Spotlight on National Volunteer Week & Business Volunteers for the Arts
This week, Business & Arts NL joins organizations across the country as we raise our collective glasses to volunteers during National Volunteer Week (NVW).
These individuals who freely give of their time, talents and expertise in the service of others are the beating heart of so many organizations and communities, big and small. This year's NVW theme is "Volunteers Make Waves," which highlights the power, impact and importance of individual and collective volunteer efforts across Canada.
Here at Business & Arts NL, we're fortunate to have so many dedicated, caring and passionate volunteers who together, create ripples of change and ultimately, help strengthen the arts sector in Newfoundland and Labrador, one act of service at a time.
Through our Business Volunteers for the Arts (BVA) program, we've been able to match volunteers from the private and public sectors with local artists and arts organizations to help build a stronger and more resilient arts sector. These volunteers offer pro bono support in a variety of areas (including legal, accounting, human resources, marketing and communications, and governance) to help resolve issues or develop better business practices around everything from contract review and conflict resolution to budgeting, intellectual property and copyright, business incorporation, project management, and so much more.
Here's what a couple of local arts leaders who recently participated in the program had to say:
"Business & Arts NL was instrumental in helping us get set up as a non-for-profit organization. They connected us to advice on the process and to two excellent volunteers who ended up becoming board members. We had our articles of incorporation reviewed by a lawyer through the Business Volunteers for the Arts program and have received valuable feedback that we would not have been able to get on our own as a new start-up." -Florian Hoefner and Jim Vivian, artistic directors, Atlantic Jazz Nights
Florian Hoefner (left) and Jim Vivian.
This program is not only beneficial for those in the arts community. There are many reasons to sign up as a volunteer as well, including:
● Volunteers are involved in a rewarding community activity that enhances their professional and interpersonal skills, and develops their leadership skills.
● Volunteers gain new perspectives by working outside their field.
● Support for the arts enhances the quality of life in a community, a factor in attracting and retaining motivated employees.
Here's what one of our volunteers had to say:
"I'm very happy to participate as a volunteer. Artists and arts organizations are an incredibly important part of our province and I'm happy to share my expertise in order to help." - John Drover, Partner, Roebothan McKay Marshall
Since 2015, the BVA program has facilitated 105 matches, providing over $137,000 in expertise. We thank the Law Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador for providing financial assistance for this valuable program.
To all of those volunteers who have participated in our BVA program, as well as those who have generously contributed their time and skills to our other initiatives and programs, we say a big thank you. Together, we're truly making waves.
Ready to dive in and make a difference? Click here to learn more about our Business Volunteers for the Arts program and how to sign up as a volunteer, or how to submit a request for assistance as an artist or arts organization.