The provincial government has committed an additional $5 million in annual funding for the Ontario Arts Council, increasing the Council's annual budget to nearly $60 million.

The province says the additional funding will help the Council:

• Develop Ontario arts organizations and artists.
• Promote art and culture in communities across Ontario.
• Increase its services to artists and creators.

"Ontario’s Entertainment and Creative Cluster created over 80,000 new jobs in Ontario between 1999-2007, an increase of almost 40 per cent," the government said in a press release.