Ontario Boosting Arts and Culture in Windsor
July 4, 2025
New $7,500 Investment Will Support Jobs and Maximize the Impact of the Local Arts and Culture Sector
WINDSOR – The Ontario government is investing $7,500 to support good jobs, empower local artists, and help community arts and culture organizations thrive in Windsor.
Stone & Sky will receive $7,500 through the Ontario Arts Council, an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. The announcement was made by Andrew Dowie, MPP for Windsor–Tecumseh.
“The Stone and Sky Music & Arts Series perfectly showcases how music, live performance, and the natural beauty of Pelee Island can come together to create a truly unique cultural experience,” said Andrew Dowie, Member of Provincial Parliament for Windsor–Tecumseh. “Support from the Ontario Arts Council ensures that artists can continue to inspire audiences, draw visitors to the island, and strengthen both the cultural fabric and economic vitality of our region.”
The Ontario Arts Presenters Projects program is designed to maximize the positive impact of Ontario’s cultural sector in communities across the province. The program aims to develop audiences for the arts in Ontario regions outside of Toronto. It supports Ontario-based presenter organizations, ad hoc groups and collectives led by volunteer community members, as well as municipalities, colleges, and universities to present professional artists in all Ontario Arts Council (OAC)-funded disciplines, and to offer associated audience engagement activities.
“Investing in the arts means investing in vibrant, connected communities,” said MPP Trevor Jones, Chatham-Kent-Leamington. “This funding will help Stone & Sky continue to showcase incredible talent, grow local audiences, and make Pelee Island a true cultural destination in Ontario.”
This funding will support the continued growth of the Stone & Sky Music & Arts Series, an initiative active on Pelee Island since 2012, by helping establish an accessible, three-season outdoor cultural hub. Through live, multidisciplinary performances and artist residencies in private, dignified accommodations, Stone & Sky fosters a safe and sustainable space for creative expression, audience engagement, and cross-genre collaboration.
The program is part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by supporting workers, businesses, communities and jobs amid ongoing economic uncertainty, while creating a solid foundation for a strong, resilient, and competitive future.
“Ontario’s arts and culture organizations enrich our lives and boost economic activity,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “Now more than ever, it is crucial we support made-in-Ontario experiences that build stronger communities, strengthen local economies and celebrate our shared heritage. Our government is thrilled to provide Stone & Sky with the funding it needs to continue its great work in Windsor–Essex complementing the creative endeavours of other arts organizations across the province.”
“The Ontario Arts Council, Ontario Arts Presentation Funds helps Stone & Sky to pay local professional artists a dignified and competitive engagement fee, that the incredible artists we are so lucky to have in our community so richly deserve,” said Stone & Sky Artistic Director Patricia Fell.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is investing in 34 arts organizations through the Ontario Arts Presenters Projects program.
- The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. It provides grants to Ontario-based individual artists and arts professionals, ad hoc groups, collectives and organizations, supporting a range of arts activities and disciplines.
- In 2023-24, OAC invested $53 million in 219 communities, in all 124 Ontario ridings through 2,133 grants to individual artists and 1,038 grants to organizations.
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