Yes, it is that time of year. The time of excessive sugar, excessive spending and squealing at the sight of sparkly plastic snowflakes. Here are a few things that have been happening with us this December:

1.We are in residency mode! Kitchenband Productions are in the space at the moment. We will take a peak at what they have been working on during our final Residency Showing on December 20 at 7 pm – all are welcome! View the invite here.

2. We have been following Toronto Budget Committee deputations on December 7 and 8 remotely – thanks to multiple Twitter correspondents and extensive reports by Torontoist: Day 1 and Day 2. Amazing to read some of the arguments and suggestions that deputants brought to help oppose cuts to the City’s essential services, including arts and culture funding.

3. Holiday music marathon - non-stop, with brief breaks for Regina Spektor. Battles JB vs MJ vs Mariah vs Hanky, the Christmas Poo – ongoing.

4. Holiday Office Decorating Party on December 3 complete with pizza, ginger bread cookies, candy cane, mulled cider and Franco handcrafting a garland out of a piece of ribbon and green and red shiny balls. Check out the photos!

Posted: December 8th, 2011 under By Lilya, Dec 2011 Newsletter, Theatre Centre Blog.
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Quiz: what happens at The Theatre Centre every year around mid-December?

Absolutely right – ’tis the City of Craft, the arts and crafts show that is the awesomest and craftiest of them all! This year City of Craft happens on Saturday, December 10 and Sunday, December 11 both inside our space and at Thrush Holmes Empire next door.

Here are some of the things not to miss this year:

• Cool installations and interactive programs, including writing letters to the dear city of ours at the Knit Cafe.
• A myriad of amazing vendors offering unique handcrafted pieces for your viewing and buying pleasure – be done with all your holiday shopping this weekend!
• Workshops where you can learn some craftiness yourselves! C’mon, you’ve been dying to learn how to make your own pom poms!

Posted: December 8th, 2011 under Dec 2011 Newsletter, Theatre Centre Blog.
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On November 28, the City Manager presented the 2012 Operating Budget to the City’s Budget Committee. The proposed budget recommends a 10% cut to arts grants. If passed, Toronto Arts Council’s grants budget will be reduced by just over $1 million.

This reduction will be very difficult for Toronto’s arts community. Toronto Arts Council and Toronto Arts Foundation, along with many arts organizations and associations are working hard to prevent this recommendation from passing.

As one of the Toronto Arts Council funded organizations we would like to reach out to our volunteers, donors, audiences and supporters to ask you to join the voices opposing cuts to Toronto’s arts funding.

Here is what you can do: call, email or write your City Councillors to ask them to protect arts funding (City Council contact information here). Any little bit will help attract attention to the matter.

For more information and updates check out Toronto Arts Foundation’s Arts Advocacy page.

Posted: December 1st, 2011 under Franco's Blog, Stop the Cuts, Theatre Centre Blog.
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