75 Million in New Ontario Arts Funding

According to the CBC the Ontario government is prepared to announce 75 million in additional funding for arts and culture including:

12.1 million for the Royal Ontario Museum

8.6 million for the Art Gallery of Ontario

15 million for the Luminato Festival

15 million for the Southern Ontario Library Service

2.5 million for the Canadian Film Centre

10 million for the Toronto Reference Library

2.2 million for the Ontario Science Centre

388 thousand for Science North in Sudbury

4 million for the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund

747 thousand for the Ontario Heritage trust

All of this comes on top of already announced funding from the 2008 budget including 7 million over 4 years for an Interactive Digital Media Fund.

I think this is all wonderful news, and applaud the McGuinty Government for doing it. I would still point out though that for many, many Torontonians the ROM, the AGO etc., are not the center of cultural life in Toronto and that more needs to be done for small galleries, venues, artists and arts orgnizations that do not have the tourist draw of the ROM. I personally think this would handle it nicely, but I'm looking for other - more short term, local solutions as well.