Thank you, MP Julian.
It was a very effective way and we actually had a number of artists we weren't able to support through the program. We had over 1,000 applications and we were only able to support just over 100 artists with the resources that we had.
I'm hopeful that the new operating fund, the Canada performing arts fund, which recently came out, will be an avenue for us to be able to expand those kinds of resources.
It really comes down to funding. That fund is specifically for performing artists. We did receive applications across disciplines, because we're a multidisciplinary organization, so would need additional resources to do that.
As well, we connected with the Ontario Arts Council, because they were quite keen to see how we had implemented the program and interested in the expedient nature in which we were able to deliver funds in just over a month from the point of application to it closing. Really, it comes down to us being able to secure additional funding to be able to direct that just specifically to artists who are in need.
We're also looking at partnerships to be able to support artists to move through in terms of digital recovery, getting them more supports to build websites, move into e-commerce, and really ensure that we're supporting them in moving forward and building back better in terms of being able to utilize digital supports to move their businesses along.