ArtsVest has committed $12,000 to the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival in second year funding.
Although the festival has to match those funds through partnerships with business in order to claim the cash, Randy Goulden, executive director, says it is a welcome infusion that will make the festival better.
"We will be bringing in more programming; we will be bringing in more speakers," she said.
The festival has a year to come up with the matching funds. Goulden is confident local businesses will step up with sponsorships.
"I will be working very hard at it," she said. "I have been working very hard at it."
ArtsVest was created in 2002 by Business for the Arts, an association of business leaders who have supported the arts since 1974.
The program came to Saskatchewan last year with funding from Canadian Heritage and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport (MPCS) with support from SaskCulture.
"Year one was an incredible success, bringing in $1.17 million to Saskatchewan's cultural economy, and we will continue that by bringing in new and diverse organizations and businesses to participate in the program," said Kevin Dohery, MPCS minister. "One of the advantages of our growing province is the ability to fund cultural programs like artsVest. The best part about artsVest is that the arts and cultural organizations then partner with businesses to further grow Saskatchewan's economy."
Jim Fleck, a long-time businessman and supporter of the arts says it is in business people's best interest to support culture in their communities.
"The arts enrich our lives, feed our spirits, fuel inspiration, and stimulate dialogue and new ways of thinking and perceiving," he wrote. "Without arts and culture, our communities would lose all sense of vibrancy and pride of place among our citizens.
"Our economy would also suffer. Studies show that the arts help attract and retain talent to our workforce, stimulate tourism, and encourage creativity and innovative thinking. In essence, investing in the arts just makes good business sense."
