We’re looking for professionals within the music community to adjudicate submissions for 2025 and 2026 application-based programs.
January 6, 2025
As an adjudicator, you’ll help review and assess music applications and award opportunities. The role consists of a two-year commitment, paid per project.
To be eligible, applicants must be a current Mississauga resident practicing in the music industry with at least three years of industry experience.
Those interested can apply online until 11:59 p.m. by Sunday, January 26, 2025. To learn more, please visit the webpage.
Join the Port Credit BIA every Thursday evening in August for Councillor Dasko’s annual Classic Cars initiative.
This year the theme is Classic Country Thursdays!
Port Credit BIA has brought together two popular events for some amazing Summer vibes with Country Music and Classic Cars for the NEW Classic Country Thursdays.
Each Thursday evening in August from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., our community can enjoy live Country music, a DJ, line dancing, Country fare, games, and more!
Classic cars will return to the Port for the car afficionados and we have added a little Country back in the Port with special menu items at participating business as well as attractions that include a mechanical bull ride, Brampton Batman, and some furry surprises.
This weekly event will take place at the Elmwood lot at 3 Elmwood Avenue North and at participating businesses along Lakeshore from Hurontario to Seneca Ave.
See you there!
The policy is one of the first in Canada to set a minimum payment for musicians that perform at City-produced events and results directly from the City’s first Music Strategy: 2022-2026.
May 15, 2024
The policy is one of the first in Canada to set a minimum payment for musicians that perform at City-produced events and results directly from the City’s first Music Strategy: 2022-2026. The strategy identifies 32 actions over the next five years to support the growth and development of Mississauga’s music industry.
“Musicians are the foundation of a strong music economy and help contribute to our city’s lively music scene,” says Kristina Zietsma, Director, Culture and Recreation. “By setting these standards, Mississauga not only acknowledges the professional status of musicians, but also sets a precedent for other municipalities to follow. This policy aims to ensure that all performers are compensated fairly for their talents and efforts, fostering a more sustainable and vibrant cultural ecosystem for years to come.”
Noted in a corporate report, the policy applies to City-produced events where musicians are contracted by staff for live performances and outlines clear guidelines for equitable remuneration. It was developed in collaboration with the local music community and industry stakeholders, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of musicians’ needs. It also reflects a broader commitment to supporting the arts, recognizing the essential role that music plays in enriching the community’s cultural life. This transparent approach aims to eliminate ambiguity, ensuring that artists are compensated appropriately for their work.
Rates are based on a minimum scale set in the current Tariff of Fees by the Toronto Musicians’ Association, Local 149 (TMA) – the local union branch of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) for musicians in the Greater Toronto Area. The rates established by TMA 149 serve as the industry standard minimum payment rates for professional musicians.
The City’s Musician Fair Pay Policy will be posted in the coming weeks on the City’s website.
The 29th Mississauga Arts Awards (MARTYS) is taking place on June 26, 2024, and nominations are now OPEN!
Professional artists and groups who are either residents of the City of Mississauga, have a significant connection to Mississauga, or have made a major contribution to the arts within Mississauga are eligible to submit a nomination.
Nominations are due Monday, March 11, 2024 at 9:00 AM. Guidelines, criteria and nomination forms are located here: macarts.ca/martys
Today, February 14th, 2024, Mississauga City Council approved $4.7 million in grant funding to support various community and cultural groups, including live music presenters in Mississauga.
As a nod to the City’s 50th anniversary, this year’s theme is Celebrate 50. This theme is designed to help arts and culture groups celebrate Mississauga’s rich and diverse communities through their unique cultural practices. It encourages projects that share underrepresented stories and histories related to Mississauga, including those that emphasize Indigenous worldviews, creative and artistic methods and presentation practices.
2024 also marks the second year of the Live Music Grant pilot program, which supports for-profit concert presenters as a part of the City’s Music Strategy.
Community Grant Program
The Community Grant program assists Mississauga-based, not-for-profit community groups by providing multi-year, annual operating and project grants to improve the quality of life for residents. The grant program aligns with the strategic priorities of the Culture, Recreation, Parks and Forestry and Environment divisions.
