Launched in March 2000, the City of London Community Arts Investment Program (CAIP) is funded by the City of London through the annual operating budget of Culture Services Neighbourhood and Community-Wide Services. CAIP is administered through a multi-year Purchase of Service Agreement with the London Arts Council (LAC) and supports the capacity building of local professional not-for-profit arts sector in a broad range of artistic disciplines, including: film, literature, music, performing arts (dance and theatre), and visual arts: https://www.londonarts.ca/arts-funding.
The purpose of CAIP is to increase access to quality local arts experiences and promote a sense of belonging representing all artistic disciplines and equity-deserving groups. CAIP contributes to the creative vibrancy of London and enhances London’s desirability as a community of choice and visitor destination by supporting the growth of local arts sector and its diverse artistic and musical talent.
The demand for CAIP funding has been rapidly increasing. In 2023, CAIP Arts Funding Streams received 162 applications with over $2 million in unprecedented requests from 22 arts organizations, 42 artist collectives, and 98 artists, and only 67 applicants received funding through CAIP (see Charts 1-4).
London’s investments in Arts and Culture are falling behind the investments of other municipalities. London’s population is growing, the cost of living is increasing, social, and economic challenges are being amplified, rebuilding audiences since the pandemic is critical, and community demands for programs and services for arts and culture are being heightened, but CAIP has never seen an increase since its inception in 2000 (see Charts 2 and 5).
London’s culture is an expression of our community’s shared histories, values, beliefs, pride, and traditions, creating a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible city and improving overall quality of life. The arts and culture sector supports multiple segments of London's workforce, diversifies the economy, and brings economic prosperity to London. Between 2011 and 2020, the total GDP contribution of the arts and culture sector in London was over $6 billion in total, on average, over $607 million annually (see Chart 6).
London is designated as a UNESCO City of Music - As a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, London must lead musical and artistic development in Canada and demonstrate how London prioritizes creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development (https://en.unesco.org/creative-cities/home).
Chart 1 shows a steady increase in CAIP requests over five years. In 2023, the requested amount was three times higher than the invested amount.
Chart 2 shows a steady decrease in CAIP investments per capita over the past 10 years.
Chart 3 shows projections of CAIP investments per capita for the next four years with no budget increase.
Chart 4 contains LAC’s comparative research data regarding other municipal arts funding programs in Canada based on the published annual reports.
Source: 2021 MBNCanada Performance Measurement Report
The measure represents the funding dollars provided for Arts, Heritage, and Festival grants only. The direct municipal investment in arts funding is relative to a city’s service delivery model, size of its arts community and its funding envelope.
The increase in London in 2021 was related to London Recovery Community Network COVID-19 recovery grant funding.
The decrease in Winnipeg in 2021 was due to a five year- funding commitment to the Winnipeg Art Gallery being completed in 2020.
Source: Creative City Network of Canada Cultural Consortium
The Culture Statistics Strategy Consortium includes the Department of Canadian Heritage, Statistics Canada, all 13 provincial and territorial ministries of culture, the Creative City Network of Canada (CCNC), more than 30 municipalities, and other cultural sector stakeholders.
Additional Information
Councils 2023 – 2027 Strategic Plan Strategic Areas of Focus for CAIP include: Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility, Wellbeing and Safety and Inclusion and Economic Growth, Culture and Prosperity.
The London Plan Section 8 - Culturally Rich and Diverse City, London’s Cultural Prosperity Plan, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, and London UNESCO City of Music Action Plan are supported by CAIP.