NBFA Welcomes New Board Chair and Members

September 25th, 2010

For Immediate Distribution

Fredericton, New Brunswick

The New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts (NBFA) today announced that it has elected three new members to its board of directors and has appointed Ms. Indu Varma as its new chair, effective September 1, 2010.

Ms. Varma brings extensive knowledge in governance and arts to her role as NBFA Board Chair. Currently pursuing studies in arts at UdeM, she has worked in the teaching profession for thirty-seven years, with the last two years as president of the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association.

Ms. Varma is succeeding Anne E. Bertrand as NBFA Board Chair, who will remain as past-chair and Advisor to the Board.

"Serving as Chair has been a privilege and an enormously enriching personal experience," said Ms. Bertrand. "However, the demands of my other commitments at this time made me decide to step down, while looking forward to continuing to be involved on the Board."

"I am profoundly honored to help direct an organization with such a promising future," said Ms. Varma. She added, "I'm enormously grateful to Ms. Bertrand for her contributions and dedication to NBFA, and we thank her deeply for her outstanding work as Board Chair."

NBFA also welcomes the following new members to the Board: Jacques Laprise, Executive Director, Labour Market and Social Development Programs (Service Canada), Atlantic region; Sara Sparks, Artist, Owner and operator, Gillmor’s Coach House Gallery, St. George; and Joan Chandra, Finance Manager, New Maryland Village, who will take over as NBFA Secretary-Treasurer.

About NBFA

NBFA is a public, registered non-profit organization with the mission to raise, establish and manage funds that will be used to foster, promote, and sustain the long-term growth of New Brunswick’s cultural and artistic life. It was founded in 1992 and during the last decade, NBFA has managed the Arts and Heritage Stabilization Program for New Brunswick. It continues to manage the Arts and Cultural Endowment Fund Incentives Program for New Brunswick, the NBFA Prizes and Awards, the Nel Oudemans Scholarship Fund and the Charlotte Glencross Scholarship Fund.

In May 2010, the NBFA launched the Art Bond Project, a new and innovative way to support arts and culture in New Brunswick. Individuals and organizations are invited to join NBFA’s initiative by purchasing Art Bonds, each valued at $250. The NBFA’s goal is to sell 5,000 Bonds which will raise 1.25 million dollars. Of this total, 1 million dollars will be put into the Endowment Fund. Interest from the Endowment Fund will support arts and culture in New Brunswick year after year. Any funds raised above 1 million dollars will be distributed equitably throughout the province to immediately support arts and culture related initiatives.

For more information, visit www.nbfa-fanb.ca.