• This Issue
• Subscribe
• Advertisers
• Ad FAQS
• Ad Web Sites
• About IAT
• Link to IAT

Tom Jakobek's Arts Policy

Many people in our City see arts and culture as simply a form of entertainment. While we would not dispute the entertainment value, it seems to me that there are two other relevant facts which need to be mentioned.

What separates Toronto from most others including those here in the GTA, is our ‘cultural soul’ that the arts and culture community provides.

Whether it’s the jazz quartet at RD’s or the Canadian Stage performance in High Park, the contribution to the City’s ‘personality’ is the same.

The entertainment and cultural value of the arts warrants a strong level of political support, but it also provides an economic importance as well. Our arts and cultural community has generated over 200,000 jobs in Toronto alone. Combined with the film and television industry the economic contribution is into the billions!

What separates Tom Jakobek from some of the other mayoral candidates is his proven track record and support for the arts community. Not only are Tom and his family generous supporters of several artistic venues, Tom has also been very supportive at City Hall. Arts and culture funding from the City of Toronto reached an all time high between 1997-2000 when Tom Jakobek was the City’s Budget Chief. While Tom has had issue with the fair and equitable distribution of funds to all forms of art and culture his support has been unwavering.

Tom Jakobek recognizes the intolerable condition our community and particularly the arts community is in. Since SARS, West Nile, and the demise of the ‘Live Entertainment’ company, all of which impacted negativity on the tourism industry.

Tom Jakobek has the most budget and financial experience of all the other candidates and has committed to rebuilding the industry. While most are talking about “increasing arts funding” and one has said they will add $2 million. Tom Jakobek’s plan for the arts will require almost $100 million, beginning next year!

No one else can make the commitment and find the way to provide that kind of financial support for the arts and culture community.

Tom Jakobek has also said he will introduce the following other arts friendly platforms:

Cross promotions:

1. For the next 2 years arts and cultural venues will be able to offer free transit or free parking with any pair of ticket purchases.
   
2. A 50% matching contribution from the City of any advertising outside the City’s boundaries. Cap of $20 million in 2004.
   
3. The re-assignment of an Arts and Culture Director to the Mayor’s office to ensure direct action for arts and culture requests that have an economic and/or social benefit.
   
4. The creation of a local Arts program that will provide seed money and assistance for those willing and wanting to build their own venue.
   
5. A new Arts supporter membership card which will provide free and/or local discounted admission to most sites. All revenue from the sale of your arts card to be used for internal city marketing and promotion of the arts.

Tom Jakobek ran the City’s $6.1 billion dollar budget for almost 10 years. During that time, he increased arts funding considerably. Tom Jakobek has also run a small business and acted as a director of several arts venues like the O’Keefe Centre (now Hummingbird), St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, the old Young Peoples Theatre and many more. In addition, Tom acted as a director for a $50 million dollar film company (Knightscove) here in Toronto.

Tom has first hand experience and insight on the tough work for struggling artists and producers. Tom Jakobek will find the money and direct it fairly to an industry in need.