What We Do

CCCO delivers business skills research, resources and training to the arts and cultural sector in Ontario:

• performing arts: theatre, dance, music, opera
• visual arts, crafts, and design
• writing and publishing
• media arts: film, video, audio, new media
• museums, heritage and libraries

CCCO develops, facilitates, and promotes

• business skills programs, publications, and services relevant to the human resources requirements of the sector
• in-career skills advancement, training, transition, and self-management for cultural workers through courses, workshops, seminars, peer learning, mentorships and internships, and resource materials
• partnerships and programs for raising awareness, strengthening, and sharing human resources knowledge, practices, and information within the cultural community
• apprenticeships, internships, and mentoring in cultural human resources and career development

In all these programs, CCCO focuses on the following key priorities:

• the transfer of skills to individuals and organizations in the community through partnerships and through direct training
• the development of learning opportunities and formats that respond directly to the needs and conditions of the cultural workplace as well as to diversity and regional differences
• cross-disciplinary learning that builds connections between the disciplines and sub sectors and that maximizes synergies and resources

CCCO provides a forum for continuous dialogue within the cultural sector, with governments, with educational institutions, and with other partners, to

• identify and assess cross-sectoral training needs and opportunities
• facilitate and inform government policies for training, retraining, and other human resources issues
• initiate, conduct, and disseminate research

CCCO members: Ontario associations, guilds and unions that represent cultural organizations or individuals.

CCCO would like to formalize our relationship with key organizations we serve in the cultural community. This will strengthen our advocacy and thereby maintain and improve our ability to support career development and address human resource issues. By becoming a CCCO member your organization will play a key role in our strategic planning and decision making and clearly demonstrate support for us in accessing funder support for programs and activities that benefit artists and other cultural workers. Click here for an application form.

We would like to thank and acknowledge our member organizations:

ACTRA Toronto

AARCO (Association of Artist Run Centres of Ontario)

Association of Canadian Publishers

Book and Periodical Council

Canadian Alliance of Dance Artists, Ontario Chapter

Canadian Dance Assembly

Canadian Music Centre

CCI - Ontario Presenting Network

Choirs Ontario

Creative Trust

Dance Umbrella of Ontario

Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario

Editors Association of Canada

Fusion: The Ontario Clay & Glass Association

Interactive Ontario

Magazines Canada

Ontario Association of Art Galleries

Ontario Museum Association

Opera.ca

Orchestras Canada

Organization of Book Publishers of Ontario

PACT (Professional Association of Canadian Theatres)

Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA)

Toronto Musicians' Association

WIFT (Women in Film and Televison) - Toronto

 

 

Advocacy

Cultural Careers Council Ontario (CCCO) is a voice for human resources issues for the cultural community, and advocates to all levels of government, educational institutions, and the media, as well as to cultural producers and employers in the sector. CCCO is an active partner in a national network of provincial and federal cultural sector councils.

CCCO is an active part of a national network of provincial and federal cultural sector councils. Ontario is the centre of Canada's cultural industry, and in addition to extensive cultural activity in this province, hosts a significant percentage of national activity in cultural fields.

CCCO works to increase awareness and understanding of the value of human resources practices, to benefit Ontario's entire cultural community - creators, interpreters, producers, administrators and facilitators alike.

Human Resources In The Cultural Sector

The cultural sector makes tremendous artistic, social and economic contributions to the province, and is a significant and growing part of Ontario's economy and labour market. Culture is a very labour-intensive sector, and a skilled, innovative and resilient workforce is critical for its continued growth and success.

Almost 300,000 people work in the cultural sector in Ontario. Cultural workers tend to be well-educated, mobile, and about 50% are self-employed. In addition to extensive self-employment, individuals and organizations working in culture face challenges that include financial marginalization, unpredictable career paths, uniquely specialized skills, and small staffs - which can lead to high turnover and burn-out that jeopardize the cultural sector's success.

There is ample evidence that sound human resources practices reduce stress, increase workplace fairness, and improve morale. In the cultural community, however, there is a lack of priority given to human resources, limited availability of relevant information and tools, and even a perception that human resources practices don't apply to work in culture.

It is widely recognized that inadequate human resources practices weaken the cultural sector. The professional development and human resources needs of the cultural sector are unique and diverse. Working in partnership with all disciplines in the sector, the CCCO assesses and anticipates human resources needs, and works to ensure that those needs are met. In the last five years, including matching from partners in our community, CCCO has initiated activities of over $8 million in value that address capacity building, human resource needs, and support internships in which there have been over 160 participants.

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