Business for the Arts

165 University Ave., Suite 707 Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3B8 T: 416 869 3016 ext. 222 F: 416 869 0435 W: www.businessforthearts.org

Hamiltons cultural organizations, businesses and municipal leadership celebrate $150K to flow to the local creative economy through Business for the Arts artsVest program! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Hamilton, ON September, 2011 Business for the Arts congratulates Hamilton on being one of five Ontario communities selected to receive its artsVest program. artsVest is a matching grant and sponsorship training program that operates at a local level to spark business sponsorship of arts and culture and bolster municipal cultural plans. It will provide $75K in matching incentive grants to Hamiltons cultural organizations and offer free sponsorship training to help cultural organizations build mutually beneficial partnerships with the business community. In May of 2011, municipalities in the process of developing or implementing a cultural plan were invited to apply for artsVest and a chance to bring $25K - $75K in matching funds to their cultural sector. Cultural organizations in Barrie, Guelph, Hamilton, Huntsville and Markham are now set to receive training on securing private sector support and will be encouraged to apply for a matching incentive grant from $1,000 - $10,000, which they must then match with sponsorship from the local business community. The artsVest experience has been transformative for entire communities as businesses enter into partnerships with the cultural sector with a mind to bolstering their communitys cultural assets while achieving their business objectives says Nichole Anderson, President and CEO of Business for the Arts. On September 28th at 4:00pm, the Hamilton, Stoney Creek and Flamborough Chambers of Commerce will welcome local cultural organizations, businesses and municipal leaders to celebrate $150K that will flow to Hamiltons creative economy through the artsVest program! The launch will celebrate Hamiltons success in securing the artsVest program and will serve to strengthen the bonds between the citys private, public and cultural sectors while nurturing long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships. A free, full-day sponsorship workshop for local cultural organizations will be held the day after the launch, taking them through the process of securing successful sponsorships from local businesses.

artsVest Ontario is a program designed by Business for the Arts and delivered with funding from the Government of Ontario, The Ontario Trillium Foundation and Canadian Heritage. Since 2005, artsVest has been in 16 municipalities in Ontario, providing $785K in matching funds to local cultural organizations and sparking a total of $1,4M in local private sector sponsorships. artsVests impact
artsVest Ontario is run by Business for the Arts with the support of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Canadian Heritage.

Business for the Arts

165 University Ave., Suite 707 Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3B8 T: 416 869 3016 ext. 222 F: 416 869 0435 W: www.businessforthearts.org

includes partnerships between 485 businesses and 175 arts and culture organizations in Ontario. artsVest has initiated first-time investments in the arts from 280 businesses!

WHAT:

artsVest Hamilton Program Launch

WHEN:

Wednesday September 28th, 2011 4:00 to 5:30pm The Waterfront Banquet and Conference Centre (home of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce) 555 Bay St. North, Hamilton, ON, L8L 1H1 Pam Mulholland, Art & Event Initiatives Coordinator, City of Hamilton 905-546-2424 ext.4270 Pam.Mulholland@hamilton.ca

WHERE:

CONTACT & RSVP:

-30Business for the Arts is Canadas national, non-profit association of business leaders who support the arts. Business for the Arts seeks to strengthen arts and culture in Canada by building partnerships between business and arts communities, and by helping arts organizations to connect with funders and volunteers in the private sector. Through its research, publications, advocacy work, awards and media partnerships, Business for the Arts communicates the value of investing in the arts while recognizing outstanding business leaders who contribute to Canadas artistic and cultural landscape. For more information about Business for the Arts, please contact us or visit www.businessforthearts.org and www.artsVest.com. Lauren Goldman, artsVest Program Manager Business for the Arts L_goldman@businessforthearts.org t: 416.869.3016 ext. 221 f: 416.869.0435
artsVest Ontario is run by Business for the Arts with the support of the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and Canadian Heritage.