OAC’s vision is to lead the way for all Ontarians to access and embrace the arts as vital to life, the economy, and our communities. This means demonstrating the impact of public arts funding among elected representatives, community leaders and the public.
Embargo period (for organizations and groups only)
After receiving your notification letter, please
do not publicly announce your grant for 20 business days, to allow the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Gaming or your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to announce it first. If your MPP contacts you to make an announcement, you can share the news before the end of the embargo period.
Consider this an opportunity to begin building a direct relationship with the MPP around your organization’s impact. Describe how public arts funding supports your work and benefits their constituents. For example, you can share an overview of what your organization does or invite them to an upcoming event.
Public value and engagement requirements
20 business days after receipt of your notification letter, you can share the news of your grant publicly, and begin the public value and engagement requirements as outlined in the terms and conditions of your grant.
Required for all grant recipients
Logos
Use both the OAC and Government of Ontario logos in all promotional materials. See the
Logos page for additional information.
Social media
Dedicate a post to acknowledging your OAC grant on the social media channels you use professionally. Share how receiving the grant will impact you, your organization and/or your community. Make sure to tag OAC and your local MPP.
Required for organizations and groups | Optional for individuals
MPP engagement
Connect with the MPP representing the riding in which your organization primarily operates or offers activities and build up your connection and their awareness of your organization's impact.
You can find out who your MPP is using this website.
You must complete
at least one of the following activities each year:
- invite your MPP to attend and/or participate in an event already planned by your organization (see more information under For organizations that produce events);
- schedule a meeting with your MPP (either virtual or in-person);
- host a site visit or behind-the-scenes tour for your MPP;
- invite your MPP to your organization’s community-oriented programming (e.g. for youth or seniors); or
- if your organization works on behalf of a specific sector or community, send your MPP information about its impact as a whole.
We encourage you to connect with other community leaders and stakeholders, in addition to your local MPP. For example, you can also engage elected officials at other levels of government (municipal, regional, federal), Indigenous leadership, local business associations and chambers of commerce, and other local groups.
We can help you illustrate your impact!
Get customized statistics about the social and economic impact of the arts in your community by sending us an email at
communications@arts.on.ca.
For organizations that produce events
Organizations that produce performances, festivals, exhibitions, screenings or other public events are expected to use
at least one significant event annually to:
- recognize public funding;
- demonstrate community impact;
- engage local elected representatives and stakeholders; and
- increase awareness of the value of the arts within the community.
Organizations are required to:
- Invite your local MPP and the MPP who represents the area where your activity is happening if different. Notify OAC that an MPP will be attending by emailing communications@arts.on.ca.
- In your remarks and in materials produced for the event (e.g. printed programs, on-screen slides), share examples of your organizational impact, such as:
- number of jobs or opportunities for artists and arts professionals;
- number of attendees/participants reached; and
- testimonials from attendees, volunteers and participants.
Make the link between these outcomes and the public funding that helps enable them.
- After the event, share video/images from the engagement on social media and be sure to tag OAC and the MPPs you invited.
OAC recognizes that certain artistic works, organizational circumstances or community contexts may make standard recognition activities inappropriate or impractical.
Organizations that believe an alternative approach is warranted must contact their program officer to discuss potential options.