Music

A task force of leaders representing arts, heritage and creative industries was formed to develop a co-ordinated sector strategy, titled The Creative Advantage: A Transformational Action Plan.

Local government | June 24, 2026

Today, the City of Mississauga announced The Creative Advantage: A Transformational Action Plan for Mississauga’s Cultural and Creative Sector, a co-ordinated roadmap to strengthen, sustain and grow the City’s arts, heritage and creative industries. The plan was adopted by City Council following five months of engagement with the Mayor’s Arts and Museums Task Force.Developed by Mayor Carolyn Parrish in December 2025 and led by Ward 1 Councillor and Chair of the Task Force Stephen Dasko, with support from Deputy Mayor and Ward 4 Councillor John Kovac and Ward 3 Councillor Chris Fonseca, the Mayor’s Arts and Museums Task Force brought together 11 sector leaders across the arts, heritage and creative industries alongside City staff. Members identified the key barriers, opportunities and priorities facing the sector.

What the City heard

Through the engagement process, the Task Force identified six areas of need:

• Greater access to cultural spaces.
• Better opportunities for local artists and groups.
• More cultural, creative events and programs.
• Simpler processes for creative activations.
• Collaborative marketing partnerships with the City.
• Enhanced engagement, networking and information sharing.

A shared way of working

The sector strategy combines Task Force recommendations with a decade of City cultural strategy and policy work into 30 actions under five priorities:

1. Share the stories of the lands and people of Mississauga.
2. Optimize City systems and processes.
3. Build a sustainable creative economy.
4. Protect and create cultural spaces.
5. Elevate Mississauga as a significant cultural and tourism destination.

A corporate report highlights how implementation will require cross-departmental alignment, external partnerships and sustained investment, alongside provincial and federal support.

Next steps include supporting local arts and culture organizations, unlocking new spaces for creative activity and aligning funding for future sector growth.

The City is currently advancing related initiatives, such as the creation of a state-of-the-art music hub in the downtown and process improvements for supporting community-led creative projects.

For more information, view the corporate report.

Quotes

“Mississauga is focused on ensuring everyone has the opportunity to take part and contribute to Mississauga’s cultural life. Over the past several months, the Mayor’s Arts and Museums Task Force brought together members of our cultural and creative community, Members of Council, and City staff for meaningful discussions. I am very happy to share that we have developed a common vision and clear priorities to guide Mississauga’s cultural future, shaped by the perspectives of a wide range of voices across our dynamic city.” – Mayor Carolyn Parrish

“As Chair of the Mayor’s Arts and Museums Task Force, I am proud of the work undertaken to identify the key barriers, opportunities and priorities facing Mississauga’s culture and creative sector. This work will help strengthen our ability to shape the city’s growth, while ensuring it remains sustainable and inclusive, honouring our past, celebrating our present and boldly inspiring our future.” – Stephen Dasko, Ward 1 Councillor and Chair of the Mayor’s Arts and Museums Task Force