toronto’s Budget Committee on January 21st. Swipe Left.”

2️⃣ Image 2:  
A white background with black text reading:  
“2025 Budget Deputation . We’ll be supporting a $2M increase to our base budget for 2025 to address critical needs in the arts and enhance the city’s vibrancy for residents and visitors. Swipe Left.”

3️⃣ Image 3:  
A black background with white text reading:  
“2025 Budget Deputation . Here’s how you can get involved:  
- Sign up to depute  
- Email your City Councillor  
- Show your support over social  
This is a great opportunity to advocate for the resources our arts community needs to thrive. Swipe Left.”