Earlier this year, the Ontario Science Centre permanently closed. Allegedly, the closure was due to structural concerns within the building— the roof was caving in, and there was reported damage to sprinkler and electrical systems. However, these structural issues did not appear out of nowhere: the roof was collapsing because the Science Centre was not provided funding to fix the roof.
The Science Centre’s structural issues were a symptom of critical underfunding and neglect of cultural institutions in the GTA, and is an ominous glance at the possible future for other major similar programs and establishments in the city.
While I would like to blame the Premier of Ontario for everything wrong with this province— especially where the arts and culture budgeting is concerned— I unfortunately can’t do that. Doug Ford doesn’t care about the arts, but we already knew that. What’s more concerning is that other, private arts patrons— the ones whose money many arts institutions in Toronto depend on to survive— seem to be slowly withdrawing their support as well. From independent theatres and cinemas, to major festivals, to public educational institutions, Toronto’s arts and culture programs are facing insufficient public funding and a serious lack of private monetary support. Budget constraints have resulted in cutbacks in programming and threats of closure, among other consequences.
For instance, Soulpepper Theatre Company and Factory Theatre, two independent theatre companies, have reported needing to cut back on the number of productions they would otherwise schedule due to declining support from private donors. Fringe Festival and Shaw Festival have also faced shortfalls in private financial support. Independent cinemas like Hot Docs face financial pressures that put their future at risk, and even the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) faced a big problem last year when Bell— longtime TIFF sponsor— stated that they would be withdrawing from that partnership. Thankfully, TIFF was quickly scooped back up by Rogers, but the fact that a film festival as major as TIFF appears to be at risk is very concerning. These examples are among the many arts and culture institutions facing critical budget concerns.
As someone who has lived in Toronto all my life, I’m very familiar with Toronto’s arts scene. It’s part of why I love living here. The personality that independent cinemas, theatres, festivals, and other programs provide this city is invaluable. But to some, this value is not worthwhile to preserve. The Ford government certainly deserves a vast amount of criticism for essentially leaving arts programming, on large and small scales, out to dry. However, the withdrawal of support from private sponsors— including major corporations— suggests that a lack of support for Toronto arts and culture is not just a problem associated with one government. And it may not be as easy to ameliorate as electing someone new into the Premier’s office.
While this is certainly discouraging, there is hope for Toronto’s arts and culture programming to be found in community support. I have seen this support save landmark arts institutions in real-time. For example, this summer, Revue Cinema— Toronto’s oldest independent cinema— was threatened with permanent closure when the building’s landlord refused to renew the cinema’s lease. Allegedly, this landlord was not pleased with the output of Revue in the community, believing it did not do enough on a financial level to be worthwhile.
I have gone to Revue for many years. It’s an essential hub of cinema in Toronto. It promotes a diverse appreciation for cinema by consistently showing underrated and international films; sponsoring and participating in the restoration of older films; and inviting actors or directors to the theatre for Q&As (most recently, Guillermo Del Toro). Located in the neighbourhood of Roncesvalles, it is also a hub for community events and frequently holds charity fundraisers through special showings. Despite all that Revue gives to its community, it was looking very grim for the cinema for a while.
Revue’s circumstances triggered an outpouring of community and celebrity support. This included support from lawyers, city officials, journalists, public relations workers, and other arts patrons. The public outrage resulted in Revue’s landlord renegotiating with the cinema, ending with a renewal of the building’s lease. It looks like the cinema will remain a fixture in Roncesvalles for the foreseeable future.
While it is a wonderful thing that Revue was saved, the fight to preserve and maintain Toronto’s arts and culture flagstone institutions continues. There is no point in living in a city when its life and culture are stripped away. Therefore, it’s our responsibility to support these institutions. It’s our job to help as much as we can to show the value we provide to our communities. So do your best to get out there and show your footprint in this city by supporting the many special programs and institutions Toronto has to offer.