The gravy search moves to the Sony Centre and other city-owned theatres

The city has been working for months to off-load one or more of its three theatres—the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and the Toronto Centre for the Arts—because they cost taxpayers over $4 million a year. According to the Toronto Star, the city has now made a baby step forward by issuing a request for anyone interested in buying, leasing, operating or a (dubious-sounding) “other arrangement” to submit preliminary ideas. Painter, drummer and councillor Gary Crawford, who chairs Rob Ford’s task force on arts and theatres, says artists shouldn’t be concerned about the push for privatization as the city’s still trying to “ensure these theatres are strong and viable parts of arts and culture in our city.” Reassured? [Toronto Star]