Protecting and Promoting Independent Live Theatre in Toronto and the Downtown West - by Councillor Joe Cressy, seconded by Councillor Gary Crawford

In addition, our theatres are an essential part of our economy, particularly our nighttime economy, intersecting as they do with hotels, restaurants, bars, and other performance venues. Due to changes affecting our City, especially the rising price of land and rent, our artists and theatres are facing new challenges that require a comprehensive strategy on the part of our municipal government. On the part of artists, low wages and high rents, as well as high levels of student debt for the new generation, have made it difficult to develop a sustainable artistic practice. Exciting start up theatres, storefront spaces, incubators, and rehearsal rooms have closed not just in the downtown, but across the City due to high commercial rents and a lack of supports for emerging artists and spaces. At the same time, our existing institutions are facing a unique set of challenges. Over the last past number of years, we have lost many independent theatres across our City due to increased cost pressures. For many theatres in the Downtown West, stagnating operating grants on the provincial level limit the amount that theatres can spend on attracting top talent for administration, marketing, and fundraising. High commercial rents are making auxiliary spaces - offices, carpentry shops, rehearsal rooms - increasingly out of reach. And the heritage buildings they inhabit require increasing maintenance and modernization for heating, water, lights, and accessibility standards. As these venerable institutions are helmed by a new generation of artists, we have an opportunity to create a culture that is more inclusive, more diverse, and reflects the City that we have become - but only if we support them in this transition. Live theatre is an essential part of our City, our economy, and our culture. As we do with many other cultural industries, like film and live-music, it is essential that the City work to support new theatrical spaces, and preserve our existing theatres.

Equity Association; the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees; the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres; the Toronto Arts Council; the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts; and other interested parties.