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Ontario Sponsorship and Governance Mentorship Program Municipal Application 2017

Ontario Sponsorship and Governance Mentorship Program Overview

This page will provide information on the program and how Ontario communities can apply.
Business for the Arts is now accepting applications from Ontario communities to receive our Sponsorship and Governance Mentorship program! 
 
The Sponsorship and Governance Mentorship Program will work directly with small to mid-sized arts organizations, equipping them with in-depth training, tools and mentorship relationships through which they will develop skills and cultivate an understanding of topics in Corporate Sponsorship and Board Governance. These components are thoughtfully created to build sustainable partnerships between arts and businesses and to spark sponsorship opportunities. The program is supported in Ontario through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

How does the program work?

Once a municipal application is successful, Business for the Arts will bring 10 months of sponsorship and governance training and mentorship to your community. 

The program begins with an information session in the community. Arts organizations in the community will learn about the benefits of the program and how to participate in the remainder of the program offerings.

Once an organization is successful in their application, they will begin participation in a structured and comprehensive training program which involves:
  • Individualized mentorship sessions with Canada's top sponsorship and board governance experts 
  • Peer-to-Peer training workshops
  • Webinars, marketing and branding tutorials
  • Access to our 6-module e-Learning sponsorship course
  • A resource bank of sponsorship and board governance tools and templates
Program Priorities
  • To use sponsorship training and mentorship to build capacity within local arts organizations that will help them secure private sector investment and develop diverse and sustainable revenue streams;
  • To use governance training and mentorship to build capacity within local arts organizations that will help them to strengthen their governance practices and models; 
  • To foster understanding regarding how to build partnerships between the public, private and arts sectors that focus on the impact and future of private sector support of the arts at a local level
How can the Mentorship program impact your community?

The program provides a variety of training and mentorship opportunities to members of your community’s arts sector that cultivate their understanding of how to partner with the private sector via sponsorship partnerships, and how to strengthen and reinvigorate their governance practices. This training gives arts organizations the skills and confidence to spark funding partnerships between the arts and business community, and the knowledge to work towards sustainable and effective models of governance.

The mentorship program can also be an effective tool to leverage the efforts of government leadership to activate their municipal cultural plans. As a result, the whole community is bolstered by the increased investment in the creative economy. Arts organizations increase capacity and acquire the skills and confidence to seek out private funding, while local businesses better appreciate the value of investing in the arts as well as the economic benefit, including new markets, employee engagement, etc. Business for the Arts has a proven track record of demonstrating that if your community is selected to receive the Mentorship program, the results will have a strong and lasting impact on its cultural economy.

Eligibility for Ontario Communities
  • Your community must not have participated in Business for the Arts’ artsVest program in 2015/16 or 2016/17 program cycles.  
  • A "community" can be a municipality, town, region or county. Should you be unclear on whether your situation would be eligible, contact claire@businessforthearts.org
  • All communities must submit an online application.
 
How to Apply

To apply for the Mentorship Program, please read this Program Overview carefully and then complete the Application Form below and provide necessary supplementary information. See below for full application checklist. Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday, November 27, 2017 via the below online application. Please email claire@businessforthearts.org or contact Claire Hefferon Payne, National Program Director at 416-869-3016 x225 with any questions.  

Applications are juried based on the demonstration of:
  1. Need and potential impact of Mentorship Program
  2. Diversity of arts organizations in community
  3. Commitment from a community liaison, showing clear plan on how to engage the community, advocate for and be involved in the program. This includes outreach to diverse communities where possible. 
Contribution of Your Community Throughout the Mentorship Program

The Mentorship Program is a partnership between Business for the Arts and participating communities. The support of the community is vital for the success of the program. Your application to the program means agreement from the community to responsibilities and, if selected, an obligation to play an active supporting role during the process, as outlined in the application.

How will the Program roll out in your community if selected?November 27, 2017: Deadline for Ontario communities to apply 

December 4, 2017: Communities are announced.  Business for the Arts works with community leadership to plan the launch and roll-out of the Program in the community.

January/February 2018: The Mentorship Program is launched in each community. Business for the Arts leads an information session for local arts organizations, covering the participation process. Local community representatives are invited to make remarks. 

February 2018: Arts organizations submit their information and commitment to participate in the program (there is no formal application process).  

March 2018: Participants continue what they learned at the initial workshop and begin Mentorship.  Our Program Co-ordinator is on hand to lend advice and support throughout the year, and all successful applicants will take part in an in-depth online orientation workshop that will prepare them for the year ahead.  

March - September 2018: All training components are delivered during this time, including access to resources and live mentorship and training sessions. Mentorship sessions take place during this 7-month period in group, peer, and one-on-one formats.


Application Checklist

Each application to the Mentorship Program must include the following supporting documentation to be uploaded:
  • A map or description of the boundaries which eligible arts organizations must have an address in to be included in the program
  • A comprehensive list of local arts organizations
Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday, November 27 2017 via the below online application.
In this section, you are asked to describe your community and its intention to apply for the Mentorship Program.
2. Contact details for official representative of the municipality (herein referred to as liaison). *This question is required.
4. Please attach a map of the boundary and/or a list of communities which will be included in the program.
7. Please attach a comprehensive list of local arts and heritage organizations *This question is required.
8. Does your community have a Municipal Cultural Plan? *This question is required.
9. Please check below to acknowledge that by submitting this application, the municipality agrees to designate a senior staff member or equivalent to act as the Local Community Liaison for Business for the Arts and to help with the roll-out of the program, including support in executing the following points: *This question is required.
11. Declaration: To be eligible for consideration, you must electronically sign below to confirm your agreement on behalf of your community with all of the following statements:
 
  • I have reviewed carefully the eligibility criteria for this program, which are described above
  • I accept the conditions of the program and agree to accept Business for the Arts' decision
  • I confirm that the statements in this application are complete and accurate, to the best of my knowledge
*This question is required.
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