about toronto arts council foundation

Toronto Arts Council Foundation (TACF) was established in 1995 as a sister organization to Toronto Arts Council to allow individuals, foundations and corporations the opportunity to support a broad spectrum of arts disciplines in the City of Toronto through tax-deductible contributions.

TACF's mission is to increase the resources available to artists and arts organizations in Toronto, and to increase public interest in the arts.

In 2002, TACF began the process of developing a broad-based arts awareness and fundraising initiative with the intention of considerably increasing funds raised for Toronto arts. These funds are managed by TACF's Investment Committee. Primary uses of the funds will be TACF's awards program, TACF's endowment program and TAC's grants programs.

TACF operates a number of programs including Arts in the Workplace, Toronto Arts Online, Toronto Arts Fund and the Toronto Arts Council Foundation Awards which is held in the fall.

Toronto Arts Council Foundation is a registered charitable organization.

about toronto arts council

Toronto Arts Council is an arm's length funding body that supports the development, accessibility and excellence of the arts in Toronto.

Toronto Arts Council offers grants programs to the city's arts organizations and professional artists.

These programs, funded through the City of Toronto, invest in a broad range of activities from individual creation and small start-up projects to some of Canada's largest and most renowned arts institutions.

claire hopkinson, executive director

Best known as Producer of Tapestry New Opera Works, a position she held for the last 14 years, Ms Hopkinson has been a strong force for the development of new opera. Under her leadership, Tapestry grew from a project-funded company to an organization that is recognized nationally and internationally.

In addition to premiering such landmark productions as Iron Road, she played a key role in nurturing artists through programs such as the company’s annual Composer-Librettist Laboratory and in developing unique formats for introducing audiences to new work processes.

In 2001 she received the Joan Chalmers Award for Excellence in Arts Administration in recognition of her exceptional achievements at Tapestry. Ms Hopkinson has served as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the prestigious US organization, Opera America and chaired the Canadian equivalent, Opera.ca.

She was also one of four Toronto arts leaders responsible for initiating Creative Trust: Working Capital for the Arts, (North America’s largest sustainability program) and served as the first President of its Board.

bill huffman, curator

Bill Huffman is an arts administrator, curator and writer with a history of extensive involvement on both the local and international cultural fronts.

Before joining Toronto Arts Council in 2002, Bill held directorial and executive posts with Blackwood Gallery, Arts Toronto, The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery, A Space Gallery, Canadian Art Foundation and Art Gallery of Sudbury.

Huffman is a past Board member of Mercer Union Centre for Contemporary Art, Ontario Cultural Human Resources Council and Canadian Artists Representation/Le Front des Artistes Canadiens.

He is currently a member of Le Conseil d’administration de l’Alliance Française de Toronto.

His curatorial initiatives include several traveling exhibitions, most notably Aurora: A Survey of New Media Work from Finland (Canada/USA), Head Frame for the 2001 Biennale di Venezia (Italy) and Stephen Andrews: the 1st part of the 2nd half (France/Italy/Canada).

He is curator of three upcoming international exhibition initiatives showcasing new contemporary work from Finland, France and Bulgaria.

arts advisory panel

A distinguished group of artists and arts managers serve as advisors and spokespersons for the Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Council Foundation.