EQUIFLASH [ARTS & CULTURE ADVOCACY ALERT - TORONTO, ON]

[CAEA e-drive]

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ARTS & CULTURE ADVOCACY ALERT - TORONTO, ON
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Equity members living in Toronto - please take 30 seconds to add your
name to the "Friends of the Arts" online petition
(http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/friendsofthearts/) and let City
Councillors know that Torontonians value the arts..

Toronto City Council is planning to make deep cuts to the city budget,
and this puts arts and cultural funding at serious risk. Cutting the
arts could be an economic and social catastrophe for Toronto: not only
does the city achieve a huge return on a relatively small investment,
but our vibrant arts scene is also a big part of what makes Toronto a
great place to live, work and visit.

By signing the petition you will be sending a message to the Mayor and
your local councillor telling them that arts funding should not be cut.
Here are a few of the reasons why the arts might be important to you: 
- Arts and culture are essential to Toronto's economy, generating $9
billion every year.
- Arts and culture create jobs. 130,000 people work in the sector - and
many more depend on related businesses, including those in hospitality
and tourism.
- Torontonians care about the arts. In 2010, there were 20 million
visits from every corner of Toronto to city-supported arts events.
- Every dollar Toronto invests in arts organizations attracts $17 more
from private and public sources. Arts and culture funding has a great
return on investment. 
- Great art and artists take years to achieve commercial success;
today's funding enables tomorrow's art.
- Artists flock to cities that support them - yet Toronto invests less
in the arts than other major cities; City Council has been working to
change that, and it must stay the course.
- Toronto Councillors need to know that their voters value the arts.
Please feel free to forward the petition on to your friends and family.

If you'd like to help, please email friendsofthearts at gmail.com and put
volunteer in the subject line.  Thank you!
 
Key Upcoming City decision dates: 
September 19: Executive Committee meets to respond to core service
review recommendations
September 26: City Council meets to review Executive Committee
recommendations

*Friends of the Arts is a network of arts supporters including the
following organizations:  Arts Vote Toronto, Arts Etobicoke,
BeautifulCity.ca, Business for the Arts, Creative Trust, Lakeshore Arts,
Scarborough Arts, Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts, Toronto Arts
Foundation, Urban Arts. 

For more information, or if you have questions, please contact Susan
Wright, Director of Operations, Toronto Arts Foundation:
susan at torontoartscouncil.org.
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Canadian Actors' Equity Association
44 Victoria Street, 12th floor
Toronto, ON  M5C 3C4
tel: 416-867-9165
fax: 416-867-9246
communications at caea.com
http://www.caea.com


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