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2015-16 artsVest™ Application Form for Ontario Municipalities
Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Friday, May 1st, 2015 by email to .
Business for the Arts is bringing matching funds to between 2-4 Ontario municipalities with cultural planning initiatives through our flagship artsVest program.
Now in its tenth year, the artsVest Ontario program stimulates private sector investment in the arts by providing sponsorship training and mentorship to local arts and culture organizations combined with matching fund incentives. The program builds partnerships between the public, private and cultural sectors in your community. Apply today!
Table of Contents
Program Description, Criteria & How to Apply ------1-4
Application Form ------5-8
Application Checklist ------9
What is artsVest?
artsVest™ is Business for the Arts‘ signature matching incentive and sponsorship training program, designed to spark new business sponsorship of arts and culture and to build capacity in Canada’s cultural sector. artsVest provides small- to mid-sized arts and culture organizations with the expertise and tools needed to develop sponsorship opportunities with local business, through in-depth sponsorship training and mentorship, matching incentive funds and community networking events.
How does artsVest work?
Business for the Arts will bring matching incentive funds to successful municipal applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to fostering arts and culture in their municipalities by way of a municipal cultural plan. The matching funds range from $15,000 to $50,000 for successful municipalities.
The matching funds flow entirely to the local arts and heritage organizations participating in the program and are used as incentives for local businesses to sponsor the arts, knowing that their contribution will be doubled. Arts and heritage organizations are each eligible for matching funds up to $5,000. In-depth sponsorship training is also delivered to arts and heritage organizations, both live and through new sponsorship web tutorials. In addition to this, the mentorship component will provide organizations with regular group, peer and one-on-one mentoring sessions with experts from across Canada throughout the one year program. These mentors who will provide support and guidance on board governance and corporate sponsorship. All of these program components ensure that lasting networks and partnerships are formed across the public, private and arts sectors.
Program Results
Since 2011 to 2014, a total of 564partnerships have been created between arts and business in Ontario, of which 417 are long-term.Since the introduction of the program in Ontario in 2002 to 2014, 1,042 businesses have partnered with 321 cultural organizations, of which 709 businesses were first-time sponsors.Matching funds of more than $1.54 million generated over $3.07 million in private sector sponsorship and resulted in an influx of $4.61 million to the cultural economy.
Program Priorities
· To activate municipal cultural planning initiatives;
· To use sponsorship training and mentorship to build capacity within local arts organizations that will help them secure private sector investment and develop diverse and sustainable revenue streams;
· To use matching funds as an incentive for new and innovative business sponsorship of the arts;
· To build partnerships between the public, private and arts sectors that focus on the impact and future of private sector support of the arts at a local level.
How can artsVest impact your municipality?
The artsVest program helps spark funding partnerships between the arts and business community, while leveraging the efforts of municipal leadership to activate their municipal cultural plans. As a result, the whole community is bolstered by the increased investment in the creative economy. Arts and heritage organizations increase capacity and acquire the skills and confidence to seek out private funding, while local businesses better appreciate the value of investing in the arts as well as the economic benefit, including new markets, employee engagement, etc. Business for the Arts has a proven track record of demonstrating that if your municipality is selected to participate, artsVest will have a strong and lasting impact on its cultural economy.
Eligibility for Ontario Municipalities
Ontario municipalities which are in the process of developing or implementing municipal cultural planning processes are eligible to apply and must provide supporting documentation illustrating local support of the program.
Past artsVest municipalities which have not participated in artsVest Ontario 2013/14 or 2014/15 program cycles eligible to re-apply for the program.
How to Apply
To apply for artsVest Ontario 2015-16, please read the Program Criteria carefully and then complete the Application Form on pages 5-8 and provide necessary supplementary information. Please see page 9 for the complete application checklist.
