Hello Friends
I’m long overdue in writing this progress report on the Arts Enterprise Alliance concept. I promised I would keep you updated so here goes.
Last December I had a luncheon meeting with Susan Hanrahan, Executive Director of the NSDCC and Karen Williams from the Industry Growth Division of the NS Dept. of Tourism and Culture. I preceded the meeting by sending them my blog. The arts enterprise initiative was not new news to them as I had floated the concept back in 2006 with a position paper and a proposal. Except this time I simplified it considerably, which may hint at why the last proposal got stalled in the NSDCC boardroom. Susan and Karen brought me up to speed on the newly formed Craft Alliance, the brainchild of Bernie Burton who heads up the ACTS (Atlantic Crafts Trade Show). Here’s a brief blurb from their website:
Over the past 32 years, the four Atlantic provincial governments have been working together to assist the craft industry in Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic Craft Trade Show (ACTS) has been the main trade activity for this purpose. Over the past 3 years the government partners involved in producing ACTS have been working on a new organizational model to more effectively involve and engage the craft industry in our region.
As a result, a new trade association has been formed to further develop the Atlantic Craft Trade Show and begin the process of government and industry partners working together on a pan-Atlantic basis for the benefit of all craft related organizations in Atlantic Canada.
For more information see http://www.craftalliance.ca
We had to wait for Christmas to pass before I could meet with Bernie which I did in early January. He’s busy preparing for the ACTS Show that takes place February 6, 7 and 8 but was good enough to take time to talk to me. After tossing around some possibilities we agreed that I would submit a proposal that he will present to his Board when they meet again in March. In the meantime I will explore other structures and possibilities. Then last week I had the pleasure of hosting Peter Guildford who is also with N.S. Tourism and Culture. He was in town to meet with GAPACC, our regional arts council. Peter was a wealth of information and cited some other models to consider – an independent not for profit society or even a cooperative and he gave me some good examples which I will explore. As a not for profit entity we can access public and private funding which is why this is the best avenue to pursue.
Naturally the main challenge will be funding and with such scant funds designated for the cultural sector we have to revise our approach so as not to compromise existing fuding. Given that crafts businesses in particular straddle both categories of cultural and consumer products, we have a case to present to the powers that be in Nova Scotia Economic Development. I have always maintained that our government would be far better off supporting the growth of several hundred small creative businesses than issuing large chunks of money as incentives to call centres and outside interests that often pull out once the funding dries up. Also if one business exits it doesn’t cripple the entire region. Our strength, as a sector, is sustainable decentralized small businesses with great potential for creating employment throughout Nova Scotia and increasing our GDP through exporting.
So for now I am continuing the journey to determine the best way to proceed with the Arts Enterprise Alliance (working title). Any suggestions, comments, critiques, letters of support – all are welcome.
In the meantime if you would like to activate aspects of your business such as a business plan, professional development, export prospecting and project funding here are some links to programs that could be of interest to you.
Just some eye candy to accompany my message
- The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Culture Division provides funding for a series of programs and activities. http://www.gov.ns.ca/tch/culture_funding.asp
- The Nova Scotia Business Development ProgramThe Nova Scotia Business Development Program will help small business get started and existing businesses expand. This program will encourage business start-ups and provide help through qualified consultants for business operators to review and assess their practices and develop new approaches to ensure success. https://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/nsbdp/
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Business Development Program This ACOA program is designed to help you set up, expand or modernize your business. Focusing on small- and medium-sized enterprises, the program offers access to capital in the form of interest-free, unsecured, repayable contributions. http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/English/ImLookingFor/ProgramInformation/Pages/ProgramDetails.aspx?ProgramID=2
- The Women in Business Initiative provides financial support to non-profit business organizations in Atlantic Canada who in turn provide women business owners with the resources they need to improve their growth and competitiveness. These resources include financing, training and advice to help strengthen their management capabilities and business skills, to improve their access to capital and business support services, to encourage them to explore international markets and to develop innovative ways to do business. http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/English/publications/FactSheetsAndBrochures/Pages/WBINS.aspx
- Nova Scotia Business Inc. Export Prospector ProgramThe export prospector program offers you the unique opportunity to participate in a trade mission designed specifically for your schedule, your market interests and your products or services. You choose the destination and dates of travel. http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/en/home/Grow/exportandtrade/exportprospectorprogram.aspx
I’d be happy to help navigate you through some of these programs. Call or email anytime or leave a comment at the base of my blog. More to come soon I hope.
