Spotlight on Business & Arts NL's 2023-2024 Annual Report

It's been a busy and inspiring year here at Business & Arts NL as we launched some exciting new programs, celebrated ongoing ones and welcomed a number of new members, followers and staff. We're proud to present it all in our latest Annual Report (click here to view the Business & Arts NL Annual Report for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year). 

This past December, we went public with our sister organization Engaging Community & Arts NL (ECANL), which supports our educational work, like Business Workshops for Artists (this year, we offered 11 workshops to 451 artists!), as well as some of our public events. We thank everyone who helped us to empower the arts by supporting our inaugural fundraising campaign.

"One of the most exciting new programming streams we added this year was the (Un)Common Threads series, featuring conversations about creativity in all its guises, and how to explore and harness creativity personally and professionally," notes Business & Arts NL's Executive Director, Amy Henderson.

"This program is going to be a big focus of the next year for us - keep your ears open for exciting announcements coming soon!"

(L-R): Jim Case, Ruth Lawrence, Wally Haas and facilitator Sarah Smellie chat during the (Un)Common Threads event at the Emera Innovation Exchange in St. John’s in October. Photo: Ritche Perez

This past spring, we also launched one of our biggest projects yet, the Quidi Vidi Art Search. Featuring work by local artists Vessela Brakalova, Robert Hengeveld, Ian Gillies, Marc Fiset, Julie Lewis and Kevin-Barry Martin, the project celebrates the past, present and future of the historic Quidi Vidi Village. We thank all the artists, business owners, community partners and funders who made this beautiful project possible. We're also proud to have launched EDI Moments, an initiative that harnesses the power of the arts to provide profound moments of reflection. The first part of this program featured 24 local artists in the creation of six original digital monologues that shone a light on unconscious bias.

Ian Gillies with his and Marc Fiset's sculpture "The Fishery" at The Wharf at Quidi Vidi. Photo: Ritche Perez

We were pleased to continue several beloved collaborations this past year, including our second Art Car partnership with Capital Auto Group, which featured the 2023 MINI Countryman wrapped with beautiful artwork by Marcus Gosse. This mobile piece of public art also helped promote our Explore Art NL public art app, which features over 100 outdoor murals, sculptures, memorials and yarn-bombings across the province. 

The 2023 MINI Countryman Art Car, featuring the artwork of Marcus Gosse. Photo: Matthew Myler, Capital Auto Group

Our 2023 Local Holiday Gift Guide was our biggest yet, featuring 90 artists and over 250 items across seven categories, with 1,700 customers browsing the guide. We're grateful to have so many talented local artists contribute to this annual initiative. 

This year, we're thrilled to ring in the 10th anniversary of our #ComePlayWithMeNL public piano program, which, since its inception in 2014, has seen 57 artists paint and play these instruments, in addition to hundreds of planned and impromptu performances. Keep your eyes (and ears) open for our upcoming #PermissionToPlay campaign!

Members of Silver Wolf Band perform at the Royal Inn + Suites public piano at Goose Bay Airport.

"Compiling the Annual Report each year has become a satisfying exercise for the team. We get so tied up in the day-to-day tasks of our jobs that it's refreshing and encouraging to take a step back, look at all that has happened in the last year, and see what an impact we're making. All of the accomplishments listed here have been driven by our wonderful team, most of whom also have busy careers as professional artists," Henderson says.

"None of this would happen without the support of our members, funders, and board members. It takes a village, and we have a large, dedicated, creative one!"

To learn more about what we've been up to this past year, click here to check out our Annual Report (scroll down until you see the "Annual Reports" heading).