Evaluation Process and Criteria
Applications are juried based on the presence and strength of cultural planning processes; the number, capacity and size of eligible local non-profit arts and heritage organizations; the strength of support from local municipal leadership and the strength of support from the Chamber of Commerce/BIA and business community.
Contribution of Your Municipality Throughout the artsVest Program
artVest is a partnership between Business for the Arts and participating municipalities. Your application to the program means agreement to the below responsibilities and, if selected, an obligation to play an active supporting role during the artsVest process, as outlined in the application on page 6-7.
The support of the business community is vital for the success of the artsVest program. The Chamber of Commerce/BIA (or equivalent) in the chosen communities must support the initiative, as outlined on page 6-7.
How will artsVest rollout in your community if selected?
The selected municipalities will be announced by mid-May 2015 and the program will run in these 2-4 communities from June 2015 to June 2016. Please see below for a program timeline.
artsVest Program Timeline
May 2015: 2015-16 artsVest Ontario municipalities are announced. Business for the Arts works with municipal leadership to plan the launch and roll-out of artsVest in the community.
June 22nd – 30th 2015: The artsVest program is launched in each community with speaking engagements by the Mayor, with municipal, business and arts leaders in attendance. Business for the Arts leads workshops for local arts organizations, covering the artsVest application process and best practices in sponsorship. Please keep one day during the weeks of June 22nd and 29th free for the full day workshop and launch.
July-August 2015: Arts and heritage organizations apply for artsVest matching funds by submitting an online application. If the application is successful, a pre-approved amount is reserved for them from the matching funds pot, which they must raise in sponsorship from the local business community. Our Program Co-ordinator is on hand to lend advice and support throughout the year, in addition to online tutorials and monthly mentor touch-points.
September 2015 – March 2016: Arts and heritage organizations have roughly six months to go into the community to secure business partnerships. They must complete & submit Sponsorship Confirmation Agreements signed by their business partner(s). Upon approval, a cheque is issued directly to the arts and heritage organization for the matching funds. Mentorship sessions take place during this 6-month period in group, peer, and one-on-one formats, and continue until June 2016.
June 2016: artsVest Wrap Celebrations are planned to engage the community, recognize the new partnerships that have been formed between the business and arts communities and to announce the local results of the artsVest program. Results will be announced with speaking invitations extended to the Mayor and municipal leadership, as well as representation from the BIA and/or Chamber of Commerce and local arts council.
2015-16 artsVest Application Form for Ontario Municipalities
Municipalities must meet the criteria described in the artsVest program description and email their application and supporting documents to Business for the Arts by Friday, May 1st, 2015. Please email or contact Claire Hefferon, National Program Director at 416-869-3016 x225 with any questions.
Municipality/Region:
Population:
Contact Name(must be authorized to represent the municipality):
Title:
Address:
Postal Code:
City: Province: Ontario
Email: Tel:
Number of local businesses: ______
Please attach a one page document which outlines the private sector climate in your community. This could include breakdown of small, medium and large businesses, industry makeup, giving structure or any anecdotal information which may be useful.
Number of local arts & culture organizations:
Please provide a comprehensive list of eligible local arts and heritage organizations with contact information – see page 7 for eligibility criteria.
Municipal Cultural Plan? (yes/no/in progress):
Please include a copy of your cultural plan; or an outline of where you are in the planning process.
Please check below to acknowledge that by submitting this application, the municipality agrees to the following:
artsVest Program:
☐ Designate a senior staff member or equivalent to act as the Local Community Liaison for Business for the Arts and to help with the roll-out of the program, including support in executing the following points:
· Help circulate information about the program and events to local arts, municipal and business communities;
· Offer continued support from the Mayor & public leadership, including speaking at the launch and wrap celebration;
· Engage and inform media on local artsVest events and milestones
· Provide AV/technical equipment, venue & catering for artsVest launch, sponsorship workshop & wrap celebration;
· Provide suggestions of local jurors to review pre-approval applications from arts and heritage organizations.
