Chair Anne Bertrand Announces the NBFA Is Embarking on a New Direction

June 22nd, 2009

Anne Bertrand, Chair of the New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts (NBFA), was on hand at the Delta Fredericton this morning to launch the Arts and Cultural Endowment Incentives Program for New Brunswick, as well as to announce the NBFA’s future course of actions, and to present the Foundation’s new visual identification and website.

While the NBFA has been, is, and will continue to promote good governance, organizational assessments, strategic planning and best administrative practices in all its dealings with artistic and cultural organizations, the NBFA is positioning fundraising at the core of its activities. “We want to foster a new climate of giving, one which will encourage private donors to contribute to the arts and culture to enable stable funding for not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations” said the Chair Anne Bertrand. A unique partnership between the NB Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport and the NBFA has allowed for this new initiative, the implementation of the Arts and Cultural Endowment Incentives Program for New Brunswick. The Incentive Program builds on the existing Canadian Heritage Endowment Incentive Program, by maximizing the benefits for New Brunswick's participating arts and cultural organizations. Although the Canadian Heritage Endowment Incentive Program was created some years ago, only a handful of arts organizations in the province has benefited from it, a situation the NBFA is helping to change.

The key feature of the Arts and Cultural Endowment Incentives Program for New Brunswick is to provide matching funds through the Department of Canadian Heritage for every dollar raised in private sector fundraising activities by the participating organizations themselves. The funds raised by an organization are matched in the first instance by the federal government and create an endowment fund in the organization’s name or are applied towards existing endowments. Additional funding through the New Brunswick Department of Wellness, Culture and Sport will result in having a portion of the funds matched a second time for a total of two dollars for every dollar raised by the participating organization. The program aims at strengthening the organizational effectiveness of arts and cultural organizations and building their capacity. The NBFA will manage these funds and the participating organizations will be the ultimate beneficiaries of the income generated from the NBFA's investments.

"Today, I'm asking all of you who call New Brunswick their home to share in the Foundation’s mission and to do as much as you can to encourage and promote arts and culture in our province, by contributing to the fundraising initiatives we and not-for-profit arts and cultural organizations will develop in the coming months so that the Foundation can establish their endowment funds," said the Chair. "Let's not make the financial support for the arts and culture in this province an option. Let's donate in small or large amounts, but let’s donate.”

The NBFA continues to invest to help build a healthy and dynamic infrastructure and to preserve a rich mix of artistic and cultural expression for New Brunswick. Over the last year, the NBFA has formed partnerships with the public and private sectors, and has developed a new website that will facilitate donations in support of the arts and culture in New Brunswick. A variety of options have been carefully tailored to best meet financial goals and philanthropic needs of various donors. Other options are being developed at the present time, and will be announced shortly. Given this new direction, the NBFA is always happy to welcome new ideas for its planning and invites people to share their comments and to participate enthusiastically in the Foundation’s mission to preserve and fund the arts and culture in our beautiful New Brunswick.

The NBFA is more active than ever in supporting the work of New Brunswick municipalities and arts and culture organizations. For the first time since the prize was created in 2002, this year's winning Municipality of the Arts of the Year will be given a unique gift, either a commissioned work by a well-known New Brunswick artist or an opportunity to host a New Brunswick artistic performance or cultural event, a value of up to $10,000.

In 2009, the NBFA will also award for the first time two new prizes: The Cultural Management Award and the Arts Partnership Award. Sponsored by private sector partners, these two new prizes of a value of $5,000 each will be awarded to a recipient who in turn will donate the funds to an arts and cultural organization of his/her choice.

As well in 2009, the NBFA will award the 8th TD Canada Trust Award for Arts Organization of the Year - an award which carries a value of $3,000. In addition, two scholarships in the amount of $1000 each will be awarded in the name of well-known New Brunswick artists Charlotte Glencross and Nel Oudemans.

A reminder to Individuals, groups or municipalities interested in applying for either one of these prizes to do so by June 29, 2009. Application forms are available from the Foundation office or its Website: www.nbfa-fanb.ca.

Established in 1992, the New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts is a public charitable foundation created to encourage and promote the artistic and cultural life of New Brunswick.