Photo: PA Harinder Malhi, Joanne Cripps (Deaf Culture Centre), Rylyn Lennox (Deaf Culture Centre), Diane Davy (WorkInCulture), Claudia McKoy (UpSurgence)

Written by: Harinder Malhi, Parliamentary Assistant to Minister Eleanor McMahon

Yesterday, I was pleased to announce that the Ontario Government is improving business and technical training for people who work in the art and culture sector, to help them develop their careers.

To achieve this, we are investing $750,000 over three years in WorkInCulture, a not-for-profit organization that works with training organizations across the province to offer career development and business skills – such as marketing, financial and project management – to workers in the culture sector.

This investment is part of Ontario’s Culture Strategy, which our government launched in July 2016. One of the strategy’s key actions is to inspire the next generation of Ontarians to pursue careers in the culture sector while also helping today’s students and employees get the skills they need to succeed in the knowledge economy.

People are Ontario’s most important resource. And as our economy becomes more technology and knowledge based, a cultural workforce with strong business and technical skills will be better positioned to meet the challenges and maximize the opportunities of a digital economy.

Our investment today will support WorkInCulture to improve the training environment for those working in the culture sector, deliver on skills training that matches their needs and ultimately help them develop and grow their careers.