Mentorship Component of the Program
☐ To serve as the main contact for the mentoring program and to communicate organizations’ needs to the Mentorship Program Coordinator. It’s imperative that the Liaison be fully informed about the parameters of the mentoring program to effectively advocate on its behalf. It is recommended that the Liaison participate in mentoring sessions, but it is not required.
· Serve as main liaison between Business for the Arts and artsVest Ontario local community;
· Serve as main local community resource and contact for mentoring program;
· If needed, provide suggestions for potential mentors from the local community who would be a good fit for the volunteer role
· Assist with disseminating mentoring program schedule and timeline of activities to participants;
· Assist with disseminating pre-mentoring and post-mentoring surveys to participants;
· Assist with scheduling live peer to peer mentoring sessions and logistics;
· In collaboration with the National Program Director, Program Coordinator and local municipal representatives, coordinate mentorship events in the artsVest Ontario community;
· When possible, participate in training sessions;
· Attend specific program functions as needed;
· Assists with end-of-year evaluation;
· Assist the National Program Director in representing the program in the local community.
☐ Please check to acknowledge that by submitting this application, the Chamber of Commerce/BIA agrees to the following:
· Liaise with Business for the Arts to assist in finding the most appropriate business guests and panellists for the artsVest launch and workshops;
· Attend and speak at the artsVest launch and wrap events;
· Encourage membership to attend artsVest launch and circulate invitation and general information about artsVest to membership;
· Assist in finding appropriate speaking engagements for Business for the Arts representatives, to educate local businesses on the benefits of arts sponsorship;
· Assist in communication of boardLink local event at the Wrap Celebration, where we will invite the business community to network with their local arts community.
Signatories
Please include letters of support from the following signatories
Mayor Full Name:
Signature:
Tel: Email:
Director of Arts Council (or equivalent):
Signature:
Title:
Tel: Email:
President of Chamber of Commerce/BIA:
Signature;
Title:
Tel: Email:
Applications must be received by email by 5pm on Friday, May 1st, 2015 to with the subject line ‘Ontario Municipal Application’
Application Checklist
Each application to artsVest Ontario must include the following supporting documentation:
· A letter of support from the Mayor
· A letter of support from President of Chamber of Commerce OR BIA OR Equivalent
· A letter of support from Director of the Arts Council OR Culture Department OR Equivalent
· A copy of municipal cultural plan or outline of progress achieved towards developing a municipal cultural plan and future plans in this regard
· A one page document which outlines the private sector climate in your community. This could include breakdown of small, medium and large businesses, industry makeup, giving structure or any anecdotal information which may be useful.
· A comprehensive list of eligible local arts & culture organizations with contact information – see below for eligibility criteria:
o Must be located within your community and provide programming, products or services that are accessible to the public
o Must be an incorporated, not-for-profit and/or registered charitable arts and heritage organization for a minimum of two years and have a publicly accountable structure with an active Board of Directors
o Must be an organization with arts and heritage as its primary mandate and core activity, such as a performing or literary arts organization, museum, gallery or heritage institution
o Must be a stand-alone arts and heritage organization (cannot fall under the umbrella of a non-arts/heritage organization – i.e. the municipality, Tourism Alliance, etc)
o If the organization has been in existence for two years but has not been incorporated for a minimum of two years, they may apply under the umbrella of a local arts council (a maximum of 3 initiatives can come under the arts council)
o May be an independently operated not-for-profit arts school (music, visual arts, dance, theatre, film or media arts)
o Must be an organization with an operating budget of less than $1.5M for the last two years
Please email or contact Claire Hefferon, National Program Director at 416-869-3016 x225 with any questions.
Visit www.artsVest.com for more information and program history, results and impact
artsVest is run by Business for the Arts with the support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation and The Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
174 Avenue Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M5R 2J1
T: 416.869.3016 F: 416.869.0435 W: businessforthearts.org
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