The Ontario government is investing more than $7 million to support the province’s literary arts and publishing sector, aiming to promote local authors, enhance cultural programming, and grow Ontario’s creative economy.
“Ontario’s literary and publishing sector is a cornerstone of our cultural identity,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “By protecting and promoting Ontario’s authors, publishers and storytellers, we’re preserving our shared heritage while driving economic growth and creative opportunity in communities across the province. When Ontario’s artists thrive, our whole province thrives.”
The funding, announced Thursday, will be distributed in 2025–26 through several key agencies and programs. Ontario Creates will invest $5.1 million in the publishing industry to support Canadian authors and fund the creation, marketing, and development of literary projects. The Ontario Arts Council will provide $1.9 million across 75 artists and arts organizations to foster the creation, publication, and presentation of diverse written and spoken works. Experience Ontario 2025, a competitive festivals and events grant program, will invest more than $100,000 to support literary festivals that promote Canadian heritage and attract visitors.
As part of this year’s investment, the Toronto International Festival of Authors — Canada’s largest and longest-running literary festival — is receiving more than $200,000 as it welcomes writers and visitors from around the world this week.
“The ongoing support from Minister Cho and the Ontario government through the Ontario Arts Council and initiatives such as Experience Ontario has been integral to TIFA’s success. And never more so than now in 2025 when TIFA became a fully independent Festival organisation for the first time in its 50-year history,” said Roland Gulliver, Artistic Director and CEO of TIFA. “This funding will help bring authors to audiences all year round, to better support the province’s publishing industry, and to celebrate the best books and stories from Ontario on a national and international stage. It has never been more important to champion and celebrate Ontario and Canada’s rich and diverse literary community.”
Arts and culture tourism continues to have a major economic impact in Ontario, attracting visitors who stay in local accommodations, dine at restaurants, and shop at main street businesses.
According to the province, Ontario is home to the largest number of cultural producers in Canada. In 2023, the culture sector contributed more than $27 billion to the province’s GDP and supported nearly 270,000 jobs. In 2024, visitors to Ontario spent $33 billion, supporting more than 300,000 jobs. The government says investments like this one encourage cultural engagement, support creative entrepreneurship, and foster lifelong learning among diverse audiences.
The Toronto International Festival of Authors runs from October 29 to November 2 across the Greater Toronto Area, bringing together acclaimed authors, readers, and book lovers from around the globe to share stories and celebrate literature.
