The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre has launched a new fundraising initiative, Arts in Our Communities, aimed at supporting artists across the territory.
NACC executive director Shannon Lyman said the idea began as a way to create an in-house fundraiser that could engage communities.
The organization has since decided to expand the project’s scope, she said, describing Arts in Our Communities as both a revenue tool and a “platform for other artists to fundraise for themselves and other causes.”
Through the fundraiser, participants commit to an arts-based challenge during the month of February.
Anyone can sign up through the NACC website, including professional and amateur artists, families, school groups and work teams. Lyman said the fundraiser is designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing people of all skill levels to take part.
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Participants begin by setting an artistic goal, which can vary depending on interest and experience. Examples include learning a new musical instrument, working on a painting or other visual art, rehearsing for a performance, attending live arts events, or preparing a piece of work to share with the public.
Once a goal is set, participants make a pledge outlining how often they will work toward that goal. According to Lyman, this could mean practising every day, working several times a week, or committing to a set number of sessions over the month.
“A key objective of this fundraiser is to show our communities that there are arts happening in our communities,” she said, “to really elevate that and bring them to the forefront, and use them as an opportunity to raise awareness and raise money for people to continue to pursue their artistic endeavours.”
Participants also choose what they are fundraising for, whether that is covering personal artistic costs like supplies, lessons or travel, or raising money in support of NACC itself.
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All registered pledges are posted publicly on the NACC website. Visitors can browse the fundraising page, read about each participant’s goal, and choose to donate to one or more pledges.
The not-for-profit encourages participants to share their progress on social media to help spread awareness of the fundraiser and attract additional support.
Lyman said NACC relies heavily on grant funding but fundraising helps supplement those revenues.
She said the organization supports bringing professional artists to perform in the NWT, touring artists to smaller communities, and offering new residencies and professional development opportunities for artists.