Approved grants:
*Indicates multi-year funding
- Active Adult Centre Mississauga: $9,990
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel Inc.: $10,000
- Blooming Boulevards: $10,000
- Citizens for the Advancement of Community Development: $10,000
- Cruisers Sports for the Physically Disabled: $10,000
- Ecosource: $109,863*
- Erin Mills Youth Centre: $58,000*
- Global 180 Student Communications Inc.: $9,950
- Joshua Creek Church/Heart Comonos: $6,500
- Malton Black Development Association: $10,000
- MIAG Centre for Diverse Women & Families: $10,000
- Mississauga Girls Softball Association, Inc.: $7,500
- Mississauga Seniors Club Inc.: $6,000
- Mississauga Sports Council: $120,500*
- Mississauga Youth Action Committee: $2,990
- Ontario Schools Cricket Association: $10,000
- Our Place Peel: $10,000
- Pak Pioneers Community Organization of Canada: $9,950
- Port Credit Lawn Bowling Club: $10,000
- Safe City Mississauga: $224,127*
- Senior Tamils Society of Peel: $10,000
- Lady Ballers Camp: $6,000
- The Dam: $80,000*
- The Erin Mills Farmers Market: $10,000
- The Riverwood Conservancy: $369,859*
- Volunteer MBC: $40,000*
Arts and Culture Grant Program
Grant funding for this program supports emerging and established, not-for-profit, professional and community-based arts, culture, and heritage organizations in Mississauga. The grant supports the development of exemplary arts and culture programs and services that improve participation, knowledge, understanding and an appreciation of arts, culture and heritage for residents of Mississauga.
Approved grants:
*Indicates multi-year funding
- Art Gallery of Mississauga: $350,000*
- Arts on the Credit Mississauga: $15,000
- Canadian Arabic Orchestra: $100,000
- Chamber Music Society Mississauga: $100,000
- Crane Creations Theatre Company: $100,000
- CreativeHub 1352: $75,000
- Eagle Spirits of the Great Waters: $19,999
- Fashion Circuit Series: $17,000
- Frog in Hand: $100,000
- Heritage Mississauga: $297,000*
- Hispanic Canadian Arts and Culture Association: $19,500
- Meadowvale Music Theatre: $10,000
- Mississauga Arts Council: $360,000*
- Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble: $2,975
- Mississauga Children’s Choir: $39,000
- Mississauga Chinese Arts Organization: $22,500
- Mississauga Choral Society: $62,000
- Mississauga Festival Choir: $36,000
- Mississauga Festival Youth Choir: $18,250
- Mississauga Music: $19,999
- Mississauga Potters Guild: $19,500
- Mississauga Theatre Alliance: $10,000
- NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir: $5,000
- Orchestras Mississauga: $200,000*
- Sampradaya Dance Creations: $160,000*
- Sawitri Theatre Group: $108,000
- Streetsville Historical Society: $4,800
- Theatre Unlimited: $19,999
- Visual Arts Mississauga: $225,000*
- Youth Troopers for Global Awareness: $35,000
Cultural Festivals and Celebrations Grants
The Cultural Festivals and Celebrations grant program provides funding to offset expenses associated with providing a clean and safe venue for the presentation of arts, heritage and cultural festivals and celebrations to residents and visitors. This grant supports a range of events that reflect the City’s many cultural traditions.
Approved grants:
*Indicates multi-year funding
- Bollywood Monster Mashup: $120,000*
- Carassauga Festival: $120,000*
- International Film Festival of South Asia Toronto: $15,000
- Mississauga Italfest: $45,000
- Malton Celebrates Canada Day: $24,000
- Mississauga Latin Festival: $19,500
- Mississauga Polish Days: $19,999
- Mosaic Festival: $105,000
- Muslimfest: $50,000
- Paint the Town Red: $105,000
- Philippine Festival Mississauga: $19,999
- Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival: $120,000*
- Streetsville Bread and Honey Festival: $100,000
- Streetsville Christmas in the Village: $15,000
- Mississauga World Music Festival: $15,000
- Portugalo Fest: $9,750
Culture Project Grants
The 2024 Culture Projects Grant program aims to support arts and culture initiatives highlighting the City’s 50th anniversary. With the focus this year on “Celebrate 50”, the theme helps arts and culture groups celebrate and recognize the origins, transformations and potential of the City’s rich and diverse communities through their unique cultural practices and encourages projects that share underrepresented stories and histories related to Mississauga.
