Federal matching opportunity helps lift the Arts in Greater Victoria

Posted on October 1, 2024 in General, Philanthropy

 

By Sara Neely, Senior Director of Philanthropic Services

 

Arts and Culture in Victoria is consistently among the top 15 best things about Greater Victoria in the Victoria Foundation’s annual Vital Signs report.  

Local arts organizations help to create a vibrant, caring community for all by employing, teaching, and engaging thousands of people of all ages. They add to our sense of wellbeing and belonging.  They give joy to our lives and increase our understanding and experience of new or different art forms and cultures.  

With the support of many donor advised fundholders, and those who support the Victoria Foundation’s discretionary Arts and Culture Fund, the Foundation has supported the arts and artists for over 85 years. This was even more important since the COVID-19 pandemic – a time seriously impacted by loss of ticket and event revenue, and declining volunteer engagement.   

With time, local arts organizations are seeing audiences return to concerts in the park, concert halls, theatres, galleries, festivals, and more. Classes for aspiring artists have started for the school season, and there are countless performance opportunities in our region.  

One way the Victoria Foundation supports the arts is by partnering with local professional arts organizations to seek matching funding through the Endowment Incentives program of the Canada Cultural Investment Fund, created by the Department of Canadian Heritage.  

The program provides matching funds, up to one dollar for every dollar raised, to create new endowment funds or enhance existing ones. This powerfully grows investment in the arts community while helping establish long-term sustainability for the organizations involved. 

For 18 years, the Foundation has facilitated these kinds of gifts for many local professional arts organizations, including: 

In 2023, we welcomed the Island Arts Centre Society which operates ArtSpring, the community’s performing and visual arts centre on Salt Spring Island, BC. 

ArtSpring’s Howard Jang says the organization is “passionate about enriching the cultural fabric of Salt Spring Island. From captivating performances to community-driven exhibitions, we strive to create an artistic hub where everyone can engage with the arts.”  

Jang says that “to ensure we continue to offer these experiences long into the future, sustainability is key—and that’s where the value of an endowment becomes clear.” 

He explains that an endowment is more than just a financial safety net; it’s a long-term investment in the vitality of our community. By establishing a stable and consistent source of funding, we can secure the resources needed to sustain our programs, regardless of economic fluctuations. This means continued support for local and visiting artists, expanded educational opportunities for youth, and vibrant programming that reaches every corner of Salt Spring Island. 

With a strong endowment, ArtSpring can focus on what matters most: fostering creativity, building connections, and ensuring the arts remain an integral part of the community for generations to come.   

Matching funds support scholarships for emerging artists, and more! 

When endowments for the arts are created through the Victoria Foundation, this is where the Canada Cultural Investment Fund helps take support for the arts to the next level. 

Danielle Meunier, Director of Education at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, says that “when individuals and organizations give to CCPA through the Victoria Foundation, they are not only helping young people access professional performance training, but also equipping them to become future creative leaders through CCPA’s holistic ‘training for the industry’ approach, which includes career management, networking, financial literacy, and wellbeing practices. With the endowment fund, in particular, donors can ensure that their contributions impact lives forever, supporting many generations of artistic leaders.” 

She says matching contributions from the Canada Cultural Investment Fund through the Victoria Foundation ensure donations go further and have a lasting impact. This support does wonders for a program that can be mentally, physically, and financially demanding.  

If you’d like to support the local arts community … 

Gifts of all sizes can be made to arts organizations, or directly to the Victoria Foundation, to grow the organizations’ endowment funds. With matching grants from the federal government, every contribution counts. All gifts are held in perpetuity, with the annual grants from a fund a continuing source of support for the arts community. 

To be eligible for the 2024 match, please make your gift to the arts organization or the Victoria Foundation by October 31st to allow time for the application process. Gifts may be by cheque, credit card or publicly listed securities. 

If you would like to learn more about how you can help keep the arts alive in our region, please contact us at 250.381.5532 or donorservices@victoriafoundation.bc.ca.