Ontario Boosting Francophone Arts and Culture in Thunder Bay
August 29, 2025
New $16,000 Investment Will Support Jobs and Maximize the Impact of the Local Francophone Arts and Culture Sector
August 29th 2025
Thunder Bay – The Ontario government is investing $16,000 in Thunder Bay to support good jobs and help local Francophone artists and community arts and culture organizations thrive.
Centre francophone de Thunder Bay will receive $10,000 through the Ontario Arts Council and Club culturel francophone de Thunder Bay will receive $6,000 through the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming.
“Our government understands the important role that the arts play in fostering dynamic and thriving communities across Ontario,” said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan “This support will help [community name]’s artists and arts organizations continue to make a positive impact on our economy, create good jobs and draw more visitors to our community.”
The Diffusion – projets francophones program grant is designed to maximize the positive impact of Ontario’s cultural sector in local communities throughout the province. The program provides artistic programming support as an incentive for not-for-profit Francophone organizations, cultural centres, festivals and presenters to showcase Ontario Francophone arts and artists to a wide range of audiences in their communities. This funding will enable Centre francophone de Thunder Bay to Host their annual festival of Francophone music and culture in Northwestern Ontario and Club culturel francophone de Thunder Bay to host Three public Franco-Ontarian music concerts in Thunder Bay for the 2025–2026 season.
The funding is part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by supporting workers, businesses, communities and jobs in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty, while creating a solid foundation for a strong, resilient and competitive future.
“Ontario’s Francophone arts and culture sector plays a vital role in building vibrant communities and driving economic growth,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “Now more than ever, we must invest in homegrown artists and organizations that foster pride, influence creativity and strengthen local economies. Our government is thrilled to support [arts organization’s name] in showcasing creative Francophone artists in communities across the province.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is investing in 16 arts organizations through the Diffusion – projets francophones program.
- The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. It provides grants to Ontario-based individual artists and arts professionals, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations, supporting a range of arts activities and disciplines.
- In 2024-25, OAC invested $52.2 million in 204 communities across 123 Ontario ridings, providing 1,969 grants to individual artists and 1,030 grants to organizations.