Spotlight on "Empower the Arts"
Great art doesn't just entertain; it creates unique and interesting communities in which to live and work, while helping attract talent and visitors; helps challenge and change perceptions and perspectives; stimulates the creative economy; engages and connects diverse communities, bringing us closer together; and enriches our lives in so many other ways.
From page to stage to screen to canvas, great art doesn't just materialize. It takes skill, dedication, passion and countless hours of honing techniques, refining, experimenting and refining again until you get it just right. It involves lots of practical knowledge and skill too, in marketing and promotion, project management, budgeting and financial planning, and much more.
Regardless of the form, making art is serious business. That's why we're proud to help artists build their skills through our Business Workshops for Artists (BWA) program.
Since 2017, we've helped over 2,100 artists gain the skills, tools and knowledge they need to run successful, arts-based businesses through over 85 workshops led by more than 110 community presenters. These workshops (which run the gamut of topics, including contract essentials, tax preparation, grant writing, and financial planning and bookkeeping, to name a few) offer essential resources and professional development so artists can thrive in their careers and continue producing work that enriches and contributes to their communities. And they're making a big impact.
We surveyed workshop attendees and 95 per cent reported they found our sessions "very helpful." Here's what a couple of them had to say:
"This financial planning and bookkeeping workshop was SO good. Super helpful, clear, easy to understand but so detailed and always applicable to artists and sole proprietors. And super respectful of every question anyone asked...just wanted to say, I really appreciated it!" -Lauren Smee, Financial Literacy workshop attendee
"I have attended a number of workshops offered by Business & Arts NL, most recently Budgeting & Financial Planning for Self-Employed Artists. The benefits of these workshops are immeasurable; the outside expertise provided in areas that as an artist, I do not have, is top notch and would be unaffordable on my own. The resources made available are very beneficial and have helped me to better manage being a professional artist. I am very grateful for the opportunities and information that I have gained from the efforts of this fabulous organization!" -Dana M, workshop attendee
We're grateful to have the support of so many wonderful folks in the community, who present these workshops and generously share their time, knowledge and expertise with local artists and arts organizations.
In 2021, we created our charitable sister organization, Engaging Community and Arts NL (ECANL), to support artists and arts organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador through initiatives like the BWA program. Your donations have already made a tremendous impact.
Your help allows us to deliver more of this essential support. By empowering artists with the foundational business skills they need to flourish, together, we're building a thriving cultural sector that uplifts us all.
Whether it's through a monthly donation, a one-time gift, or by becoming a member of Business & Arts NL, joining our mailing list (click here to sign up for our "Opportunities for Business Newsletter," or click here to sign up for our "Opportunities for Artists Newsletter") or signing up to be a volunteer, your support will make a lasting difference and help create a brighter future in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Click here to learn more about how you can empower the arts today.