A new matching-funds incentive program to match the arts with business partners was launched in Weyburn on Thursday at the Allie Griffin Art Gallery, for the southeast district.
A new matching-funds incentive program to match the arts with business partners was launched in Weyburn on Thursday at the Allie Griffin Art Gallery, for the southeast district.
ArtsVest Saskatchewan has been or will be launched in 10 centres around the province, the first province-wide launching of this program in Canada.
It originated in Ontario as the creation of Business for the Arts, and will be funded in Saskatchewan by the federal department of Canadian Heritage, with support from SaskCulture Inc.
Speaking at the launch, Weyburn-Big Muddy MLA Dustin Duncan said ArtsVest will attempt to match about 120 community art organizations with some 260 business organizations, and will provide about $2 million over the next two years.
"We believe this is a program well-suited to our province's demographics. It's designed with smaller communities in mind, and it will be hosted by the sport, culture and recreation districts around the province," said Duncan.
ArtsVest was begun as a pilot program in Ontario in 2005, and recently was launched in Winnipeg and Calgary.
"The program strives to identify new business opportunities and develop new cultural partnerships," said Duncan, noting they can be in-kind matching contributions, or are actual sponsorship dollars.
"When you think about it, the opportunities are endless. It comes down to creativity," he said.
While now he serves as Environment minister, his former cabinet portfolio was Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, which oversees this program provincially.
"As a former minister, I was very excited when current minister Bill Hutchinson brought this item to cabinet, and when cabinet said yes," said Duncan.
The national director for Business for the Arts, the parent organization, Laura Adders, explained her group "is Canada's national association of business leaders who support the arts, with a board made up of national business leaders and philanthropists."
When the ArtsVest program began in Ontario, they were able to match up 502 businesses with 180 cultural organizations, and of those businesses, about 280 were first-time sponsors of the arts, said Adders, noting the Saskatchewan program was the first province-wide launch of the program in the country.
"We know we'll see great partnerships across the province," she said.
Helen Fornwald, chair of Southeast Connections for Culture, Sport and Recreation, noted as an organization they are committed to expanding the cultural base of the area.
"Culture is important to the continued quality of life, and culture builds our communities. We are pleased to be taking part in partnerships," said Fornwald, adding this program will give arts organizations "increased confidence" to approach the business sector for sponsorship funds.
Linda Mack, representing Enterprise Saskatchewan, commented, "Saskatchewan has a history of producing extraordinary talent."
She said in this day and age, an artist must learn to be a business person as well as developing their talents.
"As a pilot program, ArtsVest has proven very successful in Ontario. Preliminary discussions with municipalities and the private sector have resulted in direct support for the arts in the province."
She added that "artistic talent is not enough" today, as artists must learn how to market themselves today to get their work out in the public eye, and added, "Saskatchewan does have talent, no doubt about it."
"We want to continue to cultivate a successful arts sector here in Saskatchewan," said Mack.
When an artist or artistic organization has a project or event they need funding for, they send in a proposal to ArtsVest, which provides the organizations with training in corporate sponsorship development, including fund development, proposal writing, pitching and stewardship of sponsor relationships.
Groups then have a period of time to raise sponsorships from the private sector, and upon completion of the program, they receive a grant from ArtsVest which matches the amount of the sponsorship.
