Absolutely.
Obviously, one serious issue that is widespread across Canada is around mental health. The struggle with precarity and not knowing where your opportunities are has really been compounded for Black artists. A lot of them were seeing significant opportunities to present their work in new spaces, exhibitions and shows. They were quite excited about some of the ways in which their careers were advancing. The closure of our spaces really meant that there's now a sense for them of whether their career is viable or whether it is possible to ever rebound. There's a real sense of loss and grief that I think we still need to work through as communities. Mental health would definitely be one.
Of course, in Toronto, there's the additional pressure of affordable housing in our city. We are at risk of losing the ability for artists to live, work and create in our city because it is simply unaffordable. There's significant pressure. I'm going to be working closely on.... We're redeveloping our neighbourhood specifically and looking at some opportunities for affordable housing there. That's a real pressure point for ensuring that the creative sector and the artists that drive it are able to stay and continue to live in the communities they're a part of.
Last, I would say it's access to working space for artists. Studio space for artists to actually work out of is expensive. There are a lot of closures. One thing we did during the pandemic was offer micro grants to over 100 artists to support them in accessing professional development, equipment and supplies to be able to produce work at home and really pivot. We called it the pivot grant. It helped to keep them working during the pandemic and helped them to access the kinds of supports at home that would help them to advance in their careers.
Those are some of the key priorities and issues that Black artists in particular are facing.
