The band, Neighbourhood Watch produces a pandemic music video by engaging with neighbours in a residential building

Arts and Culture

27 Toronto households — involving more than 60 people and two family dogs — took part in a new music video simply by standing in the windows of their homes and then doing a little dance.

Property tax relief offered for 45 live music venues impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

Arts and Culture | Income support | Local businesses | Main Street | Policy leadership

Toronto’s live music venues contribute greatly to the city’s cultural, social and economic fabric. These venues require critical support in the face of ongoing pressures that have been intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. City Council expanded the Creative Co-Location Facilities Property Tax Subclass to provide property tax relief for live music venues. As a result of this decision, properties that meet specific criteria are eligible to receive property tax relief of up to 50 per cent for the qualifying areas of the building. Immediately following this expansion in May, the City began accepting applications from live music venue operators. The deadline for applications was June 19. This relief measure will be implemented through the final supplementary property tax notices that will be issued in the fall. City staff will analyze the impact of this cost-saving measure for live music venues and report to Council in 2021. This measure is intended to remain in place beyond this year to support the long-term viability of Toronto’s live music sector.

Guide created to help reopening of small events and venues

Arts and Culture | General: Sector resources

The Reopening Guide addresses health and sanitary issues that event and venue professionals need to consider in order to protect both patrons and workers. Since there is still insufficient testing, no contact tracing, and no vaccine against COVID-19, this guidance is particularly detailed. The first edition is tailored to be especially useful for event professionals reopening the smallest events with the fewest resources available to mitigate their risks, since in every municipal reopening plan these will be allowed to reopen first.

Toronto co-op holds community sing-a-long

Arts and Culture | Social isolation

Fieldstone Co-op in Toronto held a community singalong, with members taking part from a safe distance apart on their balconies and in the garden.

Community Art in Calgary going online during COVID19

Arts and Culture | General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses

ART IN A PANDEMIC: Every Wednesday evening a crowd has gathered inside Rumble House in downtown Calgary to create art together. As the response to COVID-19 limits mass gatherings, the Rumble House community is going online by broadcasting art-making and hosting an online auction.

Alberta musicians deliver online self-isolation orchestral performance

Arts and Culture | General: Online communities and networks | Social isolation

Members of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) and Edmonton Symphony have combined to create one of their most viewed performances.After 66 Calgary musicians and an 18 staff members were temporary laid off, the group decided to reconnect for a virtual performance while in self-isolation.

Montrealers united to sing a Leonard Cohen song Sunday night

Arts and Culture | Social isolation

Martha Wainwright led a citywide “So Long, Marianne” sing-along.

In Winnipeg, neighbourhood quarantine choir led by local senior

Arts and Culture

30 neighbours on Canora Street serenaded passersby with a social-distancing singalong, singing and playing instruments to the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine from their porches.

CBC only playing Canadian content during COVID-19

Arts and Culture

To support Canadian artists, CBC shift has shifted their weekday radio schedule to all-Canadian programming during COVID-19.

Design company launches Live Stream Local initiative to connect people to virtual performances and support local artists

Arts and Culture | Employment | Income support

With the cancellation of many live music concerts, Action! By Design’s new Live Stream Local initiative virtually connects people to musicians and other creatives, and offers ways to tip them.

Local Montreal musician organizes weekly drumming festival on balconies, porches, rooftops

Arts and Culture | Social isolation

The weekly event, organized on Facebook, invites attendees to drum on their balconies/porches/rooftops on Sundays from 2pm to 4pm. With enough people drumming, the event reminds you that you are not alone.

Quarantunes: Free concerts to watch at home during COVID-19

Arts and Culture

Quarantunes: Free Concerts to Watch at Home During COVID-19 Distancing, Canadian and other artists

$100,000 Fund launched by Facebook and the National Arts Centre provides artist fees for online performances

Arts and Culture | General: Sector resources | Income support

The Facebook-National Arts Centre Fund for Performing Artists will provide $100,000 in artists fees to support online performances between now and March 31, 2020 to help ease financial strain for those impacted by the closure of performance venues across Canada related to COVID

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