ArtsLink NB is receiving more than $140,000 in government funding to help encourage entrepreneurship and innovation within the province’s arts sector.
Officials gathered at Imperial Theatre in Saint John on Wednesday morning to announce the funding.
The federal government is providing $92,000 through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) while the provincial government is contributing $50,000.
“I am so pleased that ACOA is supporting the arts sector with projects like this one,” said Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long.
“By providing our artists with the education and resources they require to pursue long-term careers, we are contributing to a robust and competitive local economy in New Brunswick.”
Officials said the funding will help ArtsLink NB deliver its CATAPULT Arts Accelerator, an eight-week program that aims to increase the number of artists and entrepreneurs through skills development, mentorships, and networking events.
“The arts and culture sector gives life to our province and helps to inspire a sense of pride in our communities,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Greg Turner.
“This sector is boosting our tourism and our economy, and we are proud to support this program that continues to elevate innovation and entrepreneurship.”
Julie Whitenect, executive director of ArtsLink NB, said the support underscores the collective acknowledgement of the indispensable role artists play in shaping the cultural landscape of New Brunswick.
“ArtsLink NB was founded in 2009 as a resource organization for arts professionals in New Brunswick, part of that work was to contextualize for government, the public and the art sector itself, the value that arts and culture bring to the province’s health and vibrancy, and the contributions of arts and culture to economic growth,” said Whitenect.
Since CATAPULT was established in 2014, Whitenect said more than 75 per cent of participants have reported finding new audiences for their business, being able to devote more time to their work, and having a stronger presence on social media.
