| Ontario Supporting Independent Book and Magazine Publishers October 5, 2020 Targeted programs will help promote Canadian content to a broader global audience TORONTO ― The Ontario government is investing nearly $5 million in grants to help independent local book and magazine publishers access new markets and bring Canadian creative content to new audiences, both at home and around the world. The funding will be used for business development, enable participation in virtual industry activities and events, allow for the development of business strategies, and support innovative business practices. Ontario Creates, an agency of the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, approved 95 grants to Ontario-based businesses to support the recovery of Ontario’s culture industry, including: 32 grant recipients approved through the Book Fund, supporting the business development of independent, Ontario-based book publishers as they promote the works of Canadian authors in both foreign and domestic markets. 20 grant recipients through the Book Export Fund to help Ontario publishers participate in virtual industry activities and events that will help them build their networks, access new international markets and support company growth. 42 recipients through the Magazine Fund, providing grant funding to independent Ontario-based magazine publishers to support business strategies that will help them grow their businesses and reach new audiences. 1 recipient through the Industry Development Program, supporting innovative business practices with grant funding that helps businesses grow and develop industry-related skills to become a leader in the market. “When the COVID-19 pandemic began, Ontario’s heritage, sport, tourism and culture industries were among the first and hardest hit. They will take the longest to recover but are vital to the economic and social fabric of our province,” said Minister MacLeod. “Ontario’s independent book and magazine publishers provide a platform for Canada’s authors and content creators to share their diverse art, ideas and voice with the world. Through Ontario Creates, our government is creating opportunities for our culture sector partners to thrive and contribute to our spectacular double bottom line – the financial bottom line of the province, as well as the equally important bottom line of our cultural fabric and identity.” “Over the past six months, our independent publishers have shown incredible resilience, flexibility, and creativity to ensure the survival of this vibrant sector,” said Aaron Campbell, Board Chair of Ontario Creates. “Ontario’s book and magazine publishers contribute nearly $1 billion to our provincial GDP; Ontario Creates is pleased to invest in innovative projects that are essential to business stability, and that bring Ontario’s wealth of books and magazines to new audiences.” “Book and magazine publishers are a vital part of our literary lifeblood and the continuing support from funders like the Ontario government is crucial to ensure our cultural ecology of writers, publishers, bookstores and festivals survives, and begins to thrive again,” said Roland Gulliver, Director of the Toronto International Festival of Authors. Please visit Ontario Creates for more information on funding eligibility requirements and application deadlines. |
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