Ontario Government Boosting Arts and Culture in Aurora

New $18,197 investment will support jobs and maximize impact of local arts and culture sector


Aurora – The Ontario government is making an important investment in the Town of Aurora to support good jobs, empower local artists, and help community arts and culture organizations thrive.

Today, MPP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill, Michael Parsa, announced that the York Region Arts Council will receive $18,197 through the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.  

“The Ontario Arts Council’s grant funding of the York Region Arts Council builds toward a stronger, more connected community,” said Michael Parsa, MPP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill. “Through this investment, we are ensuring that the arts remain accessible to all residents in the Town of Aurora, promoting innovation and artistic expression.”

The Arts Service Organizations: Operating program grant is designed to maximize the positive impact of Ontario’s cultural sector in local communities throughout the province. It assists not-for-profit, professional arts service organizations in Ontario, which may have provincial, national, regional or local mandates.

In Aurora, this funding will enable the York Region Arts Council to connect the arts community across the region.

“Ontario’s arts and culture organizations enrich our lives and boost economic activity,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “Our government is thrilled to provide York Region Arts Council the funding it requires to continue its great work in the Town of Aurora, complementing the creative endeavours of other arts organizations across the province.”

Quick Facts

  • Ontario is investing in 57 arts organizations through the Arts Service Organizations: Operating program.
  • The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. It provides grants to Ontario-based individual artists and arts professionals, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations, supporting a range of arts activities and disciplines.
  • In 2023-24, OAC invested $53 million in 219 communities, in all 124 Ontario ridings through 2,133 grants to individual artists and 1,038 grants to organizations.