2022-23 Annual Report Highlights
The past year has been an eventual one for Business & Arts NL as we welcomed a dozen new members, launched four new programs, and connected artists to support and new opportunities, helping grow and strengthen the creative sector while building vibrant, creative and resilient communities. We’re pleased to share the highlights in our 2022-23 Annual Report (click here to view).
We were thrilled to work with Ray Agency for our “The Art of Going Out” campaign. Launched in September, the campaign partnered with 10 local arts organizations to encourage audiences to get out and engage with the arts through exciting live performances and experiences. The eye-catching campaign has continued to grab attention, with Ray Creative Agency and illustrator Mike Butler receiving an Applied Arts Award for Illustration this past March. (We’ll have more on the campaign’s artwork in an upcoming Spotlight.)
In September, we also wrapped up the second phase of our ArtSupportNL program, which provided arts organizations with training and coaching support from fund development professionals to help build their fundraising capacity. We’re happy to report that those organizations who completed the coaching and training collectively increased their fundraising revenues and number of donors by 28 per cent and 285 per cent respectively.
We were also proud to play a role in helping connect artists with opportunities within the community, including collaborations between St. John’s International Airport and artist Molly Margaret, Labrador Grenfell Health and artist Jessica Winters, and Horizon Maritime's Indigenous Artist Residency (a collaboration with OceanGate Expeditions, which saw artists Nelson White and Alex Antle create work aboard the 2022 Titanic Expedition). And we’re incredibly excited to have kicked off the Quidi Vidi Art Search, which will see new artworks placed around the historic village, commissioned by Quidi Vidi Artisan Studios, Mallard Cottage, Quidi Vidi Brewery, Quidi Vidi Wharf Association, and the City of St. John's. (Keep your eyes peeled for the unveiling event, taking place in May!)
Artist Molly Margaret with YYT CEO Dennis Hogan. Photo: Ritche Perez
Jessica Winters' mural in the Community Room at the Labrador Grenfell Health Centre in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.
Last year also saw us launch a browser-based version of our Explore Art NL public art app, which currently features 111 outdoor murals, sculptures, memorials and yarn-bombings across the province. And later this month, we’re releasing a series of curated tours within the app to help users gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the works.
Our #ComePlayWithMeNL Public Piano Program continues to hit a positive note and this summer, we celebrated the re-opening of all of our pianos (which were shuttered during the early days of the pandemic) with 11 pop-up concerts across the province.
Members of Silver Wolf Band perform at the Royal Inn + Suites piano at Goose Bay Airport.
We were also delighted to continue our Unlock Your Inner Creative series in March of 2022, featuring Newfoundland’s own Rick Mercer, who spoke with Taylor Young (CSO of CoLab) about risk, creativity, the relationship between those two elements, and more. We welcomed 140 attendees to the event, in person and online.
Photo: Ritche Perez
That’s just a small snapshot of a very busy and exciting year! To learn more about what we’ve been up to, please click here to read our Annual Report.
We thank all of our members, volunteers, supporters and partners within the community and around the province, and look forward to what we can accomplish together as the year goes on.