Business Volunteers for the Arts
Join our database of professionals interested in helping artists and arts organizations in our province through pro bono services.
Program Overview
Business Volunteers for the Arts matches artists seeking one-off, short-term assistance with volunteers who want to share their time and skills to help the arts sector thrive. It’s a small commitment with a big impact.
When a request comes in from the arts community, the coordinator of this program will work with the artist to define the scope of the project. A potential match will be identified from the volunteer database, and the program coordinator will reach out to the volunteer to gauge availability and interest in the project. Once a project has been accepted by a volunteer, the volunteer and artist are required to work independently on a mutually agreed upon schedule, keeping the program coordinator informed of any victories and/or issues as they arise.
How it Works
● Complete the Volunteer Registration form below. Once you are added to the BVA database, we’ll contact you when a request comes in that might benefit from your skill set
● An artist or arts organization completes one of our intake forms for assistance with either Legal, Accounting, Marketing and Communications, Human Resources, or Other Skills categories.
● Our program coordinator reviews the requests and contacts volunteers from our database who could potentially be a good match.
● Once a volunteer accepts the match, our coordinator will connect you with the artist/arts organization directly.
● You meet (in person or remotely) to discuss the request for 1-2 hours max.
● If you hit it off and feel compelled to offer additional assistance, you can negotiate directly with the artist/arts organization.
● Our program coordinator will follow up with you and the artist to see how the match went and request feedback about the process/program.
Why Get Involved?
● Volunteers are involved in rewarding community activity that enhances their professional and interpersonal skills.
● Volunteers can develop leadership skills. Often they have a far greater scope in a volunteer position than in their workplace, especially if they are relatively junior.
● Volunteers gain new perspectives by working outside their field.
● Employee involvement builds recognition and goodwill for a company’s image in the community.
● Support for the arts enhances the quality of life in a community, a factor in attracting and retaining motivated employees.
FAQs
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Yes! Accepting a match is always at the volunteer’s discretion. If it isn’t a good time or fit, feel free to pass on the opportunity. We ask that you let us know as soon as you can so we can find another potential volunteer.
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We encourage the volunteer and artist to keep track of time during their discussion to ensure everyone's time is respected. The volunteer decides how much time they are willing to provide pro bono and when they would need to start charging for their services. Sometimes matches hit it off and volunteers choose to donate more of their time or convert the match into a new client.
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We try to track the number of hours and the approximate cost of each match so we can report those basic stats to our funders. It's helpful when we can include metrics with our reporting. It’s always optional and the stats remain anonymous as they’re compiled into an overall total for the year.