$7 Million to Support Literary Arts and Publishers

Funding will strengthen Ontario’s publishing sector, support local authors and grow province’s creative economy

The Ontario government is investing more than $7 million to protect and promote the province’s literary arts and publishing sector. This funding will strengthen Ontario’s creative industries, while supporting local authors and cultural producers to deliver community-driven events and programming that showcase Ontario’s stories to the world.

“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.”

Recognizing the dynamic nature of the literary and publishing sector, the government is providing support through key agencies and grant programs in 2025-26, including:

• Ontario Creates, which is investing $5.1 million in the publishing industry to support Canadian authors and fund the creation, marketing and development of literary projects.
• Ontario Arts Council, which is investing $1.9 million across 75 artists and arts organizations to foster the creation, publication and presentation of new and diverse written and spoken works in Ontario.
• Experience Ontario 2025, a competitive festivals and events grant program, which is investing more than $100,000 to support literary festivals that promote Canadian heritage and culture, create jobs and attract visitors.

As part of this year’s investment, Canada’s largest and longest-running literary festival, the Toronto International Festival of Authors, is receiving over $200,000 as it welcomes writers, thinkers 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 & CEO, Toronto International Festival of Authors. “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 has significant economic impacts in Ontario, benefitting communities by attracting visitors—many from overseas—who stay longer in local accommodations, dine at restaurants, shop at local retailers and support main street businesses.

Investments in the literary sector encourage cultural engagement, support opportunities for creative entrepreneurship and help lifelong learning among diverse audiences.

Quick Facts

• Ontario is home to the largest number of cultural producers in Canada. In 2023, Ontario's culture sector contributed over $27 billion to the province's GDP and supported nearly 270,000 jobs.
• Tourism plays a critical role in the Ontario economy: in 2024, visitors to Ontario spent $33 billion and supported more than 300,000 jobs.
• Taking place from October 29 to November 2 across the Greater Toronto Area, TIFA brings together acclaimed authors, passionate readers and book lovers from around the globe to share stories, exchange ideas and celebrate their love of literature.
• In 2024-25, the government invested over $192 million in the tourism sector through funding programs, Regional Tourism Organization grants, Destination Ontario, ministry attractions and tourism agencies.