The B.C. government is investing $300,000 over two years in artsVest, a non-profit program helping small and mid-sized arts organizations help themselves through effective private sector fundraising, Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes said today.

Organized by Toronto-based Business for the Arts (BftA), Canada's only national association of business leaders in support of the arts, artsVest provides training workshops and incentive funds. Workshops teach relationship-building and fundraising with the private sector. Incentive funds match money raised by participating arts groups.

In 2012, BftA expanded artsVest across Canada, including a Vancouver launch last June, supported by $150,000 from the B.C. government and $200,000 from the Government of Canada. ArtsVest Vancouver proved very successful, with 48 arts and culture organizations sharing $275,000 in matching incentive grants.

This year, artsVest BC is expanding operations through workshops in Campbell River (June 1), Cranbrook (June 9), Greater Victoria (June 11), Kelowna (June 13) and Castlegar (June 22). Future workshops will also be delivered for First Nations arts and cultural groups on Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and in the Columbia Valley through the First Peoples' Cultural Council, a First Nations-run B.C. Crown Corporation.

ArtsVest BC partners contribute to incentive funds and help cover program costs. In addition to B.C. government support, the program is receiving:

• $500,000 from the Government of Canada over the next two fiscal years.
• $50,000 from the City of Kelowna.
• $50,000 from TELUS.
• $30,000 from the Columbia Basin Trust.
• $20,000 from the Capital Regional District.

Since starting in Ontario in 2002, artsVest has dispersed approximately $1.7 million in grants to over 600 arts, cultural and heritage organizations in Canada. Nearly 1,000 Canadian businesses have supported the program. Currently, artsVest operates in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Quotes:

Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Coralee Oakes -

"ArtsVest offers an outstanding opportunity, particularly for small and medium-scale arts organizations striving to make the most from limited resources. As a successful self-help approach to sustainability, artsVest creates important benefits for the arts community, including stronger finances and closer connections to local business."

"The B.C. government proudly supports artsVest because the program works. With artsVest, everybody wins - arts and culture, businesses, communities and British Columbians."

The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Member of Parliament (Port Moody - Westwood - Port Coquitlam) and Minister Responsible for British Columbia -

"Our Government is committed to building a country in which all citizens have the chance to participate in our cultural and economic life. We are proud to support artsVest and appreciate how the work of this important organization contributes to this goal. ArtsVest's continued leadership and further expansion into British Columbia is one of the best ways to help and support Canada's remarkably strong and diverse creative economy."

Nichole Anderson, CEO, Business for the Arts -

"We are excited to bring together local businesses and arts and cultural organizations in B.C. to build long-term partnerships that will benefit from the local creative economy. By giving arts and cultural organizations the training and tools they need to forge rewarding sponsorships with the business sector, artsVest offers an incredible opportunity for participants to strengthen and grow their foothold in the community."

Sandra Kochan, cultural services manager, Recreation & Cultural Services, City of Kelowna -

"Cultural organizations are an integral part of our community. The City of Kelowna sees great potential in artsVest to build meaningful sponsorship relationships between the business community and the cultural sector."

"The City's investment in artsVest is motivated by this potential. It's an exciting time for arts and culture in the Central Okanagan and the City of Kelowna is grateful for the support provided by its funding partners to enable the expansion of artsVest."

Jill Schnarr, vice-president, Community Affairs, TELUS -

"Our TELUS team is committed to assisting the communities where we live, work and serve to be healthy, sustainable and ready for the future. That means championing organizations that make our communities vibrant and caring, such as artsVest, as they endeavour to expand local arts and culture initiatives through the support and sponsorship of local businesses."

"Together with artsVest, we are inspiring creativity and achievement by helping create opportunities for British Columbians to experience the arts."

Neil Muth, president and chief executive officer, Columbia Basin Trust -

"ArtsVest provides an opportunity for our local arts, culture and heritage organizations to learn how to approach and connect with businesses, and to establish and grow their funding relationships. This in turn strengthens the sector and contributes to the diversity and well-being of the Columbia Basin region."

David Screech, Town of View Royal councillor and chair, CRD Arts Committee -

"On behalf of the eight CRD municipalities that provide regional support for arts organizations, I'm extremely pleased to be engaged in this partnership with Business for the Arts. We see this as an important opportunity for smaller and medium-sized arts organizations to enhance their internal capacity and build meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with community-minded businesses."

Quick Facts:

• Nationally, between April 1, 2011, and Sept. 30, 2012, 123 arts, cultural and heritage organizations received artsVest matching grants worth $840,189, forging partnerships with 461 businesses that raised $1,918,589 in new private-sector funding and added a total influx of $2,758,778 to Canada's cultural economy.
• In 2013-14, the B.C. government increased funding for arts and culture to over $60 million - about $7 million higher than last year.
• Since 2001, the B.C. government has provided more than $2.6 billion in support for arts and culture in British Columbia, including the screen-based entertainment industry.

Learn More:

Check out the provincial government's role in supporting sport, arts and culture through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development at: http://www.gov.bc.ca/cscd

For more information about Business for the Arts, visit: www.businessforthearts.org

The Government of Canada has provided funding for artsVest through the Strategic Initiatives component of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

For more information, visit:http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1268609659093/1268917925906

Contacts:

Gillian Rhodes
Communications Manager
Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 888-1462 (cell)

Christine Amendola
Marketing and Communications Manager
Business for the Arts
c_amendola@businessforthearts.org
416 869-3016 ext. 230

Kathleen Speakman
Program Manager
artsVest BC
k_speakman@businessforthearts.org
604 910 2468

Media Relations
Department of Canadian Heritage
media@pch.gc.ca
819 994-9101
1 866 569-6155

James Lam, Manager
Arts Development Service
Capital Regional District
jlam@crd.bc.ca
250 360-3205

Sandra Kochan
Cultural Services Manager
City of Kelowna
skochan@kelowna.ca
250 469-8935

Rachel Lucas
Communications Manager
Columbia Basin Trust
rlucas@cbt.org
250 426-1103

Tom Wilson
Communications Supervisor
City of Kelowna
twilson@kelowna.ca
250 469-8663