RELEASE: ArtsNL launches the Professional Operating Program
Dec 13, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ArtsNL launches the Professional Operating Program
December 13, 2024 (St. John’s, NL) – ArtsNL announces the launch of the Professional Operating Program (POP), a transformative initiative providing annual operating support to eligible professional not-for-profit arts organizations.
After a robust, two-year operational funding review, ArtsNL is replacing the Sustaining Program for Professional Arts Organizations (SPPAO) and the Annual Operating Program for Professional Arts Organizations (AOPPAO), with a new funding model beginning February 28, 2025. The Professional Operating Program is a multi-year program that provides support to organizations in offsetting the costs associated with the administration, creation, production, and presentation of art.
“The Professional Operating Program represents a bold step forward for ArtsNL,” said its Executive Director, Melanie Martin. “We consulted with 26 professional arts organizations, held several focus groups, and completed a comparative financial analysis. Arts administrators felt strongly that the most important criteria for assessing operational funding were demonstrating an organization’s relevance to the community they serve, paying staff a living wage, strong board governance and workplace policies, as well as sound financial practices, including solid diversification of revenue. By building in a Sectoral Engagement component to the program, offering opportunities for mentorship and professional development, we’ve created a program that will be the foundation for a thriving and collaborative arts ecosystem.”
There are three tiers of support within POP—Capstone, Keystone, and Cornerstone. The program criteria for each tier are designed to address the varying needs of organizations within the arts community. POP emphasizes collaboration and strategic growth and encourages recipients to actively contribute to the arts sector through stakeholder engagement, mentorship, resource sharing, and professional development opportunities.
Organizations receiving operational funding in the now-defunct SPPAO and AOPPAO programs were provided guidelines to the new funding program last August and invited to attend an overview of POP with ArtsNL staff, which included a live question-and-answer session.
The deadline to apply for the Professional Operating Program is February 28, 2025. The POP application is now live on ArtsNL’s online application system, Smart Simple. For more information about the Professional Operating Program, visit artsnl.ca/grants/pop.
Media enquiries:
Charlene Jackson
Communications Officer
(709) 726-2212 ext. 3
charlene@artsnl.ca
The Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council (now known as ArtsNL) is a non-profit Crown agency created in 1980 by The Arts Council Act. Its mission is to foster and promote the creation and enjoyment of the arts for the benefit of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. The Council is governed by a volunteer board of 13 appointed by government, reflecting regional representation of the province. This includes 10 professional artists who provide sectoral representation of the arts community; two community representatives (with an interest in the arts); and one representative of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation (non-voting). ArtsNL receives an annual allocation of $5.3 million from the Province to support a variety of granting programs, program delivery, office administration, and communications. It also seeks support from the public and private sector. It supports the following artistic disciplines: dance, film, multidiscipline, music, theatre, visual art, and writing.
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