Approved grants:
- Blackwood Gallery: $5,000
- Canadian Arabic Orchestra: $5,000
- Frog in Hand: $5,000
- Mississauga Music: $5,000
- Kaleidoscope Chinese Performing Arts Society: $5,000
- Crane Creations Theatre Company: $5,000
- Arts on the Credit: $3,500
- MonstrARTity Creative Community: $5,000
- SAWITRI Theatre Group: $5,000
- Streetsville BIA: $2,500
- NeoVoce Philharmonic Choir: $5,000
Live Music Grant Pilot Program
The Live Music Grant Pilot Program is a two-year pilot intended to increase the number and frequency of live music events in Mississauga. 2024 marks the second year of the program. The grant will provide $45,000 per year for a maximum of $90,000 in total funding over the two years. This grant stream is the first City Culture Grant open to for-profit businesses with the potential to increase tourism and cultural growth.
Approved grants:
- BluPrint/Bluprint Concert 2024: $2,500
- Celestial Music Ras Penco & Friends in Concert: $2,000
- Friends in Arts/Friends in Arts live concerts: $2,500
- Aim Nation/History of our Music: $2,500
- Majd Sekker Sextet band/From Upherate to the Credit: $1,000
- Headway Music/2024 Open Mic Series at Cuchulainn’s: $2,500
- The Academy The Hustle Mississauga Edition: $2,500
- Let’s Make Good Productions/Arlene & The People EP Release: $2,500
- Sounds from Damascus/Sounds from Damascus DNA: $2,500
- 40oz Heroes/RIVER MOUTH II: $2,500
- The Savoy Band/Two Nights of Dancing and Live Jazz Music: $2,500
- Deep Ganguly/MYBANSURI MUSICAL EVENTS: $2,250
- antiskeptic entertainment/illScarlett returns to Mississauga!: $2,500
- Ebony Ivy Corp OOH LA LA Showcase: $750
For more information about the City’s grant programs, visit the webpage.
About the City’s 50th anniversary
In 2024, the City of Mississauga celebrates its 50th anniversary. This anniversary marks the City of Mississauga’s incorporation in 1974. A part of the Treaty and Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, the Huron-Wendat and Wyandot Nations, Mississauga is one of Canada’s largest and most diverse cities.
The City of Mississauga and Visit Mississauga are pleased to share that Folk Music Ontario has selected Mississauga as the host city for its 2024 conference and awards from October 3 to 6, 2024.
“We are excited to welcome Folk Music Ontario to Mississauga this year,” said Acting Mayor Joe Horneck. “As 2023’s Music City of the Year, our lively music scene is thriving and draws many talented artists from across the country. We look forward to spotlighting Ontario’s folk music talent and inviting them to our vibrant city this fall.”
The Folk Music Ontario Conference is the largest gathering of Canada’s folk music industry. Folk Music Ontario has partnered with Visit Mississauga to host a weekend of professional development, networking, live music and awards in venues around the downtown, including the Living Arts Centre.
“We’re delighted that Mississauga was selected to host this year’s conference and awards. It showcases our live music venues and aligns with the City’s Music Strategy,” said Victoria Clarke, CEO, Visit Mississauga. “Kudos to our team for securing this event and thank you to Folk Music Ontario for partnering with us. We look forward to amplifying Mississauga’s talented music scene to celebrate and support our local artists with these type of event opportunities.”
Last year, Mississauga was named the 2023 Music City of the Year and was recognized for its efforts in establishing a Music Strategy with a goal of positioning the city as an incubator for top musical talent and a national destination for live music events and festivals.
For more information about the 2024 Folk Music Ontario Conference, visit the website.
About the City’s Music Strategy
In 2022, the City announced its first Music Strategy: 2022-2026, which identifies 32 actions over the next five years to support the growth and development of Mississauga’s music industry. It focuses on four guiding principles, which include amplifying Mississauga’s artists, creating a favourable environment for live music, supporting underrepresented people and groups, and celebrating Mississauga’s history and success.
About Visit Mississauga
Visit Mississauga, is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for the City of Mississauga. The organization is industry-led and responsible for developing a tourism strategy and leading tourism marketing and development efforts for a destination. The organization’s mandate of implementing the City of Mississauga’s Tourism Master Plan Tourism Mississauga is committed to promoting local businesses and bringing large scale events and attracting visitors to the City. To learn more about Visit Mississauga or check out other exciting events coming to Mississauga, go to visitmississauga.ca.
About Folk Music Ontario
For more than 36 years, the Folk Music Ontario Conference has been the premier Canadian gathering for connecting folk music professionals. With its unwavering commitment to nurturing the growth and development of the folk music sector, the conference offers a melodic blend of professional development, showcasing, and unparalleled networking opportunities for artists and music industry professionals.
