The City of Toronto has launched the process of looking for somebody to buy or otherwise take over one or more of its three performing arts theatres.

The city issued a “request for expressions of interest” (REOI) for “innovative, creative, and sustainable options for the sale, lease, operation or other arrangement,” for the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts; the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts; and the Toronto Centre for the Arts.

Any submitted proposals can later serve as “pre-qualification” in a procurement process to finalize whatever arrangement comes out of the budget-tightening exercise.

Councillor Gary Crawford, chair of Mayor Rob Ford’s task force on arts and theatres, said people in Toronto’s arts communities should not be worried by the REOI.

His task force’s report, issued in January, says the city does have a role in operating performing arts theatres, specifically “a role in the production of not-for-profit theatre,” Crawford said. The theatres host both commercial and not-for-profit productions.

“Hopefully what we want to do is to ensure these theatres are strong and viable parts of arts and culture in our city,” Crawford said.

Residents subsidized the theatres to the tune of $4.2 million last year. City staff expecting sagging revenues will boost the shortfall to $5 million this year.

Information sessions and guided tours for people interested in the REOI are being held June 13, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Toronto Centre for the Arts; on June 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Sony Centre; and on that same day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Centre.