2024 Local Arts Service Organization (LASO) Grant Allocation

The Local Arts Service Organizations also provide critical support and capacity-building opportunities to local artists and arts organizations. Through EDC, the City of Toronto, provides financial support to the six Local Arts Service Organizations, subject to annual contribution agreements. The 2024 Operating Budget for Economic Development and Culture includes a total of $1,817,494 to fund the six Local Arts Service Organizations: Arts Etobicoke, East End Arts, Lakeshore Arts, North York Arts, Scarborough Arts and UrbanArts. The Local Arts Service Organizations received an additional $80,000 inflationary increase through the budget process, bringing the 2024 budget to $1,897,494. In accordance with Council direction, the purpose of this report is to provide the recommended funding allocation for the Local Arts Service Organizations for 2024. This funding recommendation is based on the Local Arts Service Organizations' 2023 financial and performance reports, reviewed by Economic Development and Culture staff, and is aligned with the City's Community Grant Policy and Economic Development and Culture's grant reform efforts to make Economic Development and Culture's grant process more equitable, inclusive and transparent. Funding to the Local Arts Service Organizations is a critical component of the City's support for arts and culture in communities outside of the core. Local Arts Service Organizations play a key role in providing essential arts services, working to meet identified community needs and deliver programs to serve artists, children and youth, seniors, newcomers, 2SLGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Black, Persons of Colour and equity-deserving community members.