Public dollars and private philanthropy play a defining role in shaping Toronto’s arts ecosystem, especially as rising costs place increasing pressure on artists and cultural organizations. In this conversation, Kelly Langgard explains why belief in the arts must translate into sustained investment that supports creativity, equity, and cultural life across the city.
Arts funding discussions are often framed as a debate about discretionary spending, but this interview with Kelly Langgard is more practical and urgent. As Director and CEO of both the Toronto Arts Council (TAC) and the Toronto Arts Foundation (TAF), Langgard sits at the intersection of public investment, private support, and the everyday realities of artists trying to make work in one of North America’s most expensive cities. The conversation makes clear that culture functions like civic infrastructure. It shapes belonging, fuels local economies, and determines whether a city feels livable, legible, and connected.