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MAC Advocacy Invites Arts Groups to “Dream Out Loud” at Council

On June 19, 2024, the Mississauga Arts Council (MAC) advocated for the arts by presenting Imagine a Thriving Arts Economy to the General Committee of Mississauga City Council. In response, Councillor Butt established a Subcommittee for Arts, Culture, and Heritage Groups and Festivals to review funding. When asked for 3-4 committee participants, 10 of 12 council members committed their support.

To prepare for presentations to the subcommittee, MAC launched weekly Zoom calls for Mississauga’s arts leaders, encouraging participants to “Dream Out Loud.” These sessions explored what could be achieved with increased funding, reduced red tape, and stronger collaboration across the sector. The meetings brought leaders together, focused on positive change, and prepared 8 arts groups and 17 festivals for their deputations to the subcommittee on August 13, 2024 (Arts Groups) and September 5, 2024 (Festivals).

The deputations helped the subcommittee prepare a list of recommendations that were presented to Council and unanimously approved on September 25, 2024.

Dream Out Loud Arts Advocacy: Resources and Documents

Council Meeting

  • June 19, 2024 – MAC presents arts advocacy document Imagine a Thriving Arts Economy to the General Committee.

Subcommittee of Council – Arts, Culture, Festival Groups Meetings

Subcommittee Recommendations
See here for the Report from the Subcomittee of Council – Arts and Culture and Festival Groups.

  1. That the Corporate Report entitled “Summary of Feedback and Staff Response to Culture Subcommittee of Council – Arts, Culture, Festivals Groups” dated September 13, 2024, from the Commissioner of Community Services be approved.
  2. That staff include recommendations in this report relating to grant funding in the 2025 Budget.
  3. That staff develop an action plan to implement process improvements and address logistical supports requested by the arts, cultural and festival groups.
  4. That staff meet annually with groups to continue to gain feedback and process improvements and report back to Council on proposed changes in advance of the Grant application process.
  5. That an additional $1.5 million dollars be allocated from the city portion of the Municipal Accommodation Tax each year to help support the cost of the new and increased grant funding, and that if more funding is required, staff report back to Council with that request.
  6. That, effective 2026, staff be directed to enter into service contracts/agreements with groups such as Mississauga Arts Council, Heritage Mississauga, Visual Arts Mississauga, the Art Gallery of Mississauga, Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, and Creative Hub, and that each group be eligible for annual funding of up to $500,000 to fund programs, services, and related expenses.
  7. That arts and culture groups that receive City of Mississauga funding be eligible for grants of up to 65% of their annual budgets.
  8. That festivals that apply for City of Mississauga funding be eligible for grants of up to 65% of their eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $200,000.
  9. That, effective immediately, festivals meeting an established criteria be allocated two years’ worth of dates for their festivals at Celebration Square in order to plan, prepare, and book entertainment and make other logistical arrangements and that where possible, the same timeframe (i.e. first weekend of June) be allocated in each year.
  10. That festivals that wish two or more consecutive dates at Celebration Square be allocated those dates, where possible.
  11. That organizers can apply for more than one festival per season at a city space including the Celebration Square.
  12. That staff do a full review of the festival space at Port Credit Memorial Park and report back on any changes or improvements required, including staff resources, as identified by various user groups. 13. That multiple groups are to be able to have an event at Celebration Square on the same weekend, where possible.

Council Approval

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