Toronto Arts Council
Board and Committee Structure

Toronto Arts Council was established in 1974 as a provincially incorporated, not-for-profit organization to advise the City of Toronto on the allocation of cultural grants and on municipal policy affecting the arts and culture.

The twenty-nine member Board of Directors is made up mainly of professional artists who are knowledgeable about the arts in Toronto and who have particular expertise in one or more arts disciplines. Persons who have expertise in other areas, including law and finance, hold a number of board positions. Five City Councillors are appointed to TAC directly by the City of Toronto.

Standing committees – Community Arts, Dance, Large Institutions, Literary, Music, Theatre, Visual/Media Arts – make recommendations to TAC’s board on grant applications and advise the board on policy issues relevant to their respective areas of expertise. Membership on these committees is comprised of artists and arts administrators practicing in the relevant arts discipline; committees are chaired by TAC board members.

The work of the board is also supported by its Nominating, Loan, Finance, Priorities & Planning and Personnel Committees, and from time to time by other special purpose committees. Members of these committees are primarily board members.

All board members, committee members and all members of Toronto City Council are members of the Toronto Cultural Advisory Corporation, which operates as Toronto Arts Council. The work of the volunteer board and committees is complemented by a small professional staff.