About us
The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is an arm's-length agency of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. OAC's grants and services to professional, Ontario-based artists and arts organizations support arts education, Aboriginal arts, community arts, crafts, dance, Franco-Ontarian arts, literature, media arts, multidisciplinary arts, music, theatre, touring, and visual arts.
The Ontario Arts Council is directed by 12 volunteer board (council) members who come from communities throughout the province. They are appointed by the Government of Ontario for a three-year term and may be reappointed for one additional term. OAC's board is responsible for setting OAC's policies and oversees the organization's operation.
In 2010-2011, the Ontario Arts Council funded 1,720 individual artists and 1,057 organizations in 223 communities across Ontario for a total of $52.3 million.
During this time frame, OAC also administered $10.7 million of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s Arts Investment Fund (AIF) designed to strengthen not-for-profit arts organizations. In addition, OAC provided an extra $434,420 to book publishers and periodicals that are not eligible for the AIF.
Mission Statement
The Ontario Arts Council was established in 1963 to foster the creation and production of art for the benefit of all Ontarians.