Toronto, January 29, 2001 — The Ontario Arts Council today announced details of its new Consulting, Mentoring and Technical Assistance program. This program is designed to help organizations increase self-reliance and sustainability by covering some or all of the costs of contracting experts in these areas.
“I am pleased that we have been able to put in place one of the key recommendations made last year by the arms-length Task Force on Arts in the Community,” said Steven Campbell, Director of Arts Education and Arts in the Community.
The program has two components – mentorship and technical assistance – to help organizations engaged in not-for-profit professional arts activity. The program covers the honorarium for the mentoring arts professional or expert and living expenses for the professional staff being mentored.
Arts organizations may also apply to OAC for technical assistance. Funds will cover transportation and per diem costs for a company that wishes to bring in a Canadian-based specialist with management knowledge and experience.
“When we spoke to people working in arts organizations around the province, it became very apparent that there was a great need for this kind of a program,” said Graeme Page one of the Task Force Consultants.
The Task Force on Arts in the Community was co-funded by the Ontario Arts Council and the Samuel and Saidye Bronfman Family Foundation. The three arts consultants, Jane Marsland, Stanley Shortt, and Graeme Page talked with representatives of more than 50 communities to find ways to make the arts more relevant and meaningful to the people of Ontario. The OAC incorporated some of the recommendations presented by the Task Force on Arts in the Community in its Action Plan for Arts in the Communities released early last summer.
OAC Media Contact: Kirsten Gunter, Manager of Communications
Tel: (416) 969-7403. Toll-free outside of Toronto: 1-800-387-0058, ext. 7403.
E-mail: kgunter@arts.on.ca