The NB Foundation for the Arts Celebrates the Donors and Participants in the Arts and Heritage Stabilization Program

March 29th, 2011

Fredericton, New Brunswick

The Chair of the NB Foundation for the Arts, Ms. Indu Varma, Chair of the NB Foundation for the Arts (NBFA), is pleased to announce the outcomes of the Arts and Heritage Stabilization Program: A partnership between the Government of Canada, the Government of New Brunswick and the private sector.

Over the last four years, the Arts and Heritage Stabilization Program has provided assistance to organizations through the provision of organizational assessment and planning, technical assistance, and financial awards.

“Although the Board of Directors was informed of the progress of the organizations quarterly, no results were as striking as the ones they were made aware of once the collective results were compiled at the end of the program,” said Chair Indu Varma. “Only then were we able to assess the full measure of the work these organizations have done to reach the level of success they have achieved. It is impressive and commendable.”

The final compilation of results indicates that organizations over the course of the program have expanded their audiences by an average of 69%. They have recruited a total of 285 more volunteers in the community, and they have increased the number of their individual donors in a given year by an average of 75% while their corporate donations rose on average by 65% in the total annual value. Organizations have also increased their visibility of their artistic and cultural mission through a number of different means such as social media, website design, new promotional material and public perceptions research to name a few.

The actions taken by these organizations during the Stabilization Program helped to strengthen their financial position. The final analysis of the results shows that most organizations have realized an increase in liquidity and are projecting further increases in the future. The organizations have increased their net income by over 300% during the course of the program. In aggregate their increase amounts to an annual revenue improvement of $970,362 during the program. Finally, collectively, arts and heritage organizations in the Stabilization Program have secured a total of $1,726,979 in new endowments over the course of the program.

These outcomes clearly indicate that the dedicated work of the participants, along with the contributions of the funders and partners, have resulted in significant improvements in the stability and overall successful operation of the participating organizations. This will undoubtedly affect their long term viability and that of the provincial arts and culture sector as a whole.

The Stabilization Program was implemented province-wide, with intakes in 2006 and 2008. The final ten participants were a mix of small, medium and large organizations as defined by revenues. Organizations were required to adhere to specific reporting requirements in order to retain their participant status and assistance. Their progress was followed by the NBFA program consultant through written quarterly reports, as well as face-to-face meetings taking place at the second and fourth quarters. Finally, each organization was required to report on the extent to which they met the eight defined program objectives.

The Stabilization Program has thus been a very successful endeavour for the participants, made possible through a vital partnership with the federal and provincial governments, and an equally important collaboration with private and corporate sectors.

Participant Organizations in the Stabilization Program were:

  • Beaverbrook Art Gallery — Fredericton
  • Fredericton Arts and Learning — Fredericton
  • Frye Festival — Moncton
  • Gallery Connexion — Fredericton
  • NB Summer Music Festival — Fredericton
  • Symphony New Brunswick — Saint John
  • Theatre New Brunswick — Fredericton
  • Théâtre Populaire d’Acadie — Caraquet
  • York Sunbury Museum — Fredericton

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

-30-

Contact: Denise Violette, General Manager, 506-460-6600