artsVest Brings Big Boost to Kelowna’s Arts Community

Kelowna’s arts community received a boost of more than $300,000 thanks to the artsVest program, a national sponsorship training and matching incentive program, created by Business for the Arts, that helps both small and medium sized arts and culture organizations secure sponsorships from businesses in the local community.

At a wrap-up celebration on Thursday, June 19th, Business for the Arts announced that the 2014-15 artsVest program tripled their fundraising partnership goal.

“We are delighted to see such impactful results for our second year in Kelowna,” said Claire Hefferon, artsVest National Program Director at Business for the Arts. “All 17 organizations flew past their individual and collective sponsorship fundraising goals, injecting critical investment into the cultural landscape of the community.”

“Kelowna and area organizations have had two full years of participation in artsVest,” said City of Kelowna Cultural Services Manager Sandra Kochan, “and the aggregate results are pretty impressive. In two years, a total of $699,370 of new investment has been generated for the local cultural sector. It proves that these organizations have found their voice about the value they provide, and that local businesses are more than willing to partner with them.”

In 2013-14, a total of 74 businesses in the Central Okanagan partnered with 22 arts, culture, and heritage organizations. They generated more than $299,000 in business sponsorship.