Ontario Seeking Input in Developing Province’s First Culture Strategy
Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport has announced plans for a province-wide consultation to help develop Ontario’s Culture Strategy, which will outline a vision for arts and culture in the province for years to come.
Ontario is seeking input from across the province, and inviting Ontarians to share their feedback by:
- Attending one of the town hall discussions happening between October 13th and December 3rd
- Joining the online conversation at the Culture Talks website
- Using the #ONCulture hashtag on Twitter
“Ontario’s cultural landscape has evolved and it is important that government priorities reflect this. That’s why I am proud that our government is developing the province’s first-ever culture strategy,” said Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. “I look forward to hearing from Ontarians about what they value about arts and culture in their lives and what culture means to them. This is an opportunity for the province to take a fresh look at how it invests in arts and culture, to build our vibrant sectors and to enrich our diverse communities.”
The cultural strategy will reflect what is important to all Ontarians and will be guided by the following principles:
- Creativity and innovation
- Quality of life and economic development
- Diversity and inclusiveness
- Respect for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples
- Public value and accountability
The province’s release notes that culture is one of Ontario’s fastest growing economic sectors, generating approximately $22 billion of Ontario’s GDP, and supporting more than 280,000 jobs. The release states that Ontario is home to more than 58,000 artists; nearly twice as many as any other province. The release also notes that the province’s film and television production supported more than 44,000 direct and indirect jobs, and that Ontario’s music industry is the largest in Canada. .
The province also announced the creation of the Culture Strategy Advisory Group, comprised of seventeen members of Ontario’s cultural industries, from various backgrounds including music, dance, theatre, fine arts, documentary film, museums, literature, and more.
Music Canada encourages the music community in Ontario to share their perspective by taking part in the province’s consultation. To add your voice to the discussion, visit the province’s Culture Talks website, where you can sign up and share your ideas, see what others are saying and vote on ideas, or send your suggestions via private